October 16, 2009
Ultimate Buttermilk Recipe Repository

You bought a quart of buttermilk for one recipe and now you’re wondering what to do with the rest? So been there. Allow me to introduce the Ultimate Buttermilk Recipe Repository! I scoured the web for the best-looking recipes that call for a bit of buttermilk, giving us plenty of opportunities to use up what’s still left in the fridge.
Breakfast
- Wheat Germ Scones with Dried Fruit and Nuts
- Buttermilk Banana Bread
- Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
- Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
- Buttermilk Bran Muffins
- Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins
- Pumpkin Walnut Flapjacks
- Strawberry Buckwheat Muffins
- Fast Raspberry Scones
Soups and Salads
- Buttermilk Summer Squash Soup
- Buttermilk Tomatillo Soup
- Buttermilk Vichyssoise
- Avocado Soup
- Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- Blue Cheese and Chive Dressing
- Homemade Creme Fraiche
- Buttermilk Potato Salad
Main Dish
- Buttermilk Oven-Fried Chicken
- Buttermilk Leek Tart
- Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- Tomato Cobbler
- Soba with Salmon and Watercress
Breads and Sides
- Irish Soda Bread
- Cornbread
- Cheddar Scallion Drop Biscuits
- Black Pepper Biscuits
- Buttermilk Thyme Drop Biscuits
- Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Okra Cornmeal Fritters
- Onion Rings
Sweets
- The Best Buttermilk Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Carrot Cake
- Coconut Layer Cake
- Banana Upside Down Cake
- Buttermilk Vanilla Pastry Cream
- One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes
- Chocolate Almond Upside Down Cake
- Red Velvet Chocolate Cake
- Glazed Lemon Pound Cake
- Gingerbread
- Pear Upside Down Cake
- Chocolate Pistachio Torte
























gidget: WoW! That is a most impressive collection of buttermilk recipes.2 years ago
Betsy: Oh, very awesome list. Buttermilk was a staple in my mother’s kitchen growing up on a small farm in Colorado. Our neighbors had a small dairy farm and creamery so there was plenty of dairy products at our house (including raw milk, but drinking that is questionable). I even knew an old gentleman who ate buttermilk on popcorn as though it were cereal. Said neighbors were hunters as well. Venison and elk roasts were braised in buttermilk as they roasted, taming gamey flavors. My dilemna today? Which of these tastey recipes to try this weekend!2 years ago
Simply Savvy Girl: Two words … THANK YOU!
You have NO IDEA the number of times I’ve stood with the refrigerator door open wondering “What am I going to do with the rest of that $%*#*&! buttermilk?!”
I stumbled upon your blog a couple of weeks ago and have had the best time clicking back through your archives. Love it!
(P.S. Totally noted that I exceeded my earlier “two word” statement.)2 years ago
Emily: FYI, you can also use buttermilk to make homemade “ricotta” (which is so utterly delicious).2 years ago
Betsy: Oh Emily, I must know more about this! Do tell!2 years ago
Betsy, My dad drinks it straight from the carton which always astounds me, but popcorn — how interesting!
SSS, That is my EXACT experience too! Good — I am so glad this list will come in handy for you (and me, too!).
Yes, Emily, do tell us more!2 years ago
Catherine: If you ever need buttermilk for a recipe, but don’t want to buy a whole cartoon, you can “make” buttermilk by putting one tablespoon of white vinegar into a measuring cup and filling it with regular (2%, 1% or skim) milk to the 1 cup mark.2 years ago
Great tip, Catherine. You can also sub lemon juice for the vinegar if you have that on hand.2 years ago
Ginger: Seriously, it’s like you read my mind. We love pancakes on the weekends, but I hate wasting the rest through the week. I’m just not that creative, though my Southern Mamaw would be ashamed of me.
Thank you thank you thank you. Lots of fodder for the next 41 weeks. You’re the best! (And husband is going to love you too!)2 years ago
Sara Rose: Looooooooooooooooove chocolate zucchini cake! Looooooooooove fried okra!2 years ago
Adrienne: You are a genius. Thank you for doing this!
Except that I want to make so many of them, I may have to go buy another quart of buttermilk….2 years ago
Carly: Where were you when I made red velvet cupcakes a few weeks ago?! Oh well, now I’m ready for next time!2 years ago
Karen: So many great recipes to choose from. Thanks! I like the Tomato Cobbler!2 years ago
CarrieB: Thank you so much! I make Ina Garten’s lemon cake very often and always have extra buttermilk. This will come in handy!2 years ago
alliemarien: it also freezes easily.2 years ago
Miranda M.: All I can say is THANK YOU!2 years ago
Colleen: Wow thanks for this. Everytime I make ranch dressing I have a whole lot of leftover buttermilk.2 years ago
laura: I’ve had this same predicament. My combination is usually Norwegian Buttermilk Pancakes and Skillet Cornbread– which usually takes care of a whole carton.
I also freeze the buttermilk (if I remember, but sometimes cooking wishful thinking takes over and I convince myself I’ll be using it in the near future.)
Thanks. A very useful post, as usual!!2 years ago
question: how come you can’t freeze milk but you can freeze buttermilk? anyone know?2 years ago
Adrienne: But you CAN freeze milk! It just isn’t as good for drinking straight afterwards. Still perfectly good for baking/cooking.2 years ago
paul wynn: OMG! Buttermilk recipes! What are you trying to do to me, Sarah… I’m going to get fat… thanks for the recipes, I’m going to check on the biscuits now2 years ago
Martin: Yes, we got one 2/3 full, at least when I checked the expiration date 2 weeks ago. +1 for Buttermilk Bananabread!2 years ago
Sasa: Thanks for the lovely site Sarah, my Japanese obaachan (grandma) always in her gentle and graceful way, stressed the importance of using everything without wasting anything ad I try always to follow her example so I have really loved the tips on site and your sweet and enthusiastic writing. I now live in Austria where buttermilk is a very common ingredient in people’s fridges for some reason and as well as the usual suspects such as baking, often used in smoothies and in dressings – my boyfriend’s mum did a summer salad (feels like a long time ago now as it’s snowing, unbelievably) where she basically drowned cucumber slices in buttermilk (with salt and pepper and not sure what else).2 years ago
nonlineargirl: We almost always have buttermilk around for pancakes. How great to have this at my fingertips. I have a ton of tomatillos, so I will check that one out. (the link is wonky, however)2 years ago
William H. Stoneman: What a treasure trove of Buttermilk Recipes!! Thanks for sharing.1 year ago
Sky: THIS IS SO PERFECT. SO glad I found this post! Thank you!22 weeks ago