We've all been there: You bought a whole carton of buttermilk for a recipe and now you've got... essentially a whole carton left over. Fear not! These 24 ultra-clever uses for buttermilk will have you not only using up your stash, but finding that, hey, you might need to pick up some more. Once you get to making your own buttermilk-brined crispy fried chicken, a stack of buttermilk waffles, or your own homemade ranch, you'll be singing its praises for sure.
First things first, what is buttermilk exactly? As the name suggests, buttermilk was simply just the milk left over after churning butter. But today it's used in cooking and baking to add thickness or tartness to a dish, as well as to tenderize certain proteins (from gluten in baked goods to meats). When you think about it, buttermilk is kind of magical. It adds a special something to pretty much everything it touches, whether it's a coconut-lime layer cake or corn dog batter.
If you don't want to shell out for a whole carton, we got you. There's tons of ways to make a homemade substitute for buttermilk, using ingredients you like have on hand. Milk + lemon juice is a classic mix, but feel free to experiment with sour cream + water (or milk) or yogurt + water (or milk). The acidity of all those combos will lead to a toothsome crumb in those buttermilk scones and a thick enough batter for a copycat Popeyes chicken sandwich, no question about it. Don't be surprised if you find you need even more buttermilk after you get a look at all of these recipes. 😉
Buttermilk Waffles
Is there anything better than weekend mornings that begin with a delicious brunch? The perfect way to begin any day that stretches lazily ahead is with a batch of tender buttermilk waffles, topped with pats of melty butter and pools of maple syrup. As they cook, the waffles will fill your kitchen with the delicious fragrance of vanilla-scented batter. It's heavenly.
Get the Buttermilk Waffles recipe.
Coconut-Lime Layer Cake
Put the lime in the coconut and bake this stunning layer cake! One of the reasons this cake is SO fun to eat is that it’s not about blasting every component with all the lime and all the coconut flavor, but instead letting each part of the cake bring a little something to the party.
Get the Coconut-Lime Layer Cake recipe.
Copycat Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
Re-creating a Popeyes chicken sandwich means mimicking a few key elements in their spicy, juicy, crispy (not to mention) top-secret classic. We've got a few non-traditional tricks that made our version of Popeye’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich edge out above the rest.
Southern-Fried Catfish "Katsu"
Somewhere between Japanese katsu and Southern-style fried catfish lies this delightfully comforting and hearty dinner. Flaky, buttermilk-brined catfish is accompanied by a crunchy slaw (in place of katsu’s standard shredded cabbage) and some white rice. To finish, drizzle with tartar and katsu sauce.
Homemade Biscuits
Biscuits can take on very different meanings in different parts of the world. In North America, they're meant to be a flaky and soft leavened quick bread. Ideally, they should have tender flaky layers and an extra-buttery taste. An easier alternative to dinner rolls and equally good at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Get the Homemade Biscuits recipe.
Blueberry Lemon Buttermilk Scones
These buttermilk scones have a sugary, crispy crust, a soft and pillowy middle, and pockets of juicy, exploding blueberries. In other words, they're insanely delicious and so NOT boring, which is the unfortunate reputation scones often get. Just like with our berry scones made with cream, the fruit is interchangeable. But you really can't beat blueberry + lemon.
Homemade Bread
This recipe for homemade bread is the perfect one to turn to when that grocery store loaf just doesn’t cut it anymore. With absolutely no unnecessary preservatives or additives, the full flavors of buttermilk and honey in this bread will lead to the best breakfast toasts and sandwiches you’ve ever made.
Get the Homemade Bread recipe.
Cranberry Bread
Few flavors go together as well as cranberry and orange. This cranberry bread is full of warm spices and a sweet orange glaze that gets drizzled on while the bread is still slightly warm so that it can seep into it. Check out our cranberry cheesecake banana or our sparkling cranberry cheesecake too for even more cran-orange flavor.
Get the Cranberry Bread recipe.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Imagine the best fried chicken you've ever had. Now imagine if it wasn't even fried. Crazy, right? Not with this easy air-fryer fried chicken recipe! The air fryer works some kind of magic on the chicken, and it crisps up into perfectly crunchy chicken as if it had been deep-fried.
Get the Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe.
Onion Rings
Any kind of onions will work here, but we use the Vidalia variety for a sweeter ring. Because salt can draw out water from the onions and make them sweat, we reserve salting for after the fry is done—this helps to keep the batter on the onion and not a mess in your frying pot.
Get the Onion Rings recipe.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
We know—it’s tempting to just pick up a bottle of ranch dressing at the store, but trust us: It’s more than worth it to make at home. Once made, you’ll have a fresh and creamy dip ready to be used for any occasion: alongside your game day appetizers, drizzled on top of your weeknight dinner, or served with a quick lunch to make things more interesting.
Get the Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe.
Chicken & Waffles
Making fried chicken and waffles at the same time is quite a feat, but this soul food classic is worth the effort. Brining your chicken beforehand is NOT required! Sure, it'll make your chicken taste even better, but we understand if spending 3+ hours on brunch isn't really up your alley. We think the best course of action is as follows: get your chicken in a buttermilk brine, whip up your waffles and pop 'em in a 200° oven to stay warm. THEN take out your chicken, bread, and fry.
Get the Classic Chicken & Waffles recipe.
Cherry Cobbler
This easy cobbler is adorned with a buttery, buttermilk biscuit topping. The cherries create their own sauce while baking, but hold their shape well and stay nice and tart. It's easily one of our favorite cobblers and the perfect way to use cherries during peak season!
Get the Cherry Cobbler recipe.
Buffalo Popcorn Chicken
A big game deserves a big appetizer. And this is it. Fried popcorn chicken is coated in buffalo sauce for a crunchy, spicy, irresistible bite. Those that feel the bone just gets in the way with Buffalo wings will absolutely love these. Quickly into making this recipe, you'll discover how tempting it is to sneak bites of the chicken pre-sauced, right after they've been fried! Luckily, it makes a big batch.
Get the Buffalo Popcorn Chicken recipe.
How to Make Buttermilk
Real talk: Buttermilk is an annoying ingredient. You hardly ever need it, it's only sold in a huge carton, and the recipe never calls for that much. Luckily, you can make your own in a few different ways, using ingredients you likely have on hand!
Get the How to Make Buttermilk recipe.
Chicken-Fried Steak
The pinnacle of comfort food, well-made chicken-fried steak is hard to resist. One bite of this juicy, tender beef surrounded by a crispy, salty breaded exterior, and you’ll be transported to your favorite Texas diner. Paired with velvety, rich gravy (of course), this fried masterpiece is much easier to make at home than you may think. In around an hour, you’ll have the most satisfying, filling weeknight dinner on your hands right at home.
Get the Chicken-Fried Steak recipe.
Crispy Fried Chicken
Fried chicken can seem intimidating—that hot oil means biz—but by following our trusty guide you will master it just like your favorite restaurant in no time. For fried chicken, we love marinating it in buttermilk-salt solution. Just remember the ratio 1 quart buttermilk: 2 tablespoons salt.
Get the Crispy Fried Chicken recipe.
Lemon-Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Sometimes you want cake, sometimes you want blueberry muffins—and sometimes you want both. For that third option, there’s this fun treat that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch. The soft, pillowy cake is bursting with tart blueberries and has a sprinkling of sugar on top that creates the crunchy crust that all the best bakery muffins have.
Buttermilk Pie
You truly can't beat a classic, and nothing proves that more than sweet buttermilk pie. This pie recipe may only require a few simple ingredients, but delivers a flaky crust and sweet custard filling that rivals even the fanciest of desserts. Think of crème brûlée, but so much easier.
Get the Buttermilk Pie recipe.
Buttermilk Pancakes
This recipe is short, simple and very easy to double (or triple... or quadruple). The key to giving these pancakes the perfect texture and a nice rise is to whip your egg whites to a stiff peak. We know that pulling out a mixer is a bit of a pain, especially when you want to get breakfast on the table fast (see our IHOP pancake recipe for those mornings), but we promise that this extra step will make a world of difference.
Get the Buttermilk Pancakes recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
