Are you wondering what to do with leftover buttermilk? This can be an intimidating ingredient to work with as it has a unique texture and flavor that often feels hard to incorporate into everyday recipes.
Today we’ll be giving you delicious ideas on how to make the most out of that spare buttermilk!
From crispy fried chicken sandwiches topped off with ranch dressing to rich pound cakes, and Bundt cakes bursting with sweet vanilla notes. Here are some tasty ways that you can use up all those leftovers in simple yet creative home cooked meals.
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Over 60 Leftover Buttermilk Recipes
We’ve collected some delicious and easy leftover buttermilk recipes sure to turn leftovers into a treat. Whether it’s transforming your buttermilk into fluffy pancakes, tangy dressing, or even light and airy souffles, this roundup of recipes will give you plenty of ideas on ways to use up every last drop.
There are just so many different ways to use a carton of buttermilk. So, don’t let your leftover buttermilk go unused; take advantage of these creative suggestions.
Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Made with Buttermilk
Not only is it easy to prepare and cook homemade pancakes in just minutes, but it also satisfies all your cravings with its fluffy texture, scrumptious flavor, and hearty ingredients.
Get the full recipe for Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Made with Buttermilk
Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes
These vegan buttermilk pancakes are light, cakey and super easy to make. Stack them up and drench them in maple syrup for the perfect Sunday brunch.
Get the full recipe for Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes
Easy Buttermilk Waffle Recipe
The buttermilk makes the waffles tender, and it adds a nice tang. Add a drizzle of maple syrup for the perfect quick and easy breakfast.
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Maple Bourbon Buttermilk Biscuits
These Maple Bourbon Buttermilk Biscuits are flaky outside and tender inside with rich buttery flavor and a hint of maple bourbon and vanilla.
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Mexican Waffles with Chorizo
Bold flavors. Topped with your favorite style of egg, this dish makes a tasty breakfast or brunch, but we love it for dinner too.
Get the full recipe for Mexican Waffles with Chorizo
Blueberry Biscuits
These biscuits are tender, buttery, and filled with juicy fresh blueberries. Made with simple pantry ingredients, these homemade biscuits make the perfect breakfast or dessert treat.
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Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits
Make thees fluffy homemade buttermilk biscuits, and serve with honey butter, and jam. They’re beautifully golden brown and crisp on the edges yet fluffy and flaky with a little extra tenderness on the inside.
Get the full recipe for Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits
Irish or Scottish Soda Scones
Learn how to make a quick and easy recipe for soda scones to celebrate the day of the patron saint of Ireland. Both the Irish and Scots make these versatile scones, or white Bannocks.
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The Ultimate Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits: All-Butter Recipe
Here’s how to make homemade buttermilk biscuits that are soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside, and rise to impressive heights with layer after delicious layer.
Get the full recipe for The Ultimate Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits: All-Butter Recipe
Buttermilk French Toast
This tasty buttermilk French toast is golden brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside. It’s an easy brunch recipe to make for a crowd of people.
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Popeye’s Biscuits Copycat Recipe
Flaky and fluffy and melt in your mouth. If you’re looking for a make at home copycat recipe, we’ve got you covered! These will go great with gravy or fried chicken and potatoes.
Get the full recipe for Popeye’s Biscuits Copycat Recipe
Dessert Recipes Using Buttermilk
Red Velvet Cake
This iconic cake can be made from scratch with a few simple steps. Top the cake with a whipped cream cheese frosting and your dessert will look like it came out of a bakery. A gorgeous moist crumb topping makes this a perfect festive cake for the Holidays.
Get the full recipe for Red Velvet Cake
Lemon Buttermilk Cake
Light and fluffy with a tangy flavor paired with lemon cream cheese frosting, it’s a delightfully refreshing dessert that your friends and family will love.
Get the full recipe for Lemon Buttermilk Cake
Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
You could simply make the cake itself without the flambe and caramel, it’s incredibly simple to do. Bake it in a beautiful Bundt cake tin for a gorgeous presentation.
Get the full recipe for Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes with Ganache
Moist and fluffy chocolate cake baked into adorable mini Bundt cakes and drizzled with chocolate ganache. This recipe makes 12 perfect mini cakes, perfect for any occasion.
Get the full recipe for Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes with Ganache
Chocolate Cake with Pumpkin Filling
A light, moist chocolate cake, filled with creamy sweet pumpkin filling and topped with a not too sweet chocolate ganache.
Get the full recipe for Chocolate Cake with Pumpkin Filling
Lemon Blueberry Cake
Combine lemon and blueberry flavors into one fabulous cake recipe. The moist and tender lemon cake is studded with sweet blueberries, then topped with a lemony homemade frosting.
Get the full recipe for Lemon Blueberry Cake
Texas Sheet Cake
This easy, one-bowl 30 minute recipe makes a rich chocolate sheet cake topped with fudgy chocolate icing.
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Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream Icing
The cupcakes are light yet don’t rise too high so the tops do not need to be cut off. Delicious and easy to make them look professional.
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Vanilla Baked Buttermilk Donuts
Tender and delicious, never mind gorgeous decorated but really are very simple to make. Get yourself some donut molds so you can make these often.
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Instant Pot Coffee Cake
perfectly moist and cinnamon sweet with a little extra spiciness. Great as a breakfast treat with your coffee or as a delectable dessert for a special brunch or dinner.
Get the full recipe for Instant Pot Coffee Cake
Strawberry Sherbet with Buttermilk
A light, fruity frozen treat with just a hint of exotic rose water, a perfect flavor pairing. A unique, yet perfect way to use buttermilk. It’s really more of an ice cream because it has dairy product in the recipe.
Get the full recipe for Strawberry Sherbet with Buttermilk
Banana Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
A sweet cinnamon crumble topping adds some crunch to the perfect moist & fluffy muffin.
Get the full recipe for Banana Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
Avocado Lime Crema with Yogurt
Avocado Lime Crema with Yogurt is a lightened up healthy crema for tacos and so much more.
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Pear Cobbler
Warm up with our comforting pear cobbler with spiced juicy sweet pears topped with soft and tender biscuits.
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Buttermilk Spice Muffins Recipe
It is a tender and moist muffin with warm cinnamon and nutmeg spices, with a decadent cinnamon sugar topping.
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Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins
Make these muffins in one bowl with fresh or frozen blackberries. The tangy flavors compliment the fresh fruit and lemon zest deliciously.
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Buttermilk Banana Cake
This homemade Bundt cake is moist, flavorful, not too sweet, and packed with bananas. And that glaze really finishes off this dessert.
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Rainbow Cupcakes
Pretty cupcakes that are bright, colorful, and certain to brighten anyone’s day. With a yellow cupcake base and rainbow buttercream frosting.
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Best Buttermilk Blueberry Scones
Bake the best of a brunch situation and whip up these tasty Buttermilk Blueberry Scones for your breakfast table. They’re so easy and quick to mix up using ingredients from the pantry.
Get the full recipe for Best Buttermilk Blueberry Scones
German Torte with Lemon and Buttermilk
This German torte filled with buttermilk lemon mousse is one of the most refreshing, best-tasting cakes you can imagine.
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The Best Red Velvet Muffins
Red velvet muffins with chocolate chips are the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day this year. Tender and delicious and ready in about 30 minutes.
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Soft Buttermilk Sugar Cookie Recipe
There’s something so simple and so perfect about these soft vanilla sugar cookies. A soft, tender interior with just the hint of a sugary crunch on the exterior.
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Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Cake
Coated with sumptuous cream cheese frosting, this cake is moist, soft, and perfect for holidays, weekends, or just because.
Get the full recipe for Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Cake
Best Banana Pumpkin Muffins
Easy to make and full of flavor. Using both bananas and pureed pumpkin, they are extremely moist and tender.
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Salads and Salad Dressings with Buttermilk
Easy Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
Unlike traditional Caesar salad dressing, ours uses no oil and no eggs in the dressing. Instead, it relies on tangy buttermilk and mayonnaise along with a few other ingredients to make amazing.
Get the full recipe for Easy Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe
Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing
Whether you put it on your salads, drizzle it on a sandwich, or use it as a dipping sauce, this salad dressing is just delicious.
Get the full recipe for Restaurant Style Ranch Dressing
Sriracha Ranch
Sriracha Ranch requires just a few simple ingredients to make. A little Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, buttermilk, sriracha sauce, sugar, sea salt, dried parsley, and freshly ground black pepper.
Get the full recipe for Sriracha Ranch
Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
A zippy salad topper of your dreams! It’s packed full of flavor from garlic, herbs, lime juice and zest. And of course, it has a smooth, creamy texture and beautiful green color thanks to the addition of ripe avocado.
Get the full recipe for Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
This salad dressing is creamy, packed with protein and bursting with fresh flavor. It’s tangy and flavorful with buttermilk, lemon juice and plenty of fresh herbs.
Get the full recipe for Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
Buttermilk-Herb Dressing
This dressing is simple, delicious, and perfect. Five minutes of prep with fresh ingredients.
Get the full recipe for Buttermilk-Herb Dressing
Dinner Recipes and More with Buttermilk
Buttermilk Chicken Marinade
Buttermilk grilled chicken is so juicy, tender and flavorful that you’ll never go back to any other marinade.
Get the full recipe for Buttermilk Chicken Marinade
Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
The perfect combination of flavors hot, crispy chicken melted cheese, bacon and that oh so dreamy Sriracha Mayo.
Get the full recipe for Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
Make this delicious twist from Mama Robin’s Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe (Pressure Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast) that took the internet by storm.
Get the full recipe for Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
KFC Style Chicken Fillet Burger
Delicious copycat recipe right at home. It’s super easy to recreate at home and you can bite into this in only 30 minutes.
Get the full recipe for KFC Style Chicken Fillet Burger
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Creamy and delicious, with the flavors of garlic, rosemary and tangy buttermilk! They’re an easy gluten-free side dish that the entire family is sure to love.
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Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
KFC Style Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Tender, delicious and just so easy to make. These small bite-sized pieces of chicken are full of flavor and can be baked in the oven or fried.
Get the full recipe for KFC Style Popcorn Chicken Recipe
Can buttermilk be frozen for later use?
Yes, freezing buttermilk is a great way to extend the life of it. For easier use in recipes, store in 1 cup portions in freezer-safe containers.
Since it is a liquid, when it freezes, it will expand. Therefore, leave room for expansion in the container. Your buttermilk will last in the freezer up to four months.
When you are ready to use, just thaw. Is it safe to bake with expired buttermilk?
Generally, buttermilk can be used up to one week after the expiration date. However, before using, make sure to smell it and look for visual signs of mold and spoilage.
How to Tell When Buttermilk has Gone Bad?
There are three methods that I use to check my buttermilk to see if it is still fresh or has gone bad.
First, smell the contents. If it smells rancid, do not use, discard.
Secondly, look for a change in the consistency. The buttermilk should be smooth and creamy. It is is separating and clumpy, it is spoiled. Do not use.
Lastly, look for any mold or discoloration. This is a sure sign that the buttermilk is beyond the expiration point and should not be consumed.
How to Make Your Own Buttermilk
Making your own buttermilk at home is simple and requires just two common ingredients: milk and an acid (usually lemon juice or vinegar). Buttermilk is often used in baking to add moisture and tenderness to recipes like pancakes, muffins, and cakes.
Here’s how to make your own buttermilk recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of milk (whole milk is preferred, but you can use low-fat or skim milk)
- 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice
Instructions:
Prepare the Milk: Pour 1 cup of milk into a measuring cup or a bowl. Ensure that the milk is at room temperature or slightly warmed, but not hot.
Add Acid: Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to the milk. Either white vinegar or lemon juice will work. Stir the mixture gently to combine.
Let It Sit: Allow the milk and acid mixture to sit for about 10-15 minutes at room temperature. During this time, the acid will react with the milk, causing it to curdle and thicken. You will notice small curdled bits forming in the mixture.
Using Homemade Buttermilk in Recipes
Use It or Store It. Once the milk has thickened and resembles traditional buttermilk, it’s ready to use in your recipes. If you don’t plan to use it immediately, you can cover it and store it in the refrigerator for future use. Homemade buttermilk will typically last for about a week when refrigerated.
That’s it!
You now have homemade buttermilk that can be used in your favorite recipes. Keep in mind that while homemade buttermilk is a great substitute for most recipes, it might not have the exact same consistency as commercially produced buttermilk. Nonetheless, it works well for providing the acidity and moisture needed in many baking applications.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.