16 Buttermilk Recipes for Baking

Buttermilk is one of the most powerful ingredients in baking — it creates tenderness, moisture, tangy flavor, and beautiful rise.

Whether you’re baking biscuits, cakes, muffins, or homemade breads, buttermilk adds that irresistible bakery-style texture.

Below are 16 delicious buttermilk baking recipes you can easily make at home.

1. Buttermilk Pancakes

Fluffy, soft, and golden pancakes made with tangy buttermilk for the perfect morning treat.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 2 cups buttermilk

• 2 eggs

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 2 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ¼ cup melted butter

• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another.

2. Combine gently (don’t overmix).

3. Pour onto a hot pan and cook until bubbles form.

4. Flip and cook until golden.

2. Buttermilk Biscuits

Tall, flaky Southern-style biscuits with buttery layers.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• 6 tbsp cold butter

• ¾–1 cup buttermilk

• Salt

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.

2. Cut butter into the flour until crumbly.

3. Add buttermilk and form dough.

4. Fold several times for layers.

5. Cut biscuits, bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12–15 minutes.

3. Buttermilk Banana Bread

Super moist banana bread with a tender crumb and deep flavor.

Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas

• 2 cups flour

• ½ cup buttermilk

• ½ cup melted butter

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp baking soda

• Vanilla

Instructions

1. Mash bananas.

2. Mix wet ingredients.

3. Add dry ingredients.

4. Bake in a loaf tin at 350°F (180°C) for 55–60 minutes.

4. Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

A rich, soft chocolate cake with a silky texture thanks to buttermilk.

Ingredients

• Flour, sugar, cocoa powder

• Buttermilk

• Eggs

• Oil

• Baking soda

• Vanilla

Instructions

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients separately.

2. Combine and pour into a greased baking pan.

3. Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes.

5. Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins

Bakery-style tall, fluffy muffins bursting with sweet blueberries.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 cup blueberries

• 1 egg

• ½ cup sugar

• ¼ cup oil

• Baking powder + baking soda

Instructions

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients.

2. Fold in blueberries.

3. Fill muffin cups and bake at 375°F for 18–20 minutes.

6. Buttermilk Cornbread

Classic Southern cornbread with a delicate crumb and slight tang.

Ingredients

• Cornmeal

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Egg

• Butter

• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.

2. Mix wet ingredients separately.

3. Combine and pour into a skillet.

4. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.

7. Buttermilk Scones

Tender and lightly sweetened scones perfect with tea or jam.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Cold butter

• Sugar

• Buttermilk

• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Cut butter into flour.

2. Add buttermilk.

3. Shape, cut, and bake 15–18 minutes at 425°F.

8. Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls

Soft and fluffy rolls with a tangy dough and cinnamon-sugar swirl.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Yeast

• Buttermilk (warm)

• Butter

• Sugar

• Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Make dough with yeast and warm buttermilk.

2. Roll out and spread cinnamon-sugar.

3. Slice and rise.

4. Bake 20–25 minutes at 350°F.

9. Buttermilk Waffles

Crispy on the outside, soft and airy inside — perfect waffle texture.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Eggs

• Baking powder

• Sugar

• Melted butter

Instructions

1. Mix wet and dry ingredients.

2. Add batter to waffle maker.

3. Cook until golden and crisp.

10. Buttermilk Lemon Loaf

Bright, citrusy loaf with a moist crumb and tangy glaze.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Lemon zest + juice

• Sugar

• Butter

• Eggs

• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients and pour into a loaf tin.

2. Bake at 350°F for 45–55 minutes.

3. Drizzle with lemon glaze.

11. Buttermilk Coffee Cake

A cinnamon crumb-topped cake perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Butter

• Sugar

• Cinnamon

• Brown sugar

• Baking soda

Instructions

1. Make batter.

2. Add cinnamon crumb topping.

3. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.

12. Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Quick and easy biscuits with golden tops and soft centers.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Butter (melted)

• Buttermilk

• Baking powder

• Salt

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients into a sticky dough.

2. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

3. Bake 12–14 minutes at 450°F.

13. Buttermilk Strawberry Shortcake

Soft shortcake biscuits paired with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Ingredients

• Shortcake biscuits (buttermilk-based)

• Fresh strawberries

• Sugar

• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Bake shortcakes.

2. Slice strawberries with sugar.

3. Assemble with cream.

14. Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins

Moist muffins filled with melty chocolate chips — bakery style.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Chocolate chips

• Egg

• Sugar

• Oil

• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Mix batter.

2. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. Bake 18–20 minutes at 375°F.

15. Buttermilk Irish Soda Bread

A rustic, crusty bread that rises beautifully thanks to buttermilk and baking soda.

Ingredients

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Baking soda

• Sugar (optional)

• Salt

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.

2. Add buttermilk until dough forms.

3. Shape into a round.

4. Bake at 400°F for 35–40 minutes.

16. Buttermilk Pound Cake

Rich and buttery cake with a tight, moist crumb and a subtle tang.

Ingredients

• Butter

• Sugar

• Eggs

• Flour

• Buttermilk

• Vanilla

• Baking powder

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs.

3. Add dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk.

4. Bake at 325°F for 70–80 minutes.