Pasture land is abundant in the mountains and foothills of north Georgia. The rich soil makes for plenty of green grass for diary cattle to feed on and the Georgia climate makes raising cattle for both dairy and beef production a lucrative business. The rich, organic milk produced by these healthy and happy cows is also the perfect starter for making homemade butter.
It’s not uncommon to see signs advertising fresh, homemade butter for sale when driving along the winding roads of north Georgia. Neither is it uncommon to see roadside stands selling homemade, organic butter or mom and pop type restaurants advertising the freshly churned product is served alongside of their hot, homemade biscuits.
Homemade butter has been and still is a common product made and sold in this area, but it’s also a product that can be made by anyone, anywhere. All that is needed to make your own fresh, organic sweet cream butter is two ingredients and a blender.
Ingredients Needed
Cream (any amount)
Salt (to taste, optional)
The salt is an optional ingredient when making homemade butter. It does nothing to help the cream turn into the finished product, which is good news for those on a reduced-salt dietary plan. You can make homemade organic butter without a trace of salt if desired and a variety of herbs or other flavoring can be added to enhance the flavor of the home-churned butter.
Butter Making Process
Pour the cream into a blender or food processor and blend on medium speed for five minutes. The cream will begin to noticeably separate into butter and buttermilk, when you notice that occurring, stop blending and allow cream to sit for two minutes so all the butter can rise to the top.
After butter has risen, slowly pour the buttermilk out of the blender or food processor into another container. Use the back of a large spoon to press all the buttermilk moisture out of the butter.
Leave butter in blender or food processor and pour in 8 ounces of ice cold water and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds. This ice water processing washes the butter and acts as a natural preservative that will enable the homemade butter to last for months when stored in the refrigerator. Pour water out of container, pressing butter to remove all moisture. Spoon soft butter into small a mixing bowl.
Flavoring
Stir in desired amount of salt or other desired flavoring at this stage of the butter-making process. A favorite southern flavoring is honey, which is great to spread on top of hot cornbread or biscuits.
