After pioneers milked the cow and had fresh milk they would let it sit for a day or two in a cool area and then skim the cream that rose to the top of the milk. They would then put the cream into a butter churn. They would mix the cream using the dasher and pump it up and down and side to side. This caused small grains of butter to form. After churning for awhile the larger pieces of butter would float in liquid that was buttermilk. They would strain the liquid and press the butter into a mold – ready to use!
Homemade butter is very easy to make! If you fill a jar with some cream and shake it for a while…you will have butter! It is fun to do with the kids and even more fun to eat the fresh butter on some fresh home baked bread.
Homemade Butter Recipe:
2 cups whipping cream
clean jar with fitted lid
- Pour cream into jar and shake the jar continuously.
- Remove the lump of butter from the jar and wrap it in a tea towel.
- Wright out the tea towel to remove the liquid from the butter.
- Press the butter into a shape and set it in the fridge to chill. You can use the remaining buttermilk for cooking!