How to Make Your Own Butter Molds

Making butter is once again becoming popular for those who either own their own dairy animals or who enjoy being more self-sufficient. There are many options to shape and display your butter once it is made. Antique butter molds can still be used if they are in good shape. Some retail stores also sell new butter molds in many designs. However, you do not need to buy fancy butter molds to show off your treasure. You can use containers and bowls found in your kitchen to make your own butter molds.

When making your own butter molds, the first consideration is the size. Are you making individual butter pats or 1 pound blocks? Do you want to cut your butter into sticks after unmolding? The size of the desired block of butter will determine the size of the butter mold.

Individual Pats

There are two basic ways to make individual butter pats- small bowls or butter curls. Small glass one ounce bowls- often used for kitchen prep- are a perfect size for an individual serving of butter. Look for these in restaurant supply stores if you do not own any. They are inexpensive and will give the butter an elegant curved shape when unmolded. Shot glasses or the tiny bowls that olive oil is served in for bread dipping will also serve well.

Butter curls are also an elegant way to serve butter at the table and do not require a shaped mold. Simply drag a hand held cheese slicer over the top of a one pound block of chilled butter and a curl will form. Gently transfer the curls to a plate and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Rounds

There are many containers in your kitchen that will make suitable round butter molds. 6 ounce glass ramekins are the perfect size for a 1/2 cup round. Egg cups make an unusual shaped butter. For larger rounds, use any small glass or ceramic bowl in your kitchen. Make sure it is close to the size of the round of butter you want to ensure easy removal from the mold.

A fancier butter mold can be made from miniature copper jelly molds. They come in many different designs and sizes.

Blocks

To make blocks of butter, you can use a rectangular mold for each block or press all of the butter into a large mold and cut the butter into individual blocks later. For individual blocks, rectangular muffin tins work to make block sizes between 1/2 and 1 pound. You can also use small ceramic baking dishes.

For a larger block of butter, use a 9 X 13 inch baking dish and spread the butter to a thickness of 1 inch (for 1/2 cup sticks) and 2 inches (for pound blocks). Refrigerate butter for a few hours in the mold before cutting. Cut blocks with a sharp non-serrated knife and wrap butter in parchment paper to store in the refrigerator or freezer.