3 Recipes That Are Better with Buttermilk

Pick up a half gallon of buttermilk, and you can add incredible flavor and texture to your favorite recipes. Whether you’re making a savory dish, a sweet dessert or even juicy, flavorful chicken, buttermilk can take it to the next level.

What exactly is buttermilk? It’s the liquid left over after butter has been churned. Buttermilk is thicker than regular milk, and it has a slightly tangy flavor. Its acidity helps break down the gluten in flour, making baked goods fluffy, and can also help tenderize meats. Plus, the tanginess of buttermilk can help balance out the sweetness of desserts or bring out the flavors of other ingredients, like herbs and spices.

So the next time you’re shopping, consider buttermilk. These three recipes alone will help you work your way through most of that half gallon — and leave enough that you can go back and make a second batch of the recipe you loved most.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Buttermilk gives these pancakes a slight tang that pairs perfectly with maple syrup.

Buttermilk Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

Soaking drumsticks in a mixture of buttermilk and spices makes the chicken more tender and adds delicious flavor

Pumpkin Buttermilk Biscuits

Pumpkin puree adds an earthy note and a beautiful orange hue to these classic buttermilk biscuits.