Using Milk Kefir – 3 Recipes for Butter and Cream Cheese
Back to basics: making your own food again, with simple ingredients and a little patience. That's exactly what milk kefir stands for. From milk and live cultures, a fermented food is created that is not only full of flavor, but also convinces with natural probiotics.
Whether drunk plain, as a base for creamy spreads, or further processed in the kitchen – the possibilities are endless. If you're wondering what you can do with milk kefir, you'll find three simple and creative milk kefir recipes in this blog article: from making your own kefir butter to a quick kefir cream cheese recipe.
With our stainless steel kefir lid, you can ferment milk kefir directly in the jar and then easily strain it. In combination with the kefir starter set, getting started is particularly easy – perfect for making your own milk kefir and using it versatilely in your kitchen.
What is milk kefir?
Milk kefir is a fermented milk drink produced by so-called kefir grains. These contain natural yeasts and lactic acid bacteria that transform milk into a slightly sour, probiotic drink.
Through fermentation, milk kefir not only becomes more aromatic but also versatile – ideal for making further recipes like butter or cream cheese.
Why milk kefir is so versatile
If you're wondering what you can do with milk kefir, the answer is: a lot.
It can be drunk plain or further processed
You can make your own kefir butter
Or implement a simple kefir cream cheese recipe
Dips, creams, and spreads are also possible
With its slightly sour taste, milk kefir brings a special freshness to your kitchen – perfect for breakfast, brunch, or savory dishes.
How do you make milk kefir yourself?
The basis for all recipes is homemade milk kefir. You only need milk and kefir cultures.
With our kefir starter set, you can get started right away, while the stainless steel kefir lid ensures optimal fermentation and makes straining particularly easy.
After about 24 hours, your milk kefir is ready for further processing.
Must-haves for easy preparation
3 Simple Milk Kefir Recipes – for your Brunch
Milk Kefir Butter
Making creamy kefir butter yourself is easier than you think. Whipping fermented kefir creates a fine, slightly tart butter with a special aroma.
We'll show you how to do it in simple steps!
Important beforehand: This recipe requires finished milk kefir (i.e., already fermented and ready to drink).
Total amount yields approx. 450–500 g of neutral kefir butter.
Ingredients
- 400 g butter
- 90 g finished milk kefir
- 1–1½ tsp salt
Preparation
-
Melt butter
Gently melt butter in a saucepan over the lowest heat (do not brown). -
Stir in milk kefir
Add finished milk kefir to the liquid butter and mix thoroughly with a whisk. -
Let cool
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool slightly. -
Season
Stir in salt. -
Chill until spreadable
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30–45 minutes until the mixture is creamy-firm.
Once your kefir butter has softened nicely after refrigeration, you can easily arrange it for a brunch board, for example – serve it on a cutting board with a dough scraper and decorate with home-grown sprouts.
Milk Kefir Cream Cheese
Making creamy kefir cream cheese yourself is surprisingly easy. Slowly draining milk kefir creates a smooth, slightly tangy cream cheese – perfect as a spread or for savory dishes.
Important beforehand: This recipe requires finished milk kefir (i.e., already fermented and ready to drink).
Total amount yields approx. 220–260 g of kefir cream cheese.
Ingredients
- 750 g finished milk kefir
- ½ tsp salt (optional, only a minimal amount for neutral taste)
Preparation
-
Prepare sieve
Line a sieve with a cheesecloth and hang it over a bowl.
-
Drain milk kefir
Pour the finished milk kefir into the cloth and let it drain in the refrigerator:- 24 hours = creamy, spreadable
- 36 hours = firmer, perfect for serving
Finalize consistency
Lightly squeeze the cloth to remove the last liquid.Stir until creamy & season
Transfer the cream cheese to a bowl, stir briefly until smooth, and optionally season with ½ tsp salt.Store
Fill the finished cream cheese into a round storage container and chill.
Milk Kefir Herb Dip
A fresh kefir dip is prepared in no time and adds variety to your table. Based on milk kefir, a light, creamy herb cream is created, refined with spices and citrus notes, and ideal with bread or vegetables.
Important beforehand: This recipe requires finished milk kefir (i.e., already fermented and ready to drink).
Ingredients
- existing milk kefir cream cheese from previous recipe
- herbs
- lemon zest
- spices of choice
Preparation
-
Combine
Combine freshly prepared milk kefir cream cheese with spices of your choice. Then add herbs and lemon zest.
-
Serve
The finished milk kefir herb dip can now be perfectly combined with vegetables or bread.
Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
To keep your creations fresh for a long time, our storage containers are ideal for storage. For fermentation itself, our Mason Jars in various sizes are perfect, as they are robust, versatile, and easy to clean.
What can you make with milk kefir?
Milk kefir can be drunk plain or processed into butter, cream cheese, dips, and many other milk kefir recipes.
Can you make butter from kefir?
Yes, whipping milk kefir creates a creamy butter with a slightly sour taste.
How do you make kefir cream cheese?
Simply by draining milk kefir in a cloth or sieve until a firm, creamy consistency is achieved.
How long does milk kefir last?
Freshly made milk kefir lasts about 3–5 days in the refrigerator.
How do you store milk kefir?
Ideally in an airtight container in the refrigerator, e.g., in fresh food containers or jars.
Can you freeze milk kefir?
Yes, however, the consistency and texture may change slightly.
Which milk is suitable for kefir?
Fresh whole milk is best, but other types of milk are also possible.
