Butter powder is a versatile ingredient that can add rich, creamy flavor to all kinds of recipes. With its long shelf life and powdered form, butter powder is convenient to store and use. But did you know you can easily make your own butter powder right at home?
Making your own butter powder is simple and rewarding. Not only will you save money compared to buying it pre-made, but you can control the quality of ingredients. Homemade butter powder also makes great gifts!
Butter powder is simply dehydrated butter ground into a fine powder. Commercial butter powders undergo a process called spray drying to remove moisture, but you can achieve similar results at home with just a few key steps:
- Start with high-quality, unsalted butter
- Melt and dehydrate the butter very slowly to preserve flavor
- Grind the dehydrated butter into a superfine powder
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 year
The resulting butter powder is smooth, dry powder that perfectly mimics the taste of real butter. A little bit of butter powder goes a long way to add richness and creaminess to recipes.
Benefits of Homemade Butter Powder
Making your own butter powder offers many perks:
- Long shelf life. Homemade butter powder stays fresh for up to a year when stored properly. No need to worry about spoilage!
- Very economical. You can make butter powder for a fraction of the cost of buying it.
- Control ingredients. By making it yourself, you control exactly what goes into your butter powder.
- No additives. Commercial butter powders often contain preservatives and anti-caking agents.
- Adjust consistency. Customize powder fineness to your cooking needs.
- Fun projects. DIY butter powder makes great edible gifts too!
For preppers and homesteaders, butter powder is invaluable to have on hand for grid-down emergencies when refrigeration isn’t available. The versatility of butter powder also makes it a smart addition for camping trips, RV kitchens, boating galleys, college dorms, and anywhere else storage space is limited.
How to Make Butter Powder
Equipment
You'll need this basic kitchen equipment:
- Food dehydrator
- Blender or food processor
- Air-tight container for storage
Optional handy tools:
- Kitchen scale for weighing ingredients
- Butter knife for slicing firmer butter
- Cheese grater to shred softer butter
Butter Powder Recipe
Ingredients
- High-quality unsalted butter, ideally from grass-fed cows
- Nonfat dry milk powder
For flavor and color (optional):
- Butter extract
- Annatto powder - natural vegetable-based yellow food coloring
Instructions
Prepare the Butter
- Start with high-quality, unsalted butter. Salted butter won't dehydrate as evenly. Grass-fed butter has the best nutritional content and flavor.
- For optimal results, use firmer butter straight from the fridge. If your butter is very soft or melty, pop it in the freezer for 30-60 minutes before starting. Firm butter slices and shreds easier.
- Next, cut 1 cup of butter into small chunks using a knife or grate it with a cheese grater. Smaller pieces will dehydrate faster.
Dehydrate the Butter
- Arrange butter pieces in a single layer on the trays of your food dehydrator. Leave a little space between pieces.
- Set the temperature to 145°F and dehydrate for 12-24 hours. Time will vary based on thickness of pieces and your dehydrator model.
- Check butter periodically until completely dry and brittle. If butter beads up with oil, blot with a paper towel.
Dry Out the Milk Solids
- In a small bowl, mix 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder with 2 tablespoons water. Stir until it forms a dry, crumbly paste.
- Spread milk powder paste thinly onto a dehydrator tray and dehydrate for 2-4 hours at 145°F, stirring occasionally, until very dry.
- The milk solids provide an added butter flavor and improve texture.
Grind into Powder
- Place the crispy dehydrated butter chunks and dried milk paste into a high-powered blender or food processor.
- Pulse to break down pieces, then process continuously for 2-3 minutes until a fine, smooth powder forms. Avoid over-processing.
- If desired, add 1/4 teaspoon butter extract and 1/8 teaspoon annatto powder in the last 30 seconds of blending for extra richness and signature butter yellow color.
Store Properly
- Transfer finished butter powder into an airtight container. Glass jars or a well-sealed plastic container works best.
- Store container in a cool, dark place like the pantry for up to 1 year. For maximum freshness, store butter powder in fridge or freezer.
- And that's it! With just 5 simple steps, you can easily make smooth, delicious homemade butter powder from scratch.
Tips for Making Butter Powder
Follow these tips for best results when making your own butter powder:
- Use very low dehydrator temperatures (120°-145°F) to prevent butter oils from separating.
- Dehydrate butter in thin slices rather than larger chunks to create more surface area for moisture to evaporate.
- Blot butter pieces during dehydrating if beads of oil appear on the surface.
- Add nonfat milk powder to improve texture and taste.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place to maximize freshness and prevent caking.
- For a brighter color reminiscent of store-bought butter, add a tiny pinch of annatto powder.
Experiment with different butter and milk powder brands to find your perfect combination!
How to Use Butter Powder
Butter powder works beautifully in all kinds of recipes. A small amount goes a long way thanks to its concentrated flavor.
Here’s how to easily incorporate butter powder:
Baking: Replace up to half butter/oil in recipes with equal parts butter powder mixed with the dry ingredients.
Sauces & Gravies: Whisk 1-2 teaspoons butter powder into simmering liquid until smooth and creamy.
Mashed Potatoes: For extra richness, mix 2 teaspoons butter powder per pound of potatoes.
Popcorn Topping: Sprinkle on 1/2 teaspoon per 3-4 cups popcorn, then toss to coat evenly.
Get creative with homemade butter powder! It's delicious mixed into biscuit doughs, pancake batters, cookie mixes, bread crumbs, smoothies, hot cereals, soups, and so much more.
Recipes with Butter Powder
Whip up these easy recipes using your homemade butter powder:
● Butter Powder Shortbread Cookies
Buttery, melt-in-your mouth cookies!
Ingredients:
- 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3⁄4 cup butter powder
- 1⁄2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a bowl, mix together flour and butter powder.
- Stir in sugar.
- Add vanilla and 1⁄4 cup water then mix dough until it holds together.
- On a floured surface, gently knead dough then roll out to 1⁄4-inch thickness.
- Cut cookies with a 2-inch cookie cutter and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake 12 minutes until lightly golden brown.
- Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.
Makes 2 dozen cookies.
● Butter Powder & Herb Pull-Apart Bread
An impressive bakery-style bread with a wonderful fluffy texture!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet rapid rise yeast
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1⁄2 cups warm water
- 3 tablespoons butter powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, yeast and salt. Create a well then pour in water. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- On a floured surface knead dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise 1 hour.
- Punch down risen dough then roll out into a rectangle. Brush with egg white then sprinkle herbs and butter powder evenly over the top.
- Tightly roll up dough lengthwise then slice into 12 equal pieces.
- Grease a Bundt pan then tightly pack pieces into pan. Cover with plastic wrap and rise for 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bake bread for 25-30 minutes until deeply golden brown. Cool 10 minutes then invert onto serving platter.
Makes 1 Bundt loaf.
FAQs
How long does homemade butter powder last?
Properly stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, butter powder lasts 6-12 months. For maximum freshness up to 1 year, store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Can you use salted butter?
It's best practice to use unsalted butter. Salt acts as a preservative which slows down the dehydration process.
Is butter powder the same as ghee powder?
No. Ghee powder starts with clarified butter (ghee) while butter powder starts with regular butter containing milk proteins. They have slightly different properties when cooking.
What recipes use butter powder?
Butter powder works great in baked goods, breads, doughs, pancakes, waffles, pastries, cookies, muffins, breading, cream sauces & gravies, soups, breakfast cereals, oatmeal, mashed cauliflower or potatoes, popcorn seasoning - anywhere you'd use regular butter!
Can you replace all the butter in a recipe?
Most recipes only allow you to replace 50% of the butter/oil with butter powder mixed with the dry ingredients. Too much can alter texture.
Conclusion
Making DIY butter powder is an easy, fun project with incredibly useful results! Transform ordinary butter into a versatile powder that keeps for up to a year without refrigeration.
Whip up batches to save money, control ingredients, and enjoy a tasty kitchen hack. Butter powder makes cooking and baking easier for preppers, RVers, backyard homesteaders, and anyone who loves adding rich flavor.