Homemade Butter Making

We had a lovely afternoon at Haddington Care Home this week as our residents took part in something a bit different – making our very own butter. It was such a simple activity, but it was fun to have a wee go at something new.

Matthew did a great job leading the session, keeping everyone right and guiding us through each step. All we needed were three things – a clean jam jar, some double cream, and a small marble. Once the lid was on tight, everyone gave their jar a good shake to get the cream moving.

After a few minutes of shaking, the cream started to change. First it thickened, a bit like whipped cream, and then it began to separate into buttermilk and butter. It was lovely to see everyone’s reactions – a real mix of surprise and delight as the transformation happened. There was lots of chatting and a fair bit of competition too, to see who could get their butter ready first!

Once the butter was formed, we poured off the buttermilk and gave the butter a quick rinse, then popped it in the fridge for a wee while to firm up. The best part, of course, came next – sitting down together with some fresh plain bread, a choice of jam, and our very own handmade butter. It really did taste better knowing we’d made it ourselves. This sort of activity might seem simple, but it offers so much. It gets everyone involved, encourages gentle movement, and gives our residents something new to try or something familiar to remember.

At Haddington Care Home, we’re always looking for creative ways to keep life interesting and meaningful. Whether it’s baking, crafting, or revisiting old traditions like this one, we know how important it is to keep minds active and spirits high. If you’d like to know more about life here at Haddington, or arrange a visit to see what we do, we’d be delighted to hear from you.