sweet cream butter

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Sweet cream butter is a dairy product made by churning the cream from cow's milk. It is a concentrated form of milk, with approximately 20 liters of whole milk required to produce one kilogram of butter. This process yields about 18 liters of skim milk and buttermilk.

Commercial butter, including sweet cream butter, typically consists of 80-82% milk fat, 16-17% water, and 1-2% milk solids. It may also contain added salt. Unsalted butter is often called "sweet" butter, but this is distinct from "sweet cream" butter, which can be salted or unsalted. Reduced-fat butter contains about 40% milk fat. Virtually all butter produced in the United States today is sweet cream butter, a shift from earlier practices where butter was often made from soured cream.12

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butter
…should not be confused with “sweet cream” butter, which may or may not be salted. Reduced-fat, or “light,” butter usually contains about 40 percent milk fat.
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…should not be confused with “sweet cream” butter, which may or may not be salted. Reduced-fat, or “light,” butter usually contains about 40 percent milk fat.
Read More

dairy product
Composition
… is often referred to as “sweet” butter. This should not be confused with “sweet cream” butter, which may or may not be salted. Reduced-fat, or “light,” butter usually contains about 40 percent milk fat.
Read More
… is often referred to as “sweet” butter. This should not be confused with “sweet cream” butter, which may or may not be salted. Reduced-fat, or “light,” butter usually contains about 40 percent milk fat.
Read More