Planning to make French butter at home might sound like something only a professional chef would attempt, but honestly, it's way easier than you think. All it takes is one quart of heavy cream, three tablespoons of yogurt with live bacterial cultures, and a little salt. Whip it together in a stand mixer (or even a hand mixer or food processor), and before you know it, you've got homemade butter that's creamier, richer, and more flavorful than anything you'll buy at the store. The result is a cultured butter with that signature tangy flavor and higher butter fat that makes every bite taste like you're back in France.
What's in this blog post
My inspiration
When I was in France with my daughter, Avalon, and my friend Cynthia, we basically lived on bread and butter. We always loved eating it, but I could never figure out why it tasted so much better there than at home.
At first, I thought maybe it was just the magic of being in France-but then I came across a TikTok video showing how to make French butter with cultured cream. Suddenly, it all clicked. The tangy flavor, the higher butter fat, the lower water content-that's what made it taste so luxurious.
From that moment on, I knew I had to try making it myself. And let me just say, once you taste homemade butter this way, you'll never look at store-bought butter the same again.
Ingredients & supplies
- 1 quart heavy cream (preferably not ultra-pasteurized)
- 3 tablespoons yogurt with live cultures (this starts the culturing process) I used organic yogurt from Straus Family Creamery
- Kosher salt or sea salt to finish
- Large container for culturing the cream
- Butter making kit (optional)
Optional: herbs, black pepper, or even olive oil for turning your base into herb butter.
Tips and Tricks for Success
- Start with the right cream. For the best butter, use cream that's not ultra-pasteurized. It makes for a creamier, flavorful butter.
- Don't skip the culture. Adding that spoonful of yogurt with live bacterial cultures creates the tangy flavor that sets French butter apart from regular sweet cream butter.
- Keep it cold. Once your cream breaks, rinse the butter with very cold water until the water runs clear. This prevents much buttermilk from lingering, which can spoil the butter.
- Shape and store. Wrap your butter in parchment paper or keep it in an airtight container. The lower water content means it lasts longer than regular butter.
- Season well. A pound of butter can take more salt than you think. Or you can use pretty much an unlimited amount of seasoned salts or herbs to flavor the butter.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In a large jar or mixing bowl, stir together the heavy cream and yogurt with live cultures. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours. This culturing process is what gives French butter like Bordier Butter its signature tangy flavor.
- Once cultured, pour the cream into a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Whip on medium until it first turns into whipped cream, then keep going until the cream breaks and separates into butter and excess buttermilk.
- Drain off the buttermilk (save it for pancakes or biscuits-good things shouldn't go to waste).
- Wash the butter by kneading it in a bowl with very cold water. Drain and repeat until the water is clear.
- Mix in your kosher salt, sea salt, or flavorings like black pepper or herbs.
- Wrap in parchment paper or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate and enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Making your own cultured butter at home feels like unlocking the next step in your kitchen journey. It's one of those "why didn't I do this sooner?" moments. The fat content gives it a silky mouthfeel, the tangy flavor makes every bite pop, and it turns the simplest things-like toast or sourdough bread-into a chef's kiss moment. Whether you're channeling your inner Julia Child or just trying to elevate breakfast, this is truly the best butter you'll ever taste. Bon appétit!
Frequently Asked Questions
French butter (and most European butter) has higher butter fat and lower water content, which gives it that rich, flavorful butter vibe. American butter tends to be milder with more water.
If you want that tangy flavor, yes. Otherwise, you'll just get regular butter. Still delicious, but not as unique.
Wrapped in parchment paper or sealed in an airtight container, your butter should last about 1-2 weeks in the fridge. The less water content, the longer it keeps.
Totally. Use a hand mixer, food processor, or even shake a jar of cream. The home cook version works just as well-it just takes a bit longer.
With the addition of the live cultures from the yogurt, the live bacteria is "good" bacteria and will stop the "bad bacteria" from growing, and is what gives the butter its delicious flavor.
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Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Stand Mixer
- 1 butter paddles
Ingredients
- 34 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 3 Tablespoons yogurt with live cultures
- 4 grams salt or other seasoning
Instructions
- Combine the yogurt and cream together in a large container like a cambro or a bowl with plastic wrap.
- Place the cream on the counter for 48-72 hours or until the cream looks thickened and smells slightly tangy.
- Put the thickened cream into a stand mixer with a whisk attachment and whisk on medium speed until the fat separates from the buttermilk.
- Prepare three large bowls of ice water and set them aside.
- Place the soft butter curds into the first bowl of ice water until they firm up.
- Squeeze the butter curds to remove as much buttermilk as possible.
- Move the butter to the second bowl and continue washing the curds.
- In the final bowl of ice water the water should be clear after washing.
- Place the cold butter onto a wooden cutting board and pound it flat with butter paddles or a wooden spoon.
- Wipe up any water with a paper towel or towel. Try to remove as much water as possible while continuously compressing the butter.
- Add in your salt or preferred seasonings and mix it into the butter.
- Shape the butter into a rectangle with your butter paddles and then enjoy or freeze for later.
Elizabeth Marek says
I loved making this recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as me and my neighbors did haha