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Easy Buttermilk substitute for cooking and baking! Learn How to Make Buttermilk with just two ingredients! Dairy-free and vegan, too!
Looking for delicious recipes using buttermilk? I think you’ll love my buttermilk pancakes, buttermilk biscuits, and my caramel cake!
What is Buttermilk?
Traditionally, it was the leftover liquid from churning cream to make butter. This is now referred to as traditional buttermilk.
What you buy in the grocery stores is now cultured, which is produced by adding cultures to milk during the fermentation process to simulate the lactic acid that would naturally occur in the traditional kind.
Buttermilk adds a rich, tangy flavor and a thicker consistency than other kinds of milk. It works to tenderize meat and vegetables. The lactic acid also reacts with other ingredients like baking powder and baking soda in recipes and acts as a leavener. This helps batters and doughs to rise and be more tender.
My homemade substitute works the same in cooking and baking. It’s such a time saver to be able to make your own.
Buttermilk Substitute
Buttermilk is one ingredient that I love to have on hand. I never like being without it. But, sometimes, I think I have plenty in the fridge, only to realize that I don’t.
That’s when it is great to know how to make your own!
It is easy to do and only takes two ingredients that work perfectly in baking and cooking. It tastes just like store-bought buttermilk.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have Buttermilk?
There are a few homemade substitutions you can use when a recipe calls for buttermilk. Pick the option that works for you based on what you have available.
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain kefir
- 1 cup buttermilk = ¾ cup sour cream + ¼ cup water or milk
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar (distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 ¾ teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup water + ¼ cup buttermilk powder
How to Make Buttermilk Substitute
The simplest way to make your own homemade buttermilk substitute is to add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of regular milk or dairy-free milk (see below). Allow the milk to sit for about 5 minutes to thicken. You can expect it will appear to be slightly curdled. Stir the mixture to combine and use as you would buttermilk. The texture and consistency will be very similar to traditional buttermilk once combined.
You can use any of the combinations I’ve provided above to make one cup of homemade buttermilk substitute. If you need more or less buttermilk, you can easily scale the recipe to fit the amount you need.
How to Make Dairy-Free and Vegan
You can also make an easy dairy-free buttermilk substitute to use in your recipes. This is perfect for those who have dairy allergies or who need a vegan buttermilk substitution.
To make a dairy-free and/ or, use your favorite non-dairy milk such as almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or oat milk in place of the store-bought buttermilk called for in the recipe! It’s that easy!
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup non-dairy milk (coconut, soy, rice, oat, almond) + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup non-dairy milk (coconut, soy, rice, oat, almond) = 1 tablespoon vinegar (distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
How to Store Buttermilk Substitute
To store. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Can You Freeze Buttermilk?
Yes! Spoon any that has not been used by the tablespoon into an ice cube tray. Place the tray into the freezer until frozen well, about an hour. Remove from the freezer and dispense the frozen cubes into a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Use Buttermilk
Adds Flavor
It adds a rich, tangy flavor to dishes such as salad dressings and dips.
Tenderizes
It’s great for soaking meats and vegetables to make them more tender before cooking, generally frying.
Leavens Baked Goods
It reacts with other chemical leaveners in recipes to produce gas bubbles which then helps cakes, cookies, and other baked goods to rise.
Here’s how to make my easy buttermilk substitute. I hope you find this useful!
How to Make Buttermilk
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk or 2% or 1%
- 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
Instructions
- Pour milk into a glass measuring cup. Add vinegar OR lemon juice and allow to sit for about 5 minutes before use. You can expect it to appear curdled. Stir it and then use as you would store-bought buttermilk.
Video
Notes
Additional Buttermilk Substitution options:
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain kefir
- 1 cup buttermilk = ¾ cup sour cream + ¼ cup water or milk
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup milk + 1 ¾ teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup water + ¼ cup buttermilk powder
Dairy-Free Buttermilk:
For dairy-free buttermilk, substitute your preferred non-dairy milk (coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, oat milk, etc.) with the whole milk called for in the recipe.Sherry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Easy and perfect! Thank you, you saved the day 🙃
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Would a teaspoon of espresso powder enhance a chocolate cake mix?
Espresso powder should enhance the chocolate flavor in anything you bake, Jean.
can whole milk be used to make buttermilk?
Yes, Sandra, I use whole milk to make buttermilk.
Forgot to say thank you. came out perfect
Can you use fat free milk or 2% to make buttermilk?
Irene, you can use fat free or 2% milk, if you prefer. Be sure to allow it to sit about 10 minutes until it has thickened before you use.
I’ll be changing my milk for buttermilk for now on when it call for it! So easy! Added it to your chocolate cake recipe and loved it!
I’m so happy this worked well for you, Ashley. Now, you don’t have to keep buttermilk on hand.
Can I use heavy whipping creme and distilled vinegar?
You can use heavy cream and distilled vinegar to make buttermilk.
Can I use sour cream or yogurt in lieu of buttermilk? I’m planning to make vanilla cake with your recipe.
Gabie, I haven’t made the vanilla cake with sour cream or yogurt but they are good substitutes for buttermilk.
Easy and perfect! Thank you, you saved the day 🙃
Thanks, Sherry. I’m so glad this helped you.
Can you use fat free milk?
Yes, Dee, you can use fat free milk.
Made this & it works perfectly! With groceries being so high, it saved me some money at the grocery, gas to get there & I had the ingredients on hand! A win win for me! Thank you so much! 🙂
I’m so glad you could use this recipe from ingredients you had at home, Kathy. Thanks!
All your recipes that I’ve tried have been easy and EXCELLENT!! I used to buy buttermilk, but haven’t been since I’ve needed to really watch expenses. Now I can make it so easily and cheaply! Thanks so much!
I love that this buttermilk substitute has helped you, Maureen. You may also want to look at How to Make Self-Rising Flour, How to Make Cake Flour, and How to Freeze Eggs to see if they would help you as well.