Butter is over-whipped cream, and the washing step is what decides whether it lasts a week or three days. Any buttermilk left trapped in the butter is what turns it rancid, so you knead it under cold water until the water runs completely clear. Skip that and it sours by Thursday.
The ratio2 cups heavy cream → whip past whipped cream until it breaks. Wash until the water runs clear.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep15 min
Cooknone
Makes½ lb butter
CuisineBasics
Cost$$
VegetarianGluten-free
Contains dairy
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for4servings
Heavy cream
Two cups, at cool room temperature — around 60°F churns fastest. Higher fat cream gives more butter.
Culture it first, optionallyStir the yogurt into the cream and leave it covered at room temperature twelve to twenty-four hours until it smells faintly sour. This one step is the whole difference between plain and cultured butter.
Whip past whipped creamMixer on medium. It goes soft peaks, stiff peaks, then grainy and yellow, then suddenly splits into solids and thin liquid. That break is the butter forming.
Drain the buttermilkPour it through a sieve and keep the liquid — that's real buttermilk and it makes the best biscuits you'll have.
Wash until clearKnead the butter in a bowl of ice water, pressing with a spatula. The water goes cloudy; pour it off and repeat with fresh water until it stays clear. Usually four or five changes.
Salt and shapeKnead in the salt, press out the last water, and roll it in parchment. Keeps two weeks refrigerated, months frozen.
Make it yoursKnead in roasted garlic and herbs, or hot honey, or truffle salt, for a compound butter. Brown it in a pan afterwards and you have brown butter.
Can you make How to Make Butter in an air fryer? — Not needed
No cooking needed here — this one comes together without heat, so the air fryer sits it out.
Can you freeze How to Make Butter? — Not ideal
Not really — the cream, custard, or emulsion turns grainy or splits once thawed. This one is best kept fresh in the fridge.
Can you make How to Make Butter ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.
Is How to Make Butter gluten-free? — Yes
Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.
Is How to Make Butter vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan
It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
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