Crafts and Games-
Fresh Butter

Fresh butter is easy to make and tastes great.  Pioneer young folks would have churned butter to help their busy mothers in the kitchen.  Pioneers used a butter churn to make butter, but you can do it in a glass jar with a lid. 

You’ll need:

• one pint of heavy cream
  
• a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
  
• a wide, shallow bowl
  
• a pitcher of water
  
• a pinch of salt
  
• wooden spoon

1.  Pour the cream into the jar and tighten the lid.  Now shake the jar vigorously for about 10 minutes.  It’s a good idea to have a few friends around to help you when your arms get tired.

2.  Soon, you will notice that a lump of butter has formed in the jar. Carefully pour off the liquid.  This is called buttermilk and you can save it to drink or use in baking.

3.  Place the lump of butter in the bowl.  Pour water over the butter and swirl it around.  Drain off the water.  Rinse the butter this way until the water runs clear.  You may have to rinse the butter several times.

4.  Add a pinch of salt to the butter and work it in using a wooden spoon.

5.  Enjoy your fresh butter on crackers, toast, or pancakes!

back to crafts and games