How to cream butter by hand

18 March 2022

About this technique

Skill level

Easy

Equipment

Wooden spoon

Mixing bowl

'Creaming' means combining sugar with a solid fat, such as butter, shortening or margarine.

- Ensure the fat has softened to room temperature before you start.

- Beat the fat with the sugar to a light and fluffy texture - start mixing quite slowly and, as the mixture becomes softer and well combined, you can mix faster.

- As you beat it, the mixture should increase in volume and take on a paler colour.

Recipes using this technique

Madeira cake. by James Martin.
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Perfect chocolate chip cookies. by Edd Kimber.
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Eve's pudding
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Desserts
Cupcakes. by The BBC Food team.
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Easy sponge cake. by The BBC Food team.
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Easy fairy cakes. by The BBC Food team.
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Mary Berry's Christmas pudding. by Mary Berry.
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Desserts
Gingerbread sandwich biscuits. by Lungile Mhlanga.
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Blueberry muffins. by Paul Hollywood.
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Easy vanilla cupcakes. by Emily Angle.
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Mary Berry's simple chocolate cake. by Mary Berry.
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Cakes and baking
Easy iced biscuits. by The BBC Food team.
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Cakes and baking
Dorset apple cake by Ravneet Gill.
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Easy banana bread
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Easy chocolate chip cookies. by Donal Skehan.
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Cakes and baking
Chocolate fudge cake. by Benjamina Ebuehi.
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Cakes and baking
Easter bunny lemon cupcakes. by Benjamina Ebuehi.
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Cakes and baking
Cherry Bakewell cupcakes. by Holly Bell.
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Numberblocks cake. by Becky Excell.
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Cakes and baking
Feather-topped Bakewell tart by Mary Berry.
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Gluten-free banana bread. by Becky Excell.
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German apple cake. by Rick Stein.
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Cakes and baking
Raspberry and coconut traybake. by Annie Rigg.
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Brandy butter
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Other