A little reason to celebrate
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Food ยท May 14
A look at buttermilk biscuits and what tangy, acidic buttermilk does for their rise, flavor and tender crumb.
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day falls on Friday, May 14, 2027. That is 199 days away.
Buttermilk is the quiet partner in a buttermilk biscuit. It is a tangy, slightly thick cultured milk, and it changes the dough in ways plain milk cannot.
The tang comes from acid. That acid reacts with baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide bubbles that help the biscuits rise in the oven. Many recipes use both baking soda and baking powder, so the soda can work with the buttermilk while the powder adds lift of its own. The acid also helps keep the crumb soft and tender.
Then there is the flavor. A good buttermilk biscuit tastes faintly sour, in the way a sourdough loaf does, which keeps a rich biscuit from tasting flat. It plays well against sweet toppings like honey or sorghum and holds its own beside salty ham.
Modern store buttermilk is usually cultured, made by adding bacteria to milk, rather than the liquid left over from churning butter. Both are thin and tart. If the carton is missing, some bakers stir a little lemon juice or vinegar into milk and let it sit a few minutes. It is not quite the same, but the acid does the chemistry. Keep any buttermilk cold until it goes into the bowl.
An opened carton tends to linger in the refrigerator after the biscuits are gone. It also goes into pancakes, cornbread and marinades, and it makes a cool, tangy ranch-style dressing.
Ways to celebrate
- Bake a batch with real cultured buttermilk and taste the tang.
- Compare biscuits made with buttermilk and with plain milk.
- Try buttermilk biscuits with honey or sorghum.
- Use leftover buttermilk in pancakes or cornbread.
- Share a family buttermilk biscuit recipe with a friend.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, May 14 |
| 2027 | Friday, May 14 |
| 2028 | Sunday, May 14 |
| 2029 | Monday, May 14 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, May 14 |
Also on May 14
Categories: Food days