Buttermilk Syrup
Make buttermilk syrup with five ingredients for a warm, buttery caramel flavor and silky texture that pours beautifully over breakfast.
Equipment
- Saucepan (Medium)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter (unsalted)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Place the butter, sugar, and buttermilk in a medium saucepan and set it over medium heat, stirring as the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. The mixture will look pale and creamy at first, then start bubbling steadily as the aroma turns warmer and more caramel-like.
- Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil and keep it boiling for exactly 1 minute. Watch closely during this minute, because the bubbles become bigger and more active, and overcooking can push the syrup toward separation.
- Take the saucepan off the heat, then whisk in the baking soda and vanilla right away. The syrup will foam up quickly and turn lighter and airier, so keep whisking until it looks smooth and evenly blended.
- Let the foam settle briefly in the pan before serving. Residual heat keeps the syrup cooking a bit even off the burner, so it will thicken slightly as it calms down.
- Serve the syrup warm. It should pour in a smooth ribbon and taste buttery, sweet, and gently tangy.
Notes
Pan selection: Use a deeper saucepan with plenty of headroom. The mixture foams and expands significantly once the baking soda is added.
Ingredient quality: Use real unsalted butter rather than margarine. Margarine contains more water and can cause the cooked syrup to separate into a greasy layer.
Add-in tip: Whisk the baking soda and vanilla in only after the pan is off the heat. This keeps the reaction under control and prevents the vanilla flavor from cooking away.
Storage: Let the syrup cool slightly, transfer to a clean glass jar, and store covered in the refrigerator. Leftovers must be refrigerated because of the dairy content.
Reheating: Warm leftovers gently over low heat on the stove while whisking constantly, or use the microwave in short 15-second intervals, to keep the emulsion from splitting.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.