From pancakes to biscuits to fried chicken, you can serve up comfort food at its finest by using buttermilk. To say that buttermilk is a kitchen essential is an understatement. From waffles to cornbread to cakes, buttermilk makes our favorite classics even richer, creamier, and more delightful. There are a wide array of goods you can whip up with this versatile ingredient, and these simple recipes prove it. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, or light or heavy, don’t worry! This list has every dish your heart and tummy could possibly desire. So please, don’t throw away that leftover buttermilk hanging around at the back of your fridge! Make these delectable dishes instead and you’ll surely wow your family and friends. Here are 32 of the best recipes to make with buttermilk. Let’s dig in!

1. Homemade Buttermilk

Before getting started on buttermilk-infused recipes, why not learn how to make your very own buttermilk? It’s quick, easy, and super affordable. 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!  No vinegar? No problem. Lemon or lime juice both work, too! The idea is to add an acidic element to the milk. So the next time you run out of buttermilk, just head to the kitchen instead of the grocery store.

2. Cracker Barrel Pancakes 

Pancakes are the ultimate weekend breakfast, don’t you agree? And when it comes to the best pancakes recipe, 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.

3. Buttermilk Waffles

If you’re more of a waffle than a pancake-person, this recipe is a must-try. These buttermilk waffles are ridiculously crisp on the outside and tender and fluffy on the inside.   They’re rich, hearty, and delectable, which is all you could ever want in a dish. Smeared with butter, drizzled with maple syrup, and paired with crispy fried chicken, they’re the perfect way to start the day. 

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, and 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.

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, this ice cream is wonderfully sweet and perfectly creamy. But that’s not even the best part! This fruity ice cream is not only packed with flavor, but it’s also vegetarian, low-sodium, and gluten-free. It couldn’t get any better than that.

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.

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 these rolls with coffee for the most satisfying morning meal.

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, it’s impossible to eat just two. I’d double the recipe if I were you!

9. Cracker Barrel Fried Chicken

Everyone knows that the ideal fried chicken has 2 elements: a 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. 

10. Chilled Buttermilk Soup

Chilled buttermilk soup may sound strange, but it tastes ridiculously good, especially during blazing hot summer afternoons! Chlodnik is a Polish soup made with buttermilk, sour cream, pickled beets, cucumber, and radish. The gazpacho alternative has a lovely balance of flavors and textures. It’s creamy, refreshing, and absolutely delightful.

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.

12. Buttermilk Cornbread

Cornbread may sometimes be overlooked at dinners, but this recipe proves that it can also shine just as bright 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!

13. Southern Buttermilk Chess Pie

Rich and creamy buttermilk pie infused with lemon for a bit of a zest: that’s what chess pie is all about. While the origin of its name is unclear, people believe it to be a derivative of the cheese pie, a cheesecake-like pie consisting of a buttery crust and a custard filling. This chess pie is rich, creamy, and tastes even more immaculate when topped with whipped cream!

14. Chicken and 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 even the saddest people. Roasted chicken and buttermilk dumplings sit inside in a rich broth. The formula is simple, but it works like magic! One spoonful is sure to warm your heart and soothe your soul.

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.

16. Lemon Buttermilk Ice

If you’ve fallen in love with the Korean shaved ice dessert or Patbingsu, then you have to give this recipe a try. This shaved ice dessert is made of buttermilk, cream, sugar, and lemon, giving you the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and tangy flavors! What a wonderful way to cool you down on a hot day!

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 insanely soft and full of flavor!  With just a few basic ingredients and a handy dandy bread machine, you’ll be one step closer to making buttermilk bread that’s so good, it will give your favorite bakery a run for its money.

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.

19. Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Give your chips, crackers, and crudites the creamiest companion with this buttermilk ranch dressing. Appetizers have never tasted this good! Apart from being a terrific dip, it also tastes phenomenal as a salad dressing. The combination of buttermilk, sour cream, garlic, and lemon juice creates the most beautiful melody that will surely make you ask for more.

20. Texas Sheet Cake 

Texas sheet cake is a moist and decadent chocolate cake frosted with a fudgy chocolate pecan icing. It’s every chocolate lover’s dream! Apart from its taste bud tingling flavor and texture, what makes this cake ideal for parties is its sheer size. One batch can feed a crowd! (Everything’s bigger in Texas!)

21. Buttermilk Sugar Cookies

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

22. Lemon Buttermilk Sherbet

Lemon and buttermilk together create the most stunning flavor combination. Turn them into a sherbet, and you’ll have the ultimate summer dessert. Best of all, this refreshing confection only calls for three simple ingredients: lemons, buttermilk, and sugar. It’s simple and spectacular at the same time.

23. Buttermilk Shake

It’s thick, creamy, and ridiculously delicious. Infused with strawberries, this buttermilk shake couldn’t be more delightful. Best of all, it only requires 4 ingredients: sugar, buttermilk, strawberries, and vanilla. But just because the ingredients are basic doesn’t mean the flavor is, too! Just imagine the combination of sweet sugar, tart berries, and creamy buttermilk makes!

24. Crème Fraîche

Does your stew, sauce, or soup require creme fraiche, but you completely forgot to buy one at your last trip to the grocery store? Don’t worry, as long as you have some whipping cream and buttermilk, you’re all set.  Yup, with just those two ingredients, you can make your very own creme fraiche! I told you buttermilk was versatile.

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

26. Buttermilk Bundt Cake

Insanely soft bundt cake is 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 it’s widely used in baked goods? It’s very simple. Buttermilk makes cakes so soft, they melt in your mouth. Yum!

27. Fried Okra

Nothing screams southern more than crispy golden fried okra. Covered in a buttermilk and cornmeal batter and deep-fried to perfection, these okra bites are seriously addictive. It’s one of the best southern appetizers there is!

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.

29. Buttermilk Pound Cake

Traditional pound cake is popular for 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.

30. Buttermilk Donuts

Soft and pillowy donuts are topped with a sweet sugar glaze. These donuts are so good, you’ll think they came straight out of the bakery.

31. Buttermilk Scones

They’re flaky, buttery, and incredibly delicious. These buttermilk scones are the perfect vessel for jams, butter, and jellies! They’re the perfect breakfast treat.

32. Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins 

Here’s another excellent breakfast for you: buttermilk oatmeal muffins. They’re insanely rich and hearty! The oatmeal adds a wonderful chewy texture, which contrasts the crumbly muffins well. Flavored with buttermilk and brown sugar, these muffins are love at first bite. Click on a star to rate it!

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