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.

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!

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!

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.

3. Buttermilk Waffles

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

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.

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. 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!

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.

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. 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.

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! 

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.

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.

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! 

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!