32 Best Buttermilk Recipes to Use Up Leftovers

Are you looking for buttermilk recipes to help you use it up before it spoils? I’ve got you, friend! 

There are so many fantastic leftover buttermilk recipes out there, including some drool-worthy buttermilk desserts.

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Whether you make homemade buttermilk or get it from the store, it’s a must-have ingredient in any kitchen.

It’s essential in pancakes, waffles, biscuits, fried chicken, and more. But there’s usually leftover buttermilk when you’re done cooking.

The solution? These tasty buttermilk recipes, of course.

Let’s dive in!

Homemade Buttermilk on a clear glass bottle with fresh lemons on marble table
Source: Mommyshomecooking.com

1. Homemade Buttermilk

Before we start – what is buttermilk?

It’s a type of fermented dairy product that used to be a by-product of the butter-making process. Now it’s made commercially, but the uses are the same.

And you can even make it yourself!

All you’ll need is milk, vinegar, and a few minutes. Stir the two ingredients together, let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, and voila!

Stack of pancakes on a plate topped with slice of butter pancake syrup

2. Cracker Barrel Pancakes 

Pancakes are the ultimate weekend breakfast, don’t you agree?

And when it comes to the best pancake recipes, Cracker Barrel has knocked it out of the park. 

But if you want to enjoy the greatness that is Cracker Barrel pancakes without leaving your house, this is the recipe for you.

Just seven ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to make these super-rich and fluffy flapjacks.

Stack of pancakes on a plate with scoop of butter and syrup on top with fresh strawberries in the background
Source: Willcookforsmiles.com

3. Buttermilk Waffles

This recipe is a must-try if you’re more of a waffle than a pancake person.

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These buttermilk waffles are ridiculously crisp on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside.

They’re rich, hearty, and delectable — all you could ever want in a breakfast confection.

Smeared with butter, drizzled with maple syrup, and paired with crispy fried chicken, they’re the perfect way to start the day.

Bowl of coleslaw made with shredded cabbage, carrots, buttermilk, mayonnaise and sour cream, garnished with chopped green onions
Source: Spicysouthernkitchen.com

4. Buttermilk Coleslaw

Next up is a side dish that we all know and love. Perfect with almost any main entrée, coleslaw is a crunchy, creamy, refreshing treat.

Whether it’s burgers, fried chicken, sandwiches, or BBQ, there’s nothing coleslaw doesn’t taste good with!

The buttermilk not only makes this coleslaw wonderfully rich, but also adds a hint of tanginess to balance out the flavor.

Scoops of Berry Buttermilk Ice Cream on ice cream cones
Source: Homemadefoodjunkie.com

5. Berry Buttermilk Ice Cream

This easy five-ingredient ice cream is a fantastic way to beat the summer heat!

Flavored with berries, brown sugar, and maple, it’s wonderfully sweet and perfectly creamy.

But that’s not even the best part! This fruity ice cream is packed with flavor AND vegetarian, low-sodium, and gluten-free.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Bunch of Biscuits with cheese filling in the middle served on a plate

6. Buttermilk Biscuits

Hearty and savory buttermilk biscuits that also happen to be low-carb? It may sound impossible, but it’s true.

Say hello to Carbquik buttermilk biscuits!

With only 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving, these biscuits are a guilt-free way to make your tummy full and happy.

Eat them as-is or smother them with butter: it doesn’t matter. These guys will blow your taste buds away either way.

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls on a baking tray with frosting on top
Source: Averiecooks.com

7. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Soft and sticky buns loaded with sweet cinnamon: that’s what I call the perfect breakfast. If you have a sweet tooth, these rolls are a must-try.

You know what makes this recipe a cut above the rest? As you may have guessed, it’s buttermilk.

It’s what makes these cinnamon rolls unbelievably soft and fluffy! Pair them with coffee for the most satisfying morning meal.

Slices of brownies with chocolate sprinkles on top
Source: Cookiesandcups.com

8. Buttermilk Brownies

Looking for ways to amp up your brownies? Try adding buttermilk! You’ll never have them any other way again.

These brownies are insanely soft and fudgy! They’re made even better with a smearing of decadent chocolate frosting.

A word of warning: these brownies are so good that it’s impossible to eat just two. I’d double the recipe if I were you!

Crispy fried chicken served on a plate with fries and ketchup

9. Cracker Barrel Fried Chicken

Everyone knows the ideal fried chicken has two elements: super crispy golden skin and tender, juicy, and perfectly flavored meat.

Cracker Barrel has definitely mastered fried chicken. Fortunately, this copycat recipe tells you how to replicate this lip-smacking dish.

All you need to make your fried chicken as mouth-watering as Cracker Barrel’s is… buttermilk! Try it now and thank me later.

Fried steak on top of mashed potatoes and boiled green beans served on a plate with gravy on top
Source: Closetcooking.com

10. Chicken Fried Steak

Fried chicken isn’t the only protein that benefits from adding buttermilk to the recipe. This delicious chicken-fried steak is just as tasty.

It features the same crispy, golden-brown skin as fried chicken. But underneath is everyone’s favorite red meat!

Best of all, you can whip it up with just seven ingredients plus oil for frying.

Onion ring dipped into a bowl ok mayo and ketchup dipping sauce
Source: Divascancook.com

11. Buttermilk Onion Rings

Looking for something crisp and crunchy to serve at your next party?

Nothing beats the classics, so why not make your friends and family some good old-fashioned buttermilk onion rings?

This southern favorite is wonderfully crisp on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside.

Pair it with a creamy dipping sauce, and you’ll have an irresistible party treat.

A slice of cornbread on a plate with freshly bake cornbread on a cast iron pan in the background

12. Buttermilk Cornbread

People may sometimes overlook cornbread at dinners, but this recipe proves it can shine just as brightly as other side dishes.

This cornbread is wonderfully rich and moist! It’s savory with just a hint of sweetness, giving your taste buds that perfect balance of flavors.

It already tastes amazing on its own, but try it with honey and butter, too!

A Slice of pie with lemon wheel on top served on a saucer with fork

13. Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie

Rich and creamy buttermilk pie infused with lemon for a bit of a zest: that’s what this pie is all about.

It’s very similar to chess pie — a cheesecake-like pie consisting of a buttery crust and a custard filling.

It’s rich and creamy and tastes even more immaculate when topped with whipped cream!

Bowl of savory and thick broth with soft and fluffy dumplings and chicken garnished with chopped parsley

14. Cracker Barrel Chicken and Buttermilk Dumplings

Feeling a little blue? Well, chicken and dumplings is definitely for you.

Since its conception, this warming soup has never failed to provide comfort to anyone who tries it.

Roasted chicken and buttermilk dumplings sit inside in a rich broth.

The formula is simple, but it works like magic! One spoonful will warm your heart and soothe your soul.

Pile of squared fudges on a plate
Source: Thespruceeats.com

15. Buttermilk Fudge Recipe

End your meal with a soft and chewy treat! This buttermilk fudge is all you’ll need.

It’s wonderfully sweet and caramel-y with a hint of tanginess! The flavors create a beautiful harmony that you will find impossible to resist.

What makes this fudge even more wonderful is its consistency. Unlike other fudges that are too crumbly, this one is so soft, it melts in your mouth.

Two bowls of Blueberry Cobbler with ice cream top and a pan of freshly baked Blueberry Cobbler
Source: Alexandracooks.com

16. Blueberry Cobbler

I love all fruit cobblers, no matter what fruit is inside them. Peach, apple, blackberry, etc. — I adore and will devour them all.

Even so, this blueberry cobbler holds a special place in my heart. It’s the same recipe my gramma used, and it tastes absolutely divine.

Sweet and tangy with precisely the right amount of crust. Yum yum!

Loaf of Buttermilk Bread cut in half on a wooden cutting board
Source: Butterwithasideofbread.com

17. Buttermilk Bread

Have you ever wanted to try making your very own bread? Then check out this easy-breezy recipe.

Infused with buttermilk, this bread is ridiculously soft and full of flavor!

All you’ll need to make it are a few basic ingredients and a handy dandy bread machine.

You’ll make buttermilk bread so good that it’ll give your favorite bakery a run for its money.

Slice of buttermilk cake with buttery pecan glaze on top served on a plate with stainless fork
Source: Thecafesucrefarine.com

18. Buttermilk Cake

This unbelievably soft and moist cake is flavored with rich and creamy buttermilk. It’s also topped with a sweet, buttery pecan glaze. It’s just delicious.

Pair this decadent buttermilk cake with coffee or tea, and you’ll have one heck of an afternoon snack.

Bowl of ranch dressing with fried chicken wings on the side

19. Wingstop Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Give your chips, crackers, and crudites the creamiest companion with this copycat Wingstop buttermilk ranch dressing.

Appetizers have never tasted this good!

Apart from being a terrific dip, it also tastes phenomenal as a salad dressing.

Combining buttermilk, sour cream, garlic, and lemon juice creates the most beautiful melody that will surely make you ask for more.

Chocolate cake with crushed walnuts on top in a baking sheet on wire rack
Source: Theanthonykitchen.com

20. Texas Sheet Cake 

Texas sheet cake is a moist and decadent chocolate cake frosted with fudgy chocolate pecan icing. It’s every chocolate lover’s dream!

Apart from its taste bud-tingling flavor and texture, this cake’s sheer size makes it ideal for parties.

After all, we all know everything’s bigger in Texas! One batch can feed an entire crowd! 

Bunch of cookies with vanilla frosting and colorful sprinkles on top served on a wooden board
Source: Familycookierecipes.com

21. Buttermilk Sugar Cookies

Wonderfully sweet and melt-in-your-mouth tender, sugar cookies are already pretty irresistible.

But there’s a little something that makes this recipe all the more special.

Smothered with a sweet buttermilk vanilla frosting and topped with colorful sprinkles, these sugar cookies are a true work of art.

Bowl of sherbet with fresh raspberries on top
Source: Afarmgirlsdabbles.com

22. Lemon Buttermilk Sherbet

Together, lemon and buttermilk create the most stunning flavor combination. Turn them into a sherbet for the ultimate summer dessert.

Best of all, this icy cold confection only calls for three simple ingredients: lemons, buttermilk, and sugar.

It’s simple and spectacular at the same time. Not to mention cool, refreshing, and totally thirst-quenching.

French toast with fresh blueberries, strawberries and mint leaves on top, drizzled with syrup, served on a plate

23. Buttermilk French Toast

Want to take your French toast game to the next level? Use this incomparable buttermilk French toast recipe. 

It keeps the bread nice and crispy outside and soft, tender, and almost creamy at the center. Not to mention how rich and decadent it is! 

Use the included syrup recipe and add some berries as a topping, and you’re all set! 

Loaf bread in a parchment paper on a cooling rack
Source: Simplyscratch.com

24. Irish Soda Bread

I like to think of Irish soda bread as biscuits with a better texture. It has the same mild, unassuming flavor as biscuits. 

However, the soft, fluffy insides put even the best biscuits to shame. 

Enjoy it by itself or smeared with butter, jam, or jelly. You could even add a bit of apple butter. Either way, it’s delicious. 

25. Strawberry Buttermilk Crepes

Give your breakfast a French flair by making these fancy buttermilk crepes! Don’t worry; they’re a snap to make.

Plus, crepes are also easily customizable! You can stuff and top them with whatever ingredients come to mind.

This recipe calls for strawberries and whipped cream for the filling and topping, but it’s totally your call.

Bundt cake glazed with buttermilk on top sliced on a wood en cutting board
Source: Baking-sense.com

26. Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Insanely soft bundt cake topped with a sweet and sticky buttermilk glaze. It’s the perfect breakfast for dessert lovers!

I’ve been talking about buttermilk as a cake ingredient for quite a while now. But do you know why people widely use it in baked goods?

Simple! Because buttermilk makes cakes so soft, they melt in your mouth. Yum!

Pile of deep fried sliced okra coated in buttermilk and a seasoned cornmeal mixture served on a plate with parchment paper
Source: Dinneratthezoo.com

27. Fried Okra

Nothing screams Southern more than crispy golden fried okra.

Covered in a batter made of buttermilk and cornmeal and deep-fried to perfection, these okra bites are seriously addictive.

It’s one of the best southern appetizers there is! The tasty little morsels also make an excellent side dish for most meals. 

Plate of coated fried tomatoes, beans and salad
Source: Food.com

28. Buttermilk Fried Green Tomatoes

Speaking of deep-fried Southern treats, here’s another one for you!

These fried green tomatoes are wonderfully crisp, golden, and absolutely amazing.

The richness of the buttermilk batter complements beautifully with the tomatoes.

You may not get them from the Whistlestop Cafe, but I guarantee they will taste just as good.

Slice loaf of pound cake with fresh raspberries on the side
Source: Cakewhiz.com

29. Buttermilk Pound Cake

Traditional pound cake is popular for a good reason. It’s amazingly soft, moist, and loaded with flavor.

This recipe is a wonderful blank canvas, so feel free to experiment with flavors.

For instance, you can infuse the batter with zests and extracts or top the cake with your choice of frosting or glaze.

Stack of donuts with glazed buttermilk on top on a wooden board
Source: Barbarabakes.com

30. Buttermilk Donuts

Who doesn’t love soft and pillowy donuts topped with a sweet sugar glaze? These fit that description perfectly.

In fact, they’re so good that you’ll think they came straight out of the bakery. And if you don’t tell anyone, they’ll never know they didn’t.

Buttermilk scones with red currant jam served on saucer

31. Homemade Buttermilk Scones

There’s just something about homemade scones that gets me every time. I love their crunchy, flaky texture and their buttery, melt-in-your-mouth flavor.

Like most scones, these, too, are flaky, buttery, and delicious. They’re the perfect vessel for jams, butter, and jellies!

Source: thesweetandsimplekitchen.com

32. Buttermilk Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins 

Here’s another excellent breakfast for you: buttermilk muffins. They’re rich, lemony, and good till the last bite!

I adore anything with lemon and poppy seeds. But these muffins are extra moist and tender, thanks to the buttermilk.

And the glaze is just the right amount of sweetness to lift the citrus. Yum!

32 Best Buttermilk Recipes

Servings

6

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

14

minutes
Calories

210

kcal

We can’t have a complete list of buttermilk recipes without including a buttermilk biscuits recipe! Luckily, I have you covered!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon baking powder

  • 1/4 tablespoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 6 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter

  • 1 cup cold buttermilk

  • milk, for brushing on the biscuit tops

Instructions

  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
  • Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Use a whisk to evenly disperse and fully incorporate everything. 
  • Slice the butter into cubes. Work the butter into the dry ingredients carefully. (Using a pastry cutter helps.) Once it’s entirely worked in, the dry ingredients mixture should resemble breadcrumbs. 
  • Slowly stir in the buttermilk. Mix until just combined and dough-like. 
  • Dust a clean working surface with flour. Then, transfer the dough onto the prepared surface. Gently shape and press it until it resembles a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. 
  • Fold the rectangle of dough into thirds. Repeat twice more, rotating the dough 90 degrees before each new fold. 
  • Press the dough into a 1-inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into individual square biscuits.
  • Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet. Leave approximately 2 inches of space between them. 
  • If there’s leftover dough, press it together to form more 1-inch-thick biscuits. Add these biscuits to the baking sheet. 
  • Place the baking sheet in the freezer to chill. 
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  • Once the oven is ready, retrieve the biscuits from the freezer. Brush their tops with milk, then slide the sheet into the oven. 
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the biscuits are done. 
  • Serve warm with desired toppings or sides. Enjoy! 

Notes

  • Cut the biscuits with a cookie cutter, not a glass. The blunt edge will squash the dough and keep it from rising properly.
Buttermilk Recipes

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1 thought on “32 Best Buttermilk Recipes to Use Up Leftovers”

  1. I too only use the milk/vinegar when I don’t have actual buttermilk, for the same reason. Very glad to know you can freeze it. You can also make actual buttermilk by keeping a portion of buttermilk (I forget exactly how much) and add milk to it. Leave it sit out at room temperature several hours. It doesn’t go bad and makes the good thick buttermilk. I used to do it all the time but now forget the specifics but I’m sure you cod search for the exact recipe.

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