Shake-Up Homemade Butter

Turn heavy cream into real butter using just a jar and some muscle! Kids will learn how fat separates from liquid to create butter and buttermilk.

Materials

• heavy cream (highest fat content available, fill jar halfway)
• cold water (approx. 2 cups for rinsing)
• salt (pinch, optional for salted butter)
• mason jar with lid (1, 16-24 oz)

Safety

• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Pour heavy cream into the mason jar until it is halfway full. If you want salted butter, add a pinch of salt now.
2. Secure the lid tightly on the jar.
3. Shake the jar vigorously for about 2 minutes. When you open it, the cream should look like whipped cream.
4. Put the lid back on and continue shaking hard for another 6 minutes. The mixture will begin to look more solid.
5. Shake for one final 30-second burst of hard shaking until you hear a clear liquid (buttermilk) separating from the solid butter.
6. Strain the mixture into a mixing bowl, saving the liquid buttermilk for later use in baking.
7. Place the solid butter in the bowl and pour a small amount of cold water over it to rinse away the remaining buttermilk.
8. Use your hands to shape the butter into a small ball, then pour out the cloudy water.
9. Repeat the rinsing and shaping process with fresh cold water until the water remaining in the bowl is completely clear.
10. Remove the finished butter ball from the bowl and enjoy it on toast!