How to Cream Butter and Sugar

Creamed butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

5 from 2 votes

These instructions describe exactly how to cream butter and sugar together properly so that you achieve the perfect rise in your baked goods.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 150kcal

Author: Allison Ferraro

Equipment

Stand mixer with paddle attachment or electric hand mixer

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated white and/or brown sugar

Instructions

Add softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl and beat on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 to 60 seconds. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the butter off the sides and bottom of the bowl and the beaters.
Add the sugar to the bowl and beat with the butter on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy and becomes a bit paler (but not white) in color, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pause to scrape the bowl and beaters with the spatula halfway through mixing.
After creaming the butter and sugar together, proceed with the rest of the recipe as instructed.

Notes

These ingredient measurements are just for explanation; use the ingredient measurements noted in your recipe.

If you're using an electric hand mixer rather than a stand mixer, I find it best to mix the butter really well by itself until it's nice and smooth before adding the sugar. If the butter is still firm or lumpy, it tends to "jump" around the bowl when I try to mix it. Once the butter is smooth it becomes much easier to keep the beaters in it and cream the sugar into it.

Nutrition