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How to Make Butter

Home Education Hands on History at Home How to Make Butter
Hands on History at Home

In the 18th century, milk was often made into butter or cheese to make it last longer. You can make your own butter, and enjoy it on George Washington’s favorite breakfast- hoecakes!

Ingredients & Supplies

  • 1/2 Pint whipping cream
  • Pint-size glass jar with a tight-fitting lid 
  • Mesh strainer or colander

Step 1 - Fill the Jar

Fill the jar a half or a third full of cream.

Step 2 - Shake the Jar

Screw the lid on tight and begin shaking the jar.

Step 2 (continued) - Almost There!

Continue shaking it back and forth until the cream thickens.

Step 3 - Finished Shaking

  • The mixture will turn into a solid yellow ball and the thin buttermilk will separate from it.
  • It will take less than 10 minutes for the butter to form.

Step 4 - Strain

Strain the liquid from the butter.

Step 4 (continued) - Rinse

Rinse butter in cold water.

Step 6 - Make it Fancy!

Optional: Add honey to your butter.

George Washington ate his hoecakes swimming in butter and honey!

Butter at Mount Vernon

Butter at Mount Vernon

In the 18th century, milk was often made into butter or cheese to make it last longer. At Mount Vernon, cows provided milk to make butter. Kitty was one of the enslaved people who milked the cows. She also would have been responsible for making butter. She would have used a butter churn to turn the cream into butter.

Butter was used for different recipes, and for putting on bread. You can make your own butter, and enjoy it on George Washington’s favorite breakfast- hoecakes!

Washington's Hoecake Recipe

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