A DIY butter lamb on your Easter table will be such an adorable addition!
A few years ago I was introduced to a charming tradition of having a butter lamb on the Easter table, and I’ve been enamored with the idea since then. Butter lambs can be purchased from some grocery stores, mostly in the Midwest, however I decided to try making my own this year, and hopefully, it will inspire you to start a new tradition of adding a butter lamb to your Easter table!
An Easter butter lamb is simply butter molded into the shape of a lamb. Introduced to the United States by Eastern European Catholic immigrants, the tradition can be traced back to Poland (as well as Slovenia and Russia).
The butter lamb was very easy to make using a lamb candy mold that I found on Amazon.
I filled both halves of the lamb mold, using a wide blade knife, pushing and smoothing to get the cavity filled. I used 1 1/2 sticks of butter for each side of the mold.
Tip: Before filling the mold, let your butter sit out to room temperature so that it’s soft and pliable.
Once both sides of the mold is filled, use a flat edge to smooth the butter, then place the mold in the refrigerator to chill.
I chilled the butter in the refrigerator for several hours to make sure that it was nice and solid.
Removing the butter from the mold wasn’t as easy as I was expecting, but with strong pushing on the mold, the lamb finally came free, and I joined both sides together.
Tip: Use your finger to smooth the joint between the two halves to create one solid piece.
The final step was creating the “wooly coat” on the lamb. I used a cheese grater and a stick of very cold butter, simply grating the butter and then gently placing it on the lamb wherever it would have it’s wooly coat.
I added peppercorns for the eyes, and then dressed him in the traditional red ribbon around the neck, and a tiny red flag with cross (drawn with a gold paint pen).
The traditional butter lamb has distinctive details of religious meaning for the holiday.
The lamb itself represents Jesus (referred to as the Lamb of God). The red ribbon around the neck represents his death. There is an accompanying little banner that says “Alleluia” (a nod to Jesus’ resurrection). In the case of my little butter lamb, I just painted a gold cross on the flag.
You might also enjoy these Easter posts:
Faux Chocolate Bunny Centerpiece
In the old traditions, families would mold their own lamb out of butter and take it to church on Holy Saturday to be blessed at Swieconka (“the blessing of the Easter baskets”).
The butter lamb would be carried in a basket along with rye bread, ham, colored eggs, kielbasa, chocolate and other food items to be eaten during the Easter feast.
Butter lambs are very popular and readily available to purchase in grocery stores, usually found in the Midwest. Unfortunately, they aren’t commonly found in my area, but perhaps they are in yours. If not available in your local grocery store, making one yourself is the next best thing!
In many families, Easter means a special visitor at the dinner table…..no, not the Easter bunny, but a butter lamb! My DIY butter lamb is imperfect, but I still think he’s the perfect new tradition for our Easter table!
The lamb mold also comes in a miniature size, so if you’re feeling really ambitious, you could make a tiny butter lamb for each place setting!
To learn more about the history of this Easter tradition, see our previous post on Butter Lambs.
I hope I’ve inspired you to create your own butter lamb for your Easter table!
Cheers, Cindy
Other Easter posts that you may like:
Faux Chocolate Bunny Centerpiece
Creating French Style Easter Eggs
Your butter lamb is absolutely precious, and I love the tradition! Have a wonderful Easter, Cindy!
Thank you so much, Debra! Happy Easter!
Oh, this lamb is so adorable and thanks for the inspiration! I have been searching for a vintage lamb butter mold to no avail. You have solved my butter mold dilemma; and I appreciate the historical background – thank you Cindy!!!
Wonderful! Happy Easter!
Love it! I’ve made butter molds for years of many different shapes, but never a lamb. How totally sweet. What a great idea and I think your lamb is beautiful. – happy Easter to you!
Thank you so much, Leslie Anne! Happy Easter!
OK, that is adorable!! I live in Ohio and at our state fair they always have a butter sculpture…a giant cow, and then a themed sculpture. One year it was Ralphie from A Christmas Story in the bunny suit!My kids loved that. Thanks for this great post!! Love all of your creativity, you are truly inspiring!!
Thank you, Beth! Happy Easter!
Cindy, that is adorable! I have a cast iron lamb mold that was my grandmother’s. I love how you grated the butter, it’s the perfect touch. I’m going to order one from good ole Amazon to go with my lamb cake. So very clever of you, but not a surprise. I was wondering, do you sleep at night or is your mind in a constant frenzy with absolutely adorable ideas? Thank you for your creativity. MaryJo
Lol, sometimes my brain works overtime! Happy Easter, MaryJo!
Love this. Thank you for the history behind it as well. Your lamb is the perfect addition for Easter. As the Lamb of God who died for all mankind.
Amen! Happy Easter, Cherry!
Cindy, that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen! You continue to amaze and inspire me!
Thank you so much, Jacki! ❤️