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Making Homemade Butter With Kids

January 17, 2019 By Vanessa Brady
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“At first the splashes of cream showed thick and smooth….After a long time, they began to look grainy. Then Ma churned more slowly, and on the dash there began to appear tiny grains of yellow butter.”

Little House in the Big Woods

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

In Little House in the Big Woods, Laura recalls how she and Mary would help Ma make homemade butter. Not only would they churn it in a butter churn, but then they would color it with carrot juice, and mold it into pretty shapes for their visitors. Making the butter beautiful was a nice touch that Ma added to the butter-making process. But for all her extra touches, making simple homemade butter with kids is quite easy.

You only need a few supplies and some willing helpers with strong arms to enjoy this time-honored tradition. It’s the perfect family fun activity, so you can pass the jar around when one person’s arms get tired. It’s also an excellent complement to your reading of the Little House books. 

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Supplies for Making Homemade Butter

  • 1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1 Mason Jar
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • Marbles (optional)

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Instructions for Making Butter With Kids

Step One

Pour cold heavy whipping cream into the mason jar. Make sure you only fill it half way so that there’s plenty of room to shake the liquid around. If you’re pressed for time, use a few clean marbles inside the jar to make the whole process move more quickly. Don’t worry if you don’t have marbles available; the butter will just take a little bit longer to form.

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Step Two

Secure the lid and begin shaking. Depending on many factors (ultra-pasteurization, marbles, strength), this step may take anywhere from 8 – 15 minutes of continuous shaking. This is where it’s helpful to have multiple participants.

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Step Three

About halfway through, you’ll begin to hear a difference in the shaking sound. Go ahead and open up the container to show the kids that it’s working! You should be able to see the beginning of the butter and the buttermilk separating. Add salt, put the lid back on, and keep shaking!

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Step Four

Once you feel like there’s a solid mass shaking around in the jar, the butter should be done. Use a strainer to separate the butter from the buttermilk and transfer each to their own container. Butter will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator, so it’s a good idea to make a batch of biscuits and use up that butter quickly!

Making Homemade Butter With Kids

Hope you have fun making homemade butter! It’s a great way to teach children how food was made before the modern conveniences of grocery stores. If you make your butter and some fresh biscuits ahead of time, they would be a great complement to a Little House on the Prairie inspired picnic. 

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Vanessa Brady

Vanessa Brady is the mother of two little boys and is an unabashed craft junkie. She is passionate about sewing, crafting, her children, and business. Find her original crafts at Tried and True blog.
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Latest posts by Vanessa Brady (see all)

  • Making Homemade Butter With Kids - January 17, 2019
  • Homemade Dipped Beeswax Candles - December 13, 2017
  • Covered Wagon DIY Inspired by Little House on the Prairie - September 11, 2017

Filed Under: Family Fun, Lifestyle Tagged With: Activities, butter, Family Activities, family fun, homemade butter, Indoor Activities, Ingalls Family, Kitchen Activities, making butter

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Comments

  1. Avatarlesa says

    March 20, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    I overmixed whipping cream a time or 2 and turned out fine. was a little on the sweet side- no sugar added. I will try salt next time

    Reply
  2. AvatarBrenda Lucian says

    August 15, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    I just made some butter today in my stand mixer-didn’t get too much because I only had a pint of cream in the fridge.Usually I buy at least 2 quarts of cream if I’m going to make it.I’m also making some homemade bread to have it with.

    Reply
  3. AvatarJeanell Smith says

    April 23, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    Quick question…
    How much butter and buttermilk is made by one recipe, please? We are trying to plan an event for a few hundred children.
    Thank you!

    Reply

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