The base of the press is hand-carved with a farm scene with a little cow, made to transfer to the top of your butter. What a rush to know how to make butter and mold it ourselves; ok, maybe we are a bit strange, but since we are both historic minded re-enactors (Victorian age, Mountain Man, Civil War, 1870’s) and can dress the part, it is nice to participate in Living history educational programs for kids and let them see how our ancesters used to do things.

According to the State Museum, Pennsylvania German farmers favored pressing their butter into tulip shapes or other images inspired by nature like birds or farm animals.

Butter molds, usually carved wooden pieces, allowed them to give their butter a unique trademark that would let consumers know they were getting the good stuff. I don’t find the old ways of doing things to be harder at all, and I’m a lot more pleased with my results.

While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. My kitchen is not full of gadgets, and people often ask me why I insist on doing things “the hard way.A butter press is a tool that enhances the presentation of butter to set out on a table at a gathering. I have also used an ice cream maker but still had to start with whipped cream then put it in there and voila, butter. Farmers who prided themselves on making high-quality products wanted to mark their wares as their own and make sure they were properly compensated for their dairy-making skills.