My friends and I were talking one day at an article that recently appeared on The Smoking Gun about singer Katy Perry’s rider. A rider for those that don’t know, is a list that someone puts together of a celebrity’s must haves. In Katy Perry’s rider she had: Finncrisp, fresh cut crudites, organic fruit, pinot grigio, pretzels and a list of other items. She also specified the type of furniture that she wanted – two French ornate floor lamps, a refrigerator with a glass door if you’re curious. Apart from this she also needed the Presidential suite at a 5 star hotel, 5 junior suites and 45 rooms for her people. And absolutely NO CARNATIONS.
We giggled, after all a part of us thinks if you get called a diva are you expected to come up with a huge list of things?. Do you sit down with your friends and debate about whether to add “neutered Zebra” or “cross eyed unicorn” to the list? Or do you already have your list of wants and desires and a tantrum worthy of a 2 year old ready to explode if you don’t get the right things or the right brand? We asked each other what our riders would be and it turns out we were of much simpler tastes. One friend asked me what I would have and I answered “A super fast wireless connection, sparkling mineral water with fresh lime, something to crunch on and REAL butter. Oh and I will take the Presidential suite too if you’re asking.”
Whenever I am asked what my favourite ingredient is, it’s always butter. I used to have a supplier of New Zealand butter in gold bar form that I would call up and ask to reserve 10 bars of. Alas they no longer stock it and I’m left adrift counting down my precious butter blocks. I decided that day to make my own butter. I had watched them make it only a couple of weeks earlier and I knew how easy it was. Years ago I had inadvertently almost made it myself one day when I left cream beating for too long.
I used a double cream which is the best cream to use for butter making due to its higher fat content. I got the Over The Moon cream from the Pyrmont grower’s market where they showed us how to churn butter. The cream is from Jersey cow milk which is said to have 15% more calcium and 17% more protein than other cow milks. It’s just a matter of beating the cream beyond what you would normally take it for whipped cream. The butter tells you when it is ready when it releases the buttermilk and you soon get a gorgeously golden block of butter. It takes only a few minutes and the result is the freshest butter you could dream of. It’s almost a shame that Katy P. didn’t specify butter on her rider because I think she might have approved. And there was no need to track down a neutered zebra or a cross eyed unicorn with roses instead of carnations in its mane.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your creature comfort list if you could ask for anything in the world for your rider? Go on, give me your diva-ish best! 
Butter
- 400ml double or thickened cream
- 1-2 pinches of salt to taste
- Extras: you can also add chopped herbs to this if you want to make a herbed butter
From this thick double cream
Don’t forget the tea towel or you may get milk splashing everywhere
To this (not quite ready)
To this when the buttermilk separates from the butter
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, place all of the double cream and a couple of pinches of salt and herbs if you are using them. Cover with a tea towel and whip on low initially and then increase the speed to beating or creaming. Double cream seems to whip and thicken faster because it has more fat in it (50% minimum). Mine took less than 2 minutes to separate. Drain off the buttermilk which is the liquid left behind and keep it for baking or drinking. I got slightly less than 1/2 cup from the 400mls of double cream.
Draining off the buttermilk in a strainer
The buttermilk
Place the butter on a piece of baking parchment
And then roll back and forth!
2. When the butter comes together place it in a sieve to drain off the excess buttermilk. Roll up into a sheet of greaseproof paper and shape into a sausage by rolling it back and forth. I also used a paper towel to pat off any excess buttermilk.
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106 Comments | Add your own
Made with real cream, perfect!
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh dear, those photos are going to lure me straight into the kitchen.
Lorraine, at the top of my wish list you would probably find Bacon, Chocolate and Butter.
Pair that with the best health insurance package money can buy. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a great heart surgeon, who looks like Hugh Jackman, on my side.
I think I’ll go make some butter.
When I was small I used to make butter at my grandparents farm. I clearly remember the process, its so simple. Unfortunately I was too small to appreciate organic fresh butter. My non-diva list would be really basic – rolled oats, flax seeds, apple cider vinegar etc – boring I know
Butter-making is definitely a lost art…it’s so cool that you made your own, Lorraine! I would love to try this!
My mother in law had a dairy farm and made her own butter quite often….
There is absolutely no comparison between store bought butter and homemade butter!!!
Looks so yummy..
Beautiful! We make our own butter often, and find it keeps longer if you rinse off all the whey before you shape it – stops it souring!
My rider would be simple: A plate of really good cookies, fuzzy slippers, and a couple of citrus or lavender candles. ‘Course, it’s a good thing I’m not a singer about to go on stage because more likely having all this in my “suite” would put me to sleep. LOL
Looks like great butter! On my diva list, I’ll have cheesecake, Caramello koalas and a mini foxie puppy.
I think this is such a wonderful idea!
Butter makes my world a better place.
I remember making butter in high school
It was pretty good too!
Wow! I’ve been thinking about taking the plunge into home cheesemaking, but this seems like a much easier first step! Silly question–but, can you just substitute your homemade butter in baking for store-bought?
I never realized it was so easy ! Oh my I can just imagine the delicious taste! I’m going to try this soon.
thats amazing lorraine i had no idea it was that easy!
wow Lorraine, this is amazing!! so unique and fun! I’ve never seen a blog that showed butter making. I guess it’s easier than it looks. And a cross eyed unicorn?! hahaa that is random, but hilarious.
How divine! Your presentation, as always is just gorgeous. Love the bakers twine. My list:
moet, m&ms with the red ones removed and Robbie Williams as my footrest…
Very cool! I’m tempted to give it a go. I’m a butter lover as well!
As a child I used to churn butter by hand with my farmer grandmother.
Is there a reason I can’t copy/paste your recipes from this page?
Hi Maria-you should be able to copy and paste. Perhaps it is because the writing is write? If you change it to black it should work
I made my own butter for the first time recently. So good!
Oh boy I don’t think I have room. I think I’d make a great diva: diet coke, thick greek yoghurt, strawberries, fruit-free muesli, fresh-baked french bread with butter (must be salted)… you know what a personal chef with access to any ingredient you could imagine would answer all my food requests!
I’d also like super-fast internet and the presidential suite wouldn’t be rejected but I’d settle for the junior if I had to.
Wouldn’t it be lovely to be a diva?!?
Woot, homemade butter! A thick layering of that on a freshly toasted piece of sourdough is all I could possibly ask for…
Well, that and a few other things: a never-ending supply of V, an espresso machine and the best barista in the world, WIRELESS BROADBAND, a few Opera cakes from Lindt, an all-you-can-eat macaron buffet, and a celebrity chef to cook all my meals
Thrilled to see home made butter featured here.
I don’t believe it is unhealthy, and the taste!! Divine.
Thanks so much
Lorraine if I could be a diva, I think I would totally ask for a French Baguette, French butter (you inspired me…) and a pot of beautiful jam. Some french cheese would also be nice. Hell, just take me to Paris already.
Heidi xo
I HAVE to try this!
Remember butter being made by hand in the country on many an occasion – if one has the time, of course it would taste better. On my list, which could run to pages, would be sweetbreads I can no longer get, abalone and Loire River whites I can no longer afford, a really good hair stylist, a walletful of money for shoes and handbags and a plane ticket to Vietnam and other places east to indulge in an all paid foodie dream.
!
Brilliant! I didn’t realise making butter was so easy – this knowledge is dangerous… Haha
There’s not much I love more than beautiful cold butter on fresh crusty bread.
Re: riders – I saw that article on Katy Perry’s rider. It’s all a bit ridiculous isn’t it?
I have to try this! I’m waiting, very impatiently, for my sourdough culture – now I can have the butter ready for my bread.
My hubby makes us fresh butter all the time. It is so delicious and a totally superior product. Love it!
I first made butter when I was about 3 years old and whipping cream with my nan, I beat it for too long because it was fun!!
I wish I had a diva list… and someone to deliver it! I really don’t know what I would have on the list though :0
…I mustn’t be a diva after all
Wow, I am definitely going to try this this weekend. I really can’t think of anything better than home made butter!
Yum! One of my fondest memories of primary school was “Town and Country Day” where one of the activities involved us sitting in a circle taking turns to shake a cream bottle (with some salt added) to make butter. Mmmm..
Now we need some recipes for using up that lovely buttermilk!
I refuse to let margarine into my house at any time, it is not a food! This butter would be incredible!
My diva list would include:
Schaar gfree bread items
Dilmah Earl Grey Tea
No chemical cleaners in my vicinity
Zymil lactose free milk
Massage therapist
TV in the bathroom so I can watch it in the spa
Fluffy towels big enough for two
I’m sure I can think of many more if I try!
As a city girl I never realized it was that easy; I imagined you had to churn it for hours and hours. Now I have to find a place that sells double cream here… I’d make a good diva. No less than a 4-star hotel when I travel, there needs to be good bathroom amenities, bellhop service, fast internet access, 24-hour room service, a fruit bowl and a selection of chocolate, plus a tea and coffee maker with real leaves/coffee beans…
My sister once had an accident of the “mousse that turned to butter” type. I’ve never thought of repeating it for the sake of the butter itself, but it sounds great!
And as for a diva-demand. I think I’ll have a very creamy hot chocolate served promptly at the 3pm lull in brain-power.
I was just reading a comment by a British actor who said that if you don’t behave like a diva in Hollywood, you get no respect! If you make your own coffee, no one will take you seriously.
Never realized making butter is so simple!
did you see Jamie Oliver do this on his 30 min meals? I’ve been meaning to try it for ages – I could happily eat fresh bread and butter for lunch every day!
wow.. home made butter spreaded on home made bread.. arhhh..
thats very impressive Lorraine,:)
unfornately, i dont think i would have the time to make it.. though i’d love a takeaway nob of butter XD
That sounds fabulous. Homemade butter…. doesn’t get any better. Ooooh what would be on my rider list. Let’s say sparkling water, lots of fruit, nuts, vanilla scented candles, fast wireless internet and lots of white flowers. Okay now I sound like a diva. Oops!
I remember my grandfather making butter when I was a very young child – he was a buttermaker at the local dairy in Far North Coast NSW. He also had a technique of beating rancid butter with milk and then separating it all again – the rancidiy was left in the milk. According to my mother an important skill much in demand back in the depression.
I think I’ll make some butter to remember him! thanks Lorraine.
That’s just a thing of beauty Lorraine! I have accidentally almost made butter too, but never thought to keep going to make a proper spread. Bonus to get fresh buttermilk too. I’d make a boring diva, the list would be pretty similar to yours, with chocolate thrown in
(Not that I think you’re broign, far from it!)
I’m going to try this ASAP!!!! It looks fantastic and I cannot believe how easy it sounds! Great post! Thanks Lorraine!
My ride would have to include a private plane so that I can travel anywhere in the world at my own pace!!!! hehehehe
@ InTolerantChef – I SO agree with you re margarines and chemical cleaners! Have a four page article in one of my medical journals how margarine is made – heated to enormous temps a number of times, using petrochemicals! That truly is NOT food! Cleaners – am not perfect yet, but 80% are out of the house. Ditto for bugkillers.
!
ive never thought about making my own butter! does it last as long as supermarket ones though? but the herb butter sounds really nice
So fresh and you can say “I made it myself” brilliant! Would be great with some caramelized garlic on sourdough. Hmmm I might just need to make that for dinner lol
There is really nothing like great homemade butter. Love the way you packaged it too! xo
I’ve made my own butter and it is wonderful. It is also a great way to make the most of cream when it is on special and can be bought at a bargain price.
I love butter but not quite enough to make my own. You’re a true foodie!
Another great post Lorraine. We have tales of my great great great grandmother who used to be quite well known for the quality of her butter. Apparently she made a good income from it. I wonder sometimes if I have the butter making gene. Perhaps I will find out one day following your inspiration! I have to agree butter is one of my favourite ingredients too.
This looks incredible – I want to eat it right now smeared over thick bread. That would probably be on my rider – amazing crusty freshly baked bread, warm from the oven. That, a couple of bottles of prosecco, chocolate truffles…just a few simple treats and I’m happy!
On my list:
Billecart-Salmon Champagne.
sparkling fresh Oysters.
A beautiful selection of bread.
Butter!
Foie Gras.
Jamon.
Ripe fresh figs.
Small ,perfectly ripe strawberries.
Vases of fragrant pale roses in full bloom.
Fine linen sheets.
Plush Cashmere blankets.
A choice of Linen or Cashmere Robes.
Fine Kid Leather Slippers – Chanel of course.
Prince on the ipod to celebrate his 53rd birthday this weekend.
At one stage a chef buddy & I were going to publish the rider lists when we worked at the national convention centre…., I’ve still got the list somewhere too. Crazy stuff they ask for too (& get).
Love, love, love the real butter though….I def. think that’d be part of my rider too.
wow! that looks absolutely yummy and never knew butter was that simple and easy!
This must be so delicious! Much better then store bought
You know my mum always said don’t whip the cream too long or it will turn to butter, i don’t think i realised it really meant butter butter, all these years i could have been beating the cream too long…..
Alternatively, you can add finely chopped perigord truffles.
My diva list would include sparkling water, Godiva white chocolates, petit fours, berries and some pretzels!
Can’t wait to have my diva moment
hehe, made lots of accidentally sweet butter when I overwhipped the cream! My rider would include beautiful sourdough, cheese and a good book!
I’d love to try making butter but isn’t it dearer than buying store butter? Double cream is quite expensive so making my own butter would be for a special occasion only I think.
I made butter once… like you left the only cream in the house beating for too long… so the recipe was ruined but the butter was fab… you have inspired me, Lorraine (but then you often do) I need a little homemade butter!!
Must be awesome on good scones and using great cream is just the best thing in the world!
Isn’t Katie Perry a silly sausage. I think she is the one who claimed to have jet lag coming from Tokyo. What is it – a 2 hour time difference. Perhaps her request should be for a brain.
The butter looks lovely, just like the type of butter for BBQ I see in supermarkets here…! My MIL used to teach me how to make spiced butter once, I should try it again…;).
Man you make it look so easy!! I’m still happy with going out and buying Lurpak I looove lurpak butter haha…
And YES TO FASTEST WIFI EVER! that would keep me happy!
Definitely fast wifi & chocolate, probably dark Lindor balls. A personal masseur would be nice too
Beautiful! I’d put some sourdough and that butter on my list. As for the rest; sheep milk yogurt and muesli with hazelnuts in it. Must have hazelnuts. Fresh berries. The Presidential Suite. Earl Grey tea. A bottle of very pale pink Provencal rose in the fridge. And proper wine glasses.
We have ourselves to blame for the ridiculous whims of divas/ stars/ VIP and their riders by buying their music, watching their movies or buying the magazines that make stars out of nobodys. Some of their demands are beyond ridiculous and would feed a whole village in a third world country , enough said!
Butter definitely makes it better as the saying goes , everything tastes divine, be it sweet or savoury.
When the kids were small we made butter in baby food jars .. they rolled it back and forth .. good busy time and they could not wait for the butter to go on fresh bread. Never thought to use a mixer to make butter … going to put it on my weekend fun list, thanks
Wow! I’ve been making my own butter for a while, but I’ve only used plain/single cream, not the double or thickened stuff. I can’t wait to try making it with some double cream.
By the way, did you wait till the cream went off, like Celia’s (figjam lime cordial) method before you made the butter?
In India, home-made butter is very common. The milk we have delivered at home is very, very rich and 1 liter of whole-fat milk can yield about 1 cup of cream everyday. We store this cream for about a week, and culture it with some natural yogurt. This is then used to make butter. Because buffalo milk is most commonly used, the butter tends to be white in color, and is an excellent accompaniment to Indian breads and helps make fiery Indian curries subtler.
As for my Diva list, I’ll settle for golden toasts with fresh butter.
I haven’t thought of homemade butter since I was a child! What a great idea!
I made it once, by accident, whoops. Was young and it was my first lesson of how long not to whip cream for. Okay it wasn’t quite butter, but it was no longer cream.
Dear, Ms. Un-Diva.
Forget Katy Perry. You must add butter to your “rider list!”
Who the hell wouldn’t want creamy, smooth, silky BUTTER?
What else would you add, Lorraine?
I’d need Cup-Cake Merlot, Sushi (all kinds) and dark chocolate with sea salt. Ohhh, Yeah.
XXX Big kiss from Minnesota.
hot toast, lashings of cold butter – nothing better !!!
Mmm this looks so good! I haven’t made my own butter since elementary school where we shook it around in a glass jar
Wow makes me want to make my own butter too. I do go through stacks of them with the amount of baking I do!
How fun!!! I remember the first time I made butter.
My friend and I dumped cream in a glass jar and took turns shaking it until our arms ached. 
I never knew making butter was so easy. 2 minutes – wow – I’m impressed. Never really thought about a diva list before, but could I have peonies instead of carnations or roses? xoxo Mum
my diva list would include eggs benedict for breakfast with beautiful brewed coffee,seafood platter for lunch and pork belly with assorted vegetables and pototoe gratin for tea plus a rich decadent chocolate mousse and copies glasses of good australian wine to wash it all down.bring it on!!!
I remember shaking a bottle of cream at summer camp in the US to make butter! My arms hurt
fantastic – just great to have such pure butter that you know exactly where it came from – I remember going to watch butter being made at dairies when I was a child – I don’t have a stand on my electric beaters so wonder how they would go
So simple and yet so delicious. There goes me claiming that butter isn’t really like a dairy product
(just so I can sneak a bit more in)
Diva List – I’m with you on the sparkling water and lime but I’d add fabulous vanilla cupcakes, a widescreen TV and a stack of Glee DVDs with a giant bowl of popcorn – ooh and I also once heard of a hotel with a giant martini glass shaped spa – while I’m asking I’ll have one of those
The butter looks a bit like ice cream… though I wouldn’t want to be shoving spoonfuls of that into my mouth! I heard Lady Gaga once asked for no disturbance and 12 pizzas :O I’d be happy with wireless too I think, but the possibilities of acting like a diva are endless
Right now, does sleep count?
Lorraine, making my own butter just hit my bucket list. Comfort list: The real deal cappuccino for breakfast (the kind that is so good you don’t need sugar), down comforter and pillows, double sheeted beds, white towels, a huge tub, a refrigerator with bottled water, fruit and cheese (okay champagne). Nuts nearby. Chocolate somewhere. A view. Ambient lighting. Fast speed internet, everywhere. Bath salts. And, while I’m dreaming, an ocean. And, in my perfect hotel world, a small bar that is cozy and has an interesting bartender who has stories to tell.
You make it all sound so easy, all I want to do now is to go into my kitchen and whip myself up some homemade garlic and herb butter! Any idea how long the butter will keep for?
I was thinking about how to make my own butter the other day, but didn’t look into it because I thought it would be complicated. Thanks for the post – it looks so easy and now I can’t wait to try it!!!
i remember once making butter in the 1st grade at school. it was a lot of fun.
i would also take the superfast internet and presidential suite. and while i would very much like a cross-eyed unicorn, i’d settle for macarons flown in from paris, a fresh juice bar, and luxurious bubble bath.
I have some cream that would be ideal for this. I was not going to bake with it as I have some late nights working so making butter is a good idea.
I love the idea of making my own butter. There are so many things that are so much simpler than you imagine…Love your packaging too, girl.
NQN will you be making any of your versions the latest craze of Cake Pops?
excellent project, lorraine! this is one homemade creation that i’ve not attempted, but something that would clearly be worth the effort!
How absolutely marvellous! Didn’t know it was that easy to make your own butter! Now this is dangerous… =D
Hi everyone! Thanks for your fabulous comments. I had to add that Mr NQN asked me if I had put the home made butter on today’s sandwiches as he said that he really could taste the difference and that the home made butter was much better than regular. What a good husband!
I am never a diva. how about Dan hunter as my personal chef? does that count?
Butter – I want to make some too!
I have always wanted to make my own butter. I should really try it one day. I love lurpak butter at the moment, but I should really try other ones.
I happened upon this on a link through from your vanilla extract post (I was curious to see what people’s finished products looked like—mine’s never as dark as I think it should be, but it tastes great). You can make butter from fresh cream as well—just mix 8 parts cream to 1 part plain yoghurt or cultured buttermilk in a glass bowl, cover it, and let it sit out on the counter for a whole day and a night… then whip it. With a pinch of salt it’ll taste just like Isigny Ste.-Mère (or Lurpak).
Also, if you want to preserve your butter and don’t want to salt it, you can drain it, then rinse it gently under cool running water to get out any pockets of buttermilk (which will make it go rancid).
Beautiful photos!
Thank you, I made this with home made foccaica for a dinner party cook off competition. Everyone was impressed that it was homemade butter and I think it got me off to a good lead to win… (:
That’s fantastic-well done Renee!
I’ve been wanting, for some time now, to make my own butter. Thank you for your recipe, I never knew just how easy it was. It turned out great (in my opinion) but the true critic of the family is my 16 y.o son whom I intend to share this with. FYI, I used thickened cream, a mix master with the mixing attachment and a few tips from the machine’s user manual. I’m already planning variations on your recipe once my confidence grows. THANK YOU!!!!!
Okay, so I didn’t realise how easy this was and overwhipped it, thinking this was done wayy too quickly. I now have whipped butter. Oops.
Made this with the kids today, fabulous fun using just a jar and taking it in turns shaking it. It will be show and tell at kinder tomorrow!
On a related note, the Butter Factory at Myrtleford, Vic, has wonderful cultured butter they make on site, also flavoured versions and buttermilk. They have an online store and do send out butter packs – I can highly recommend their butter, and the kids adore the food at the cafe.
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