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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    30+ Recipes Using Buttermilk

    May 13, 2022 by Amee Leave a Comment

    Buttermilk is one of my favorite ingredients, so I need you to check out these 30+ Recipes Using Buttermilk! Keep reading for why baking with buttermilk is the BEST, how to store it (you can freeze it!), and recipes with buttermilk to use it up!

    Collage of Recipes Using Buttermilk.

    This post may contain affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I’ll never link to anything I don’t use and love! Click here for full disclosure and privacy policy.

    Recipes with buttermilk are always soft, moist, and delicious! This post gives detail on why baking with buttermilk is so delicious, how to best store it, and includes 30+ Recipes Using Buttermilk!

    If you enjoy this post, check out my roundups with 40+ Unique Desserts, 15+ Decadent Dark Chocolate Recipes, and 35+ Layered Desserts!

    Jump to:
    • What is Buttermilk?
    • What Does Buttermilk do in Baking?
    • Can you Freeze Buttermilk?
    • Buttermilk Substitutions
    • Recipes Using Buttermilk
    • Other Posts You May Like:
    • 💬 Comments
    Glass container of buttermilk on a kitchen counter with measuring spoons and lemons nearby.

    What is Buttermilk?

    Traditional buttermilk is the liquid left over after cream is churned into butter, but that hasn't been what you find in a grocery store since the 1920's! Buttermilk today is typically low fat milk that has bacteria added (friendly ones!) to thicken and sour it. (This does *not* mean that the milk has gone bad, and if your buttermilk smells bad you should not use it!)

    What Does Buttermilk do in Baking?

    Buttermilk lends a lovely, tangy flavor to baked goods while adding very little fat. The acidity of the buttermilk tenderizes gluten, so your bakes will have a softer texture to them. Cakes, breads, and muffins made with buttermilk tend to be lighter, fluffier, and more tender than those made with whole milk.  

    Can you Freeze Buttermilk?

    Yes! Even if you don't use buttermilk often, there's no reason for it to go to waste! Buttermilk can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. You can freeze it in ice cube trays or in half-cup portions to make thawing/using it easier.

    Measuring lemon juice near a measuring cup of milk to make a buttermilk substitution.

    Buttermilk Substitutions

    In recipes that specifically call for buttermilk, it's not recommended to replace it with regular milk, as it will not produce the same end result. Here are some substitutions you can use if you don't have buttermilk on-hand:

    • Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar. Pour one tablespoon lemon juice OR white vinegar into a liquid measuring cup. Add milk (I like to use 1-2% milk for a similar fat content to buttermilk) to the one cup line. Stir, let sit 5 minutes, and then it's ready for use!
    • Milk + cream of tartar. Add 1 ¾ teaspoons of cream of tartar to one cup of milk (I like to use 1-2% milk for a similar fat content to buttermilk). Stir until the cream of tartar dissolves completely, and then you're good to go!
    • Sour cream + water. Sour cream is also cultured, as buttermilk is, just much thicker. Just add a bit of water to sour cream to thin it out to the consistency of buttermilk.
    • Plain yogurt + water. Same school of thought as using the sour cream here. Just thin the yogurt to about the consistency of buttermilk.
    • Plain Kefir. Kefir is a cultured, fermented milk. It is like a thin yogurt with a pourable consistency. You can substitute buttermilk with an equal measure of plain, unsweetened kefir.

    Recipes Using Buttermilk

    Buttermilk can technically be used in almost all baked goods, but take a look at the leavening! If the recipe calls for baking powder (which is also acidic), you may want to use regular milk.

    I really enjoy adding buttermilk to cakes, breads, and muffins. See below for all the delicious recipes from Live to Sweet using buttermilk!

    Cakes and Cupcakes

    Slice of Chocolate Champagne Cake on a stack of black plates.
    Chocolate Orange Cake
    This Chocolate Orange Cake is a single layer of moist, fluffy chocolate orange cake topped with chocolate orange buttercream! You will love this cake's depth of flavor!
    Check out this recipe!
    Chocolate Orange Cake with bite missing.
    Strawberry Filled Cupcakes
    These Strawberry Filled Cupcakes are soft & fluffy vanilla bean cakes with homemade honey-strawberry filling, topped with strawberry cream cheese frosting!
    Check out this recipe!
    Strawberry Filled Cupcakes with fresh strawberries on top.
    Apple Upside Down Cake
    This Apple Upside Down Cake is a spiced cake that starts with sliced apples and cider caramel on the bottom, but once the cake it inverted, they're on top! Fantastic served warm or at room temperature, as-is or with a scoop of ice cream and salted caramel sauce!
    Check out this recipe!
    Apple cider caramel being poured onto ice cream on top of a slice of Apple Upside Down Cake.
    Cornmeal Pound Cake with Blueberry Whipped Cream
    This Blueberry Cornmeal Pound Cake is a slightly sweet cornmeal buttermilk pound cake topped with blueberry crème fraîche whipped cream!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of sliced Cornmeal Poun
    Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with Bourbon Glaze
    This Peach Cobbler Pound Cake is a delicious cinnamon-peach pound cake with a gooey brown sugar top, drizzled with a vanilla bourbon glaze! This cake is serious comfort food!
    Check out this recipe!
    Peach Cobbler Pound Cake with bourbon glaze and fresh peaches on top.
    Raspberry White Chocolate Loaf Cake
    This Raspberry White Chocolate Loaf Cake is a tender white chocolate pound cake topped with a scrumptious raspberry glaze! The flavors are so amazing you'll find yourself taking seconds!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of Raspberry and White Chocolate Loaf Cake on a tray.
    Chocolate Champagne Cake
    This Chocolate Champagne Cake has super chocolatey champagne cake with champagne Italian meringue buttercream and dark chocolate ganache! For your next celebration, or anytime!
    Check out this recipe!
    Slice of Chocolate Champagne Cake on a black plate.
    Gingerbread Layer Cake
    This Gingerbread Layer Cake has sweet, spiced gingerbread cake with a just-sweet-enough cinnamon mascarpone frosting, covered with soft gingerbread cookie tiles!
    Check out this recipe!
    Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake
    This Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake is two layers of tender yellow cake with strawberry whipped cream and fresh strawberries! This cake turns a comfort food favorite into a total showstopper!
    Check out this recipe!
    Close up of Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake on a white plate.
    Neapolitan Cake
    The classic flavors of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate combine in this Neapolitan Cake! This three-layer beauty is a celebration cake!
    Check out this recipe!
    Neapolitan Cake with graham bunnies on a white cake stand.
    Lavender Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze
    This Strawberry Lavender Pound Cake is so tender thanks to kefir (or buttermilk!), delicately flavored with lavender, and topped with strawberry-vanilla bean glaze! Pound cake perfection!
    Check out this recipe!
    Sliced Lavender Pound Cake with Strawberry Glaze on a white plate.

    Muffins & Breads

    Tin of Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins with blackberries and chamomile flowers nearby.
    Lavender Biscuits
    These Lavender Biscuits combine the comforting nostalgia of classic buttermilk biscuits with the enchanting flavor of lavender! Tender, flaky, and just a little sweet, you'll savor each bite!
    Check out this recipe!
    Top view of Lavender Biscuit with butter with a bite missing on parchment paper.
    Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins
    These Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins are bursting with juicy blueberries and are sooo soft and tender thanks to buttermilk! These babies are perfect for breakfast or a afternoon snack. With a soft, tender crumb and a golden, slightly crisp top (thanks to a sprinkle of raw sugar), each bite is a treat!
    Check out this recipe!
    Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins on a cooling rack with fresh blueberries in the foreground.
    Peppermint Mocha Muffins
    These Peppermint Mocha Muffins have the magical combination of chocolate, espresso, and peppermint wrapped up in a homemade muffin! These muffins would make a festive addition to a holiday brunch, or a fantastic treat on Christmas morning!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of Peppermint Mocha Muffin on a white plate topped with chocolate chips and crushed candy canes.
    Butterscotch Banana Muffins
    These Butterscotch Banana Muffins are soft, moist banana muffins with butterscotch chips! A twist on a classic! <3
    Check out this recipe!
    Butterscotch banana muffin on a plate with butterscotch chips and banana slices.
    Strawberry Biscuits
    These Strawberry Biscuits are a twist on traditional buttermilk biscuits with a little added sweetness and lots of fresh strawberries! Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up!
    Check out this recipe!
    Strawberry Biscuits on a baking sheet with parchment paper and fresh strawberries.
    Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins
    These Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins are soft, moist, and bursting with mini chocolate chips! These muffins are a tried-and-true recipe that you and your family will love!
    Check out this recipe!
    Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins stacked on a silver cooling rack, one with a bite missing.
    Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins
    These Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins are soft, moist bakery style buttermilk muffins that are bursting with fresh blackberries! The lovely flavors and textures of these muffins make them a fantastic way to start your day!
    Check out this recipe!
    Tin of Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins with blackberries and chamomile flowers nearby.
    Blackberry Lemon Bread
    This Blackberry Lemon Bread is a moist, flavorful lemon bread studded with fresh blackberries and topped with the most gorgeous blackberry glaze!
    Check out this recipe!
    Blackberry Lemon Bread on a white tray.
    Nutella Muffins
    These Nutella Muffins are tender buttermilk muffins filled and topped with nutella for a decadent breakfast treat! Mixing up in just one bowl, you'll be making these muffins on repeat!
    Check out this recipe!
    Nutella Muffin with a bite missing on a small metal plate.
    Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
    These delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins are soft and moist double chocolate muffins with peanut butter streusel! They're an amazing way to start the day!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins.

    More Recipes Using Buttermilk

    Honey Doughnuts with white chocolate "honeycomb" on parchment paper.
    Buttermilk Cookies
    These Buttermilk Cookies are soooo soft and cakey, and topped with buttermilk frosting! You'll love how simple, delicious, and versatile this recipe is! Appropriate for any season or occasion, you'll find yourself making them again and again!
    Check out this recipe!
    Three Buttermilk Cookies on a white plate, one with a bite missing.
    Apple Shortcake
    This Apple Shortcake is cornmeal buttermilk biscuits with caramel baked apples, cinnamon-cardamom whipped cream, and homemade salted caramel sauce!
    Check out this recipe!
    Apple Shortcake drizzled with salted caramel sauce on a white plate.
    Buttermilk Brownies
    These old-fashioned Buttermilk Brownies are soft and cakey thanks to buttermilk! Super chocolatey and simple to make, these brownies are the perfect addition to any occasion!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of Buttermilk Brownie with a bite missing.
    Honey Donuts with Vanilla-Honey Glaze
    Honey Donuts with Vanilla Honey Glaze are soft, fluffy baked honey donuts with a flavorful vanilla bean-honey glaze! Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon pick-me-up!
    Check out this recipe!
    Honey Doughnuts with white chocolate "honeycomb" on parchment paper.
    Lemon Buttermilk Pie
    This Lemon Buttermilk Pie has a flaky crust filled with lemon buttermilk filling and topped with freshly whipped cream! The filling has a lovely balance of bright citrus flavor and a subtle tang from the buttermilk. A slice of this pie is a slice of joy!
    Check out this recipe!
    Slice of Lemon Buttermilk Pie topped with whipped cream, a lemon slice, and a sprig of lavender on a small white plate.
    Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake
    This Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake is a decadent twist on the classic dessert! The tender chocolate biscuits are studded with chocolate chips, and topped with freshly whipped cream and juicy strawberries for an irresistible Summer treat!
    Check out this recipe!
    Close up shot of chocolate sauce being drizzled onto Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake on a white fluted plate with two small white flowers alongside.
    Nectarine Cobbler
    This Nectarine Cobbler is spiced nectarine filling topped with sweet cornmeal biscuits! The sweet, juicy nectarines paired with the warm flavor of cinnamon and irresistible cornmeal biscuits will have you reaching for seconds!
    Check out this recipe!
    Nectarine Cobbler in a black oval baking dish topped with fresh nectarines and three scoops of vanilla ice cream.
    Blueberry Shortcake
    This Blueberry Shortcake is a tender, flaky lavender biscuit topped with juicy fresh blueberries and vanilla bean whipped cream. Whether you're headed to a picnic, a summer party, or just staying home, these beauties are the perfect treat all summer long!
    Check out this recipe!
    Blueberry Shortcake with Lavender Biscuit with a silver fork alongside.
    Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies
    These Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies are crisp at the edges, soft and chewy in the center, and absolutely delicious! With a little tweak to my go-to recipe, you don't need eggs to make perfect chocolate chip cookies!
    Check out this recipe!
    Closeup of Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies, one with a bite missing.
    Buttermilk Frosting
    This Buttermilk Frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more! You'll love how quick and easy it is--not to mention the lovely tangy-and-sweet buttermilk flavor!
    Check out this recipe!
    Small white bowl filled with Buttermilk Frosting with a piping bag alongside.

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      25+ Dark Chocolate Recipes
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