This easy Buttermilk Syrup recipe was the star of my weekend brunch! Made with 5 simple pantry ingredients, this homemade breakfast syrup has a rich, buttery caramel flavor with a subtle tang. Cooked on the stovetop until smooth and golden, buttermilk syrup takes only 10 minutes to make. It's an indulgent topping that takes pancakes, waffles, and other baked goods to the next level.
I had some family & friends over this weekend for a little brunch, and when I tell you out of all the things I made (which included this french toast casserole & this bacon gruyere quiche), the star of the entire meal was 1000% this Buttermilk Syrup!
Buttermilk syrup is a sweet, rich, buttery homemade syrup made with sugar, butter, buttermilk, and a touch of baking soda and vanilla. Unlike traditional maple syrup, it has a creamy caramel-like flavor with a slight tang (which comes from the buttermilk).
The syrup is cooked on the stovetop until smooth and slightly thickened, creating a warm, golden syrup that pours easily over fluffy baked goods. This super easy buttermilk syrup recipe is a breakfast staple for me because it's quick to make, uses simple pantry ingredients, and turns everyday breakfast foods into something extra indulgent.
What I Serve with Buttermilk Syrup
Like I said above, this recipe is great on so many breakfast dishes. We drizzled this over my french toast casserole recipe and it was truly divine. I also tested this on pancakes and french toast- both of which were amazing.
Other recipes that would be great to pair with a spoonful buttermilk syrup are things like cinnamon rolls, waffles, crepes, biscuits/scones, or even ice cream. Fresh fruit salad would also be so good with this drizzled over top.
One of my family members even asked for the recipe because she wanted to serve it with her bread pudding recipe!
The 5 Ingredients You'll Need
We only need 5 ingredients to make this syrup- most of which are probably staples in your fridge and pantry.
- sugar- I tested this recipe with regular granulated sugar.
- butter- I like using unsalted butter, but salted works if that's all you have.
- buttermilk- If you find you don't have buttermilk on hand, don't worry- you can easily make your own!
- vanilla extract- make sure you're using real vanilla extract!
- baking soda
Easy to Make
I strongly dislike recipes that you have to be on stove duty stirring constantly for logn periods of time. Thankfully this is not one of those recipes!
- Start by adding the butter, sugar, and buttermilk to a sauce pan over medium heat. Mix and let the butter melt fully (Make sure your pan is big enough for the mixture to bubbly up slightly at the end).
- Bring the mixture to a boil- once boiling, allow it to boil for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat & mix in the vanilla and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up a bit.
- Allow it to cool a bit before serving! I like serving it warm or at room temperature.
The first time I tested this recipe I was worried the baking soda would be clumpy when I added it in, but just keep whisking and it'll smooth out! I also enjoyed this syrup much more when I let it cool down almost completely- it turns into a rich, almost glaze-like texture!
Add a Touch of Flavor
- Vanilla- Add 2 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste for a stronger vanilla profile.
- Maple- For a slight maple flavor, substitute ¼ cup of sugar for maple syrup.
- Salted Caramel- Add a ¼ teaspoon (or more if you like it saltier) of flaky sea salt to the mixture.
- Brown Sugar- Substitute half the sugar for brown sugar for a deeper caramel flavor.
- Lemon- Add 1-2 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest (when adding the baking soda).
- Orange- Add 1-2 teaspoon of fresh orange zest.
- Almond- substitute the vanilla extract for ½ teaspoon of almond extract.
Other Recipes I'd Serve This With
If you made this recipe, I would love to know what you thought! Leave me a star rating and a comment below - I read them all! ⭐️ Your reviews not only help my business but other bakers as well!
Want an exclusive first look at all my recipes? Join my email newsletter which sends Bake & Bacon recipes straight to your inbox as soon as they go live, so you never miss a recipe!
Want to keep up with Bake & Bacon outside of the blog? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube. Tag me on any social media and use the hashtag #bakeandbacon so I can see what you are baking!
Crowd-Favorite Homemade Buttermilk Syrup (Only 5 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add sugar, butter, and buttermilk to a large saucepan over medium heat, until the butter is melted. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, let the mixture boil for one minute.1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup buttermilk
- Remove from heat and add in baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will get foamy and bubble up when finished.¾ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Serve warm over your favorite pancakes, waffles, or french toast!
Notes
- Refrigerate in a glass jar with a lid to store.
- Can be served room temperature or warm.
- Reheat in saucepan or in a microwave safe dish until warm.
Leave a Reply