What to do with all that Buttermilk
If you’ve been around these parts long enough, you’ve probably noticed that I’m pretty fond of buttermilk.
Buttermilk brings the tang, brings a tender texture… and is all around awesome in baking.
But once you buy the carton for one recipe, what the heck are you supposed to do with the rest of the milk?
Not to worry. I’m looking out for you. Here are a few recipes that will help you use up that carton of buttermilk.
Click around. Maybe you think that Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream is swell.
While you’re busy with buttermilk, I’m going to go stuff my face with more Easter jelly beans. Good? Good.
Brown Sugar Bacon Waffles are a thing of beauty.
I love when a bag of frozen berries gets all fancypants. Warm Berries with Stovetop Dumplings.
This cake is all sorts of classy. It’s baked up in a sheet pan, covered in blackberry jam and Swiss meringue buttercream. It’s a beauty queen. I love it. Blackberry Jam Cake.
Red Velvet Cake with Fluffy White Frosting. This cake is like the cool kid on the playground. Everyone wants to be on their kickball team. Laaaadeeeedaaaa!
I like carrot cake in Spring, don’t you. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream.
Mmmmm. Buttermilk Pie with Warm Blackberry Sauce. This recipe just warms my heart to bits.
Hop in the kitchen and use up that buttermilk. You’ll feel better. or… I’ll feel better. Someone will feel much better.
If you can’t find buttermilk, or buttermilk puzzles you, or you just want to make your own… I’ve got all sorts of tricks up my sleeve for you.
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Great post. My buttermilk just sits in the fridge until it’s too late. I have started to use unsweetened yogurt instead because then it won’t go to waste – it seems to work the same but then I’m not a baking expert. Do you think buttermilk substitutions work as well as the real thing?
My buttermilk gets used up feeding my sourdough starter. It’s amazing the yummy bread it makes for me after that :) But now you have me craving pancakes (again) so…
You must be psychic. When I opened the fridge just today to look hopefully for snack food, I ignored the half carton of buttermilk staring forlornly back at me. Next time I’ll use it to make the warm berries with stove top dumplings. That looks so good!
Buttermilk is used for all sorts of bread and stuff here in Ireland, its great stuff!
How did you know I have a carton which I really need to use soon, before the BB date. That Buttermilk Pie is on the menu tonight!
interesting. i never thought about using buttermilk to make ice cream!
That blackberry jam cake is on my list! While I love baking with buttermilk, I also marinate chicken tenders in it and over-fry, Very good!
Great post! I just gave my neighbor my leftover buttermilk, before it went bad sitting in the fridge!
I can’t wait to get crackin on that red velvet cake! She is a beauty! I think this time I’ll make it and let Chris Ann and the sifter take a night off!
~kristin
Hay joy, I just got through reading (all of) your blog in like two weeks or so! You have me addicted! I love it and I look forward to reading it every day! You are so wonderful, so so wonderful! I am from Germany, so you know you have readers from this country as well!
Have a great day!
I wish I could make every single thing you’ve listed!! They all look so good! I have 2 bottles of buttermilk in my fridge right now. I read that buttermilk can be frozen up to 3 mths after it has expired and still unfinished. Still good for baking apparently.
That buttermilk pie seems to be waiting for me… delicious!
I always seem to have extra buttermilk! Another excuse to buy more now though ;)
Hey, get out of my head! How did you know I was searching for a way to use the leftover buttermilk before it went bad? Seriously, woman… creepy…
I have frozen buttermilk in my freezer all the time. I freeze my leftovers in one cup
containers and it works out great! I never waste buttermilk this way. Try it, I think you will be happy with the results.
This is the perfect post! I bought buttermilk to make red velvet cake earlier this year, and ended up just making 3 cakes to use all the milk! Clearly it is better to feed co-workers loads of red cake than let buttermilk go to waste!
Also, wanted to let you know that I made your “Whole Orange Bundt Cake with Poppy Seed Madness” for Easter, and it was a HUGE hit! I followed all your tips, and I had a beautiful, zesty cake! Thanks as always for the great inspiration!
Make buttermilk pancake syrup. It takes about 5 minutes and you will never use purchased syrup again. I swear.
i do the same thing – hate to waste that precious buttermilk!
That buttermilk pie is calling my name. Must. Make. Now.
Hi Joy:
I just found your blog and LOVE it – this is a great article – you are right on about the buttermilk quagmire – can’t wait to try the pie and reading more of your posts!
Great ideas! I’m getting a post ready for sturday that features some of my favorite sites and YOU are included, love your blog! anne
YUM! this looks sooo great. Always love to have things to do with extra buttermilk!
WHERE DID YOU GET THAT MUG?! I have one in red that a friend snagged from the restaurant where she works, but I have been on the hunt for some more ever since. If you could tell your retail secrets, it would be much appreciated!
xo
Amy
Thanks, Joy! Ever since you posted the buttermilk ranch dressing recipe I’ve been trying to use up my buttermilk creatively. I’ve made all sorts of pancakes and such, but I can’t wait to try that ice cream!
I think I have a half gallon of unused, expired buttermilk in my frig. I am sad it went to waste. Now I know it doesn’t ever have to go to waste again. :)
I think that the brown sugar bacon waffles are my favorite buttermilk recipe on the list!! Anything with bacon is a must have.
I freeze my leftover buttermilk, either in 1-oz portions (freeze in ice-cube trays and once frozen, transfer to a bag or other container) or in 8-oz portions. If you’re using it in baked goods, frozen works just as well as fresh.
Of course, I love buttermilk also, so I don’t always have leftovers, but freezing it ensures that I always have some on hand!
what a useful post!! i hate wasting ingredients so it’s always cool to have multiple recipes in mind when buying a whole carton!
I freeze leftover buttermilk then defrost it when I need it. It works wonderfully after defrosting. I wouldn’t want to drink it but then I don’t drink it anyway, so it’s all good. Love these photos. They make me want to bake.
buttermilk is awesome in banana bread. and in homemade sourdough pancakes, which we make a lot.
I’m already opening the fridge to reach for the buttermilk and try one of these. Yummy!
When I have extra buttermilk I make fresh ricotta, which is ridiculously easy to make and tastes amazing. Did it the other day and tossed it with some penne, roasted cherry tomatoes, lemon peel, a little olive oil…oh my goodness. Try it, it’s really easy!
mmm easter jelly beans! i hope they are the starburst kind. thanks for the buttermilk suggestions! having strawberries in season makes everything so much easier doesn’t it?
It’s like you looked in my fridge (sorry for the mess). I always buy buttermilk to make aebleskivers, and then have a bunch of leftover buttermilk and only so many recipes in my cache that use buttermilk. Thanks!
Brilliant! Now I have a go-to list of what to do with the leftover buttermilk… I have so needed this. Thanks!
Not only are your recipes sweet, but your voice is, too. I adore both. :)
Yum! Buttermilk is also good when you used to make a caramel cake. I do love some buttermilk!
Funny, Joy: I just posted this piece on Lemon Meringue Cake made with buttermilk cake layers. The recipe for the cake is included in the post. http://sticksforksfingers.blogspot.com/2010/04/taking-cake.html
I enjoy your blog! Good luck with the red-headed boy. Maybe it will lead to something like this: http://sticksforksfingers.blogspot.com/2010/03/good-news.html
That’s exactly the problem I always have. I usually solve it with a banana-buttermilk-drink for breakfast, but I think I know better now. :) How can you bake when having all those Easter treats? I have so many chocolate bunnies right now, I’m totally not in the mood for baking. Hmph.
Great post. That happens to me all the time. I bake something and end up with an entire carton of buttermilk. A friend of mine gave me some good adicve. She buys dried buttermilk powder from King Arthur Flour. She then only mixes it as she needs it and that way it doesn’t go to waste. I haven’t tried it yet but I think it’s a great idea.
Those waffles look delicious.
When I was in Missouri a few weeks ago I bought blackberry jam from an amish store. That blackberry jam cake is definitely happening.
Leftover buttermilk is often a constant problem for me. I love using-it-up recipes!
I just bought the powdered buttermilk. Ok, I bought it two weeks ago. It has been staring at me every time I come home from the market with a carton of the fresh stuff. I feel like a smoker who bought the nicotine patches but stares at them guiltily while smoking cigarettes right in front of them. Think I should take the leap and use what seems so unnatural?
OOOOH buttermilk pie, how I love thee…Its a true south recipe.
My mom turned me onto the powdered version as well. I have to say I love knowing I have it when I need it without all the pressure to use it quickly. I finished off the last carton of it making Joy’s buttermilk pie.mmmmmmm
That is great! Thanks so much for the tip, I was just thinking that I might try the powdered stuff (finally) with the buttermilk pie and now I definitely will.
Your buttermilk brings all the boys to the yard, and they’re like *what* …. :)
Just saying…
Allie
hahahaaaha! hilarious.
Oooo… I’ve got that buttermilk pie on my mind. And the blackberry jam cake. And, let’s be honest, just about everything you post on here. When I get to heaven and have all the time in the world, I’m gonna pull up your blog and work my way through, one recipe at a time. :)
I use the powdered kind as well! It seems to work the same for the recipes I’ve used it in and I don’t feel bad letting half a container of the real stuff go to waste. I never thought of freezing it though, good idea!
Umm, I just made buttermilk banana bread with mine. Yes, it’s my favorite quick bread, but why didn’t I come here first?! Now I’ll need to go buy more so I can have leftovers. Blerg.
Yummy to all of those recipes. I want to make them all.
hi joy! my blog post is about YOU tonight! please check it out, chica!! joanne