An easy Buttermilk Substitute recipe and a guide for How to Make Buttermilk including dairy free and vegan buttermilk.
We’ve all been in the middle of making a recipe when we realized we didn’t have buttermilk on hand! Luckily, making your own buttermilk is so easy and only requires two simple ingredients. If your looking for ways to use your buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute), try these perfect buttermilk pancakes, biscuits, or my favorite Hershey’s “perfectly chocolate” Chocolate Cake.
Buttermilk Substitute
Tell me I am not the only person who seems to constantly forget to add buttermilk to my shopping list. It’s one of those ingredients that seems to go bad in my fridge when I do buy it and is never around in the moments I need it! It’s almost embarrassing how often I have to use this buttermilk substitute recipe. You’ll likely have this easy recipe memorized after just one use.
What can I use if I don’t have buttermilk?
There are a few popular methods for substituting buttermilk. Pick which one is best for you, based on what you have on hand:
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon white vinegar + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 and ¾ teaspoon cream of tarter + 1 cup of milk
How to substitute Buttermilk
The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
If you don’t have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tarter also work as great buttermilk substitutions. Use them in the same way described above.
Dairy free buttermilk substitution:
If you have a dairy allergy you can also use this buttermilk substitute recipe with a small adaptation. Instead of using 1 cup of milk, use coconut milk! So add vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with coconut milk. Voila! I dairy-free buttermilk substitute.
Vegan buttermilk substitution:
If you are vegan, you can use the dairy-free substitute described above or you can also use soy milk! To use soy-milk as a vegan buttermilk substitute, simple add 1 tablespoon of vinegar (or lemon juice) to a 1 cup measurer and fill the rest of the cup with soy milk. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before using.
Can you freeze buttermilk?
Yes! Buttermilk freezes well. Just be sure to store it in a sealed container and it will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze buttermilk by using and ice cube tray and freezing it in 1 tablespoon portions! This makes it really convenient when you need to use just a small amount.
More buttermilk recipes:
- Hershey’s “perfectly chocolate” Chocolate Cake
- Peach Crumb Cake
- Banana Bran Muffins
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Biscuits
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Recipe
Buttermilk Substitute
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 cup milk (scant cup)
Instructions
- Pour the tablespoon of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer.
- Fill the rest of the 1 cup measurer with milk.
- Gently stir and let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. This will allow the milk to slightly curdle, giving it a buttermilk-like texture and taste.
Notes
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon white vinegar + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 and ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar + 1 cup of milk
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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I didn’t make the recipe – but wanted to add that if you can’t find buttermilk at the store it’s very easy to make. Just beat heavy whipping cream for a while. It will turn into whipped cream and then if you keep going it will turn into homemade butter (a bonus) and buttermilk.
Thank You So much for this easy, life savings recipe 😁
Was awesome, made with real lemon. Very tender with a very light lemony taste
Fabulous and thank you, we do not tend to use buttermilk in the UK and it is very difficult to find when a recipe calls for it. l can now make my own.
Any other way I can measure the vinegar and the milk without having a big measuring cup! Help lol thanks!
There are 16 tablespoons (TBS) in 1 cup, since the recipe stated put one TBS and then full the 1 cup, that means 1 TBS vinegar or lemon and 15 TBS of milk. If you don’t have a TBS use any spoon but and 1 vinegar and 15 milk .
Thanks Debra. That was very interesting and useful information.
I drink it, actually, though I only buy it when it’s for a recipe. I drink the leftover buttermilk and love it!
For a buttermilk substitute, sounds like literally buttermilk while leaving the curds in lmao 🤣 (here for the ratios since i forgot how simple it was 1;1, haven’t made cheese in a while…..)
That’s not a substitute that’s the literal buttermilk recipe is my only point….
Am I able to still use it if I had it sitting out if I had made it ahead of time
My mom taught me this but I forgot. I now keep a carton of cultured buttermilk blend in my freezer. No waste.
This is ages old and such a great hack! I remember my great grandmother, grandmother and mom using this for ‘all things buttermilk!!
Such a great tip to pass along.
I don’t know about anyone else- but I cannot stand buttermilk! I was always throwing a whole carton out bc no one in my family would drink it. But, they all demanded buttermilk chicken, pork chops and biscuits! (Also awesome to use for Buttermilk crumbles, pies and cakes!
Best kitchen hack since the pepper mill!
You don’t DRINK buttermilk: you put it in a bowl and top it with lots OF CINNAMON SUGAR. Other than that it’s for baking and cooking.
Linda
Some people actually do drink buttermilk. I know lots of people who love it. My dad loved it with a bit of salt and pepper.
Is 4 tablespoons enough for 4 cups,or should I add a bit extra.
If you’re a baker, you likely have cream in your refridgerator. You can also take a pint of high fat heavy whipping cream and shake in in a mason jar until the butter forms. What is left, is your true buttermilk.
Can I use Lactose-free milk?
By far this is the most amazing recipe I’ve ever made. Thank you dear. 🫶🏼
Thank you so much this is very helpful
“Thank You!” This will be so helpful!! Can i use Fatfree Milk?
Thank you for these easy recipes I can make for my 7 grands!
Easy, good
You wrote “The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. ” One should NEVER add an acid, which vinegar is, to an empty container. It can splash out when the next ingredient is added, possibly into eyes. Suggest adding three quarters of the milk first, then the vinegar, stir to distribute the vinegar, and then add the rest of the milk up to the measure mark.
I’m not sure about others, but I never pour an ingredient in measuring quickly enough to splash out. It seems to be I’d be likely to miss my measurement mark.
Probably safest to just keep the vinegar locked away & not use such a strong acid at all, Dorothy. Better yet, not in the house at all. Risks outweigh benefits by far on this one.
Thank you for the dangerous substitute. Worked like a charm plus I still have my 👀.
lol Aren’t you lucky!
Lol
I, too, activate a vent hood and contact hazmat while opening jars of pickles. The risk is just too great when dealing with the chemical weapon that is white vinegar.
same, i put on full gloves and a mask just in case!!
These comments are too funny!🤣🤣
Yeh, very strange????!!
Now I’m here just for the comments!! Altho I really did need the buttermilk substitute. I’m going to be a risk taker today and choose the vinegar option. Live on the edge a lil bit.
Wear some safety goggles then.
REALLY!! It’s vinegar NOT ACID!
Hi, I made a recipe of the buttermilk with vinegar and worked great, just wanted to know how mucho would it last on the fridge?
Thanks
Loved the recipe, I made chicken livers ànd onion rings both soaked in buttermilk recipe you posted. Thank you.
Love this recipe! I used lemon juice and I’m definantly making this one from now on!
Hi, I just wanted to say that I recommend using lemon juice over vinegar, for the best results. I don’t think many people know this, but in India (I’m an Indian) we actually drink buttermilk, and we use lemon, and never vinegar. This recipe is quite different from the drink that we have in India, because it is made of milk and vinegar/lemon juice, but we generally make it using water, yogurt, and lemon, and sometimes we add in spices and/or herbs to it, and there are different variations. Although I think this recipe would work out well for buttermilk, I think that if you are drinking it you should use lemon juice in water and yogurt. Also, this recipe and mine both work for recipes, as I often use Indian buttermilk when frying chicken, making pancakes, etc. Altogether, if you are drinking buttermilk, you should try the Indian way, but if cooking something, either way should work. Just a tip 🙂
– Cookie
I tried the vinegar version… yikes!
Most disappointed.
Hi Lauren, can I use Fairlife skim milk (lower sugar content) to make buttermilk for keto recipes?
Yes, that should work fine!
In this recipe you call for a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with a cup of milk. In your Hershey’s chocolate cake recipe you call for a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice and a cup of milk to make buttermilk. Which is it?
I double checked the Hershey’s Chocolate Cake recipe and only see it saying 1 Tbps vinegar of lemon juice. Can you tell me where you see that? You want to use 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of milk.
Thank you it worked great
I’ve made this for many years as I have a milk allergy, and so I use a milk substitute to make my buttermilk. It helps if the milk is a little warm first. A warm kitchen will make it thicken faster. If I let it set for a few hours, I’ll have the equivalent of a soft sour cream, which I can use on Tacos, etc.
Can this be saved?
Yes, all our recipes can be saved to your account. You simply need to create an account first. https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/register/
Didn’t have any buttermilk for a spicy chicken nugget recipe. This recipe worked perfect! Thanks!!
AWESOME RECIPE.THANK YOU FOR SHARING
To make buttermilk, the milk should be slightly warm like bofy temperature.
Wack I wish that was explained in the recipe
Never curdled at all, followed recipe exactly!! Waited 15 minutes made a double batch.
Made this dozens of times with great results. Oddly enough this time it failed to cuddle the milk in any way. It’s like the lemon juice is staying separate from the whole milk. Any idea why it failed? Even letting it sit overnight; then, in desperation, adding more lemon juice didn’t work. It was fresh milk and I always measure instead of eyeballing. Any way of still fixing this, like mixing some sour cream or heavy cream?
Your awesome
I have tried it many times and it is very good. Thanks
What a waste!!!! Made this so I could make cornbread. It was awful!!!! Threw away the entire batch of cornbread. It was inedible!
I didn’t have enough buttermilk on hand so I used this recipe to make more buttermilk. This worked out great! Look just like carton buttermilk.
I’ve used this recipe before and it turned out to be good buttermilk. Tonight I used whole milk and lemon juice but it never became anything but lemon flavored milk! I started over using whole milk and white vinegar. Again, it never became buttermilk. The whole milk was new. What could have caused my problem?
I made this also with whole milk never turned to buttermilk just vinegar milk
I made the buttermilk and it was great for my home made biscuits my boyfriend loved them thanks a million
Thanks! I hope I get to make, & enjoy this; maybe even show-off to a woman I want to impress!
This recipe worked just like store-bought buttermilk.
Could whey be used instead of vinegar to make buttermilk?
Thank You the butter milk was great from scratch. Now do you have one for making Chicken Fried Steak. Diana Troxell
Does this work with 1% milk??
Yes.
This recipe saved me a trip to the grocery store when I wanted to make muffins. It’s just as good as store-bought. Thank you!
Good & easy to make.
I am 61 years old/young. This is how I was taught to make buttermilk.
what a fanatastic recipe!!!!!!!!
Almond milk didn’t work for me as I later found out as it doesn’t have enough protein to interact with the white vinegar.
But, soy milk works great; just be sure it is unsweetened soy milk.
I need 1 3/4 cup buttermilk, how much vinegar do I need to add?
can i use almond milk?
Yes
How about skim milk? Does it work?
Yes, thats fine, the buttermilk will just be thinner.
I don’t go through enough buttermilk to justify buying it so I always use this substitute recipe instead. My recipes needing buttermilk come out perfect.
Thank you so much, Mike for saying this. You wonder if a substitute will work. Because you go through making the cake and it just did not come out good, ya know? At least, I have a vouch from someone. Thanks. :):):)
Worked well! Marinated chicken wings, New York strip steak, melt in your mouth!!
It work great!! I used this recipe in a Banana Nut Bread recipe! Turn out great! Thank you!!
can i use apple cider vinegar that is mixed with honey?
Super easy and convenient way to make buttermilk.
Thanks for the recipe!
I made these last night and my husband loved them! Great flavor and easy to make.
Hello and thank you! 😭
I wish to know if you can use this result to prepare Crème Fraîche.
Thanks in advance!
Delicious recipe! I have Celiac Disease and substituted a gluten free flour blend for the 2 cup regular flour without any trouble. My entire family wants this on our regular recipe rotation.
How do i make buttermilk with the probiotics in it?
Use the yogurt instead of buttermilk. But if your cooking with it expect the probiotics to die off anyways. This is also true with commercial saurkraut its pasteurized leaving little to no bacteria left. Home fermentation all the way.
White Mountain Yogurt with 90 billion CFU’S per cup.
Thank you so much for this recipe! Birthday came out perfectly!
This might be a no-brainer, but, can I make the buttermilk substitute a few hours ahead so it’s ready when I throw my cornbread together?
Thank you!!
Yes, that should be fine!
if you need more than 1 cup – do you double up the recipe – 2 tbs for 2 cups?
yes, double the recipe!
All I have is 1% milk, will that work
Yes, that will work!
What happened to the actual cake recipe? Got dozens of ways to make buttermilk, scanned to the end of the article, and WHAT??:? no yellow cake recipe!
This recipe is only for buttermilk. You can find my Yellow Cake here: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/yellow-cake/
Out of the 4 different way of making buttermilk which one is best for baking because I have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tart?? Because of taste? Thanks Josie
I usually use lemon juice.
Lemon juice,!
Can you use almond milk?
Yes, that will work!
I sure did!! No need to purchase buttermilk anymore!! I also used 3 day old milk #nowastethere !!!
Thank u!!
Thank you.
A caution…
The taste of the yoghurt substitute might be similar to buttermilk but the consistency will be different. One will end up with a drier batter and drier baked goods.
I’ve tried both lemon juice and vinegar. The lemon juice definitely thickened/curdled the milk more. Lemons are about 10x more acidic. (Even though they are only about 1 digit different on the pH scale, the pH scale is logarithmic, meaning a factor of 10, 2 digits would be a factor of 100, etc)
Thirdly, the lemon juice and vinegar methods will impart different flavours to the end product, …different from buttermilk and different from each other.
Thank you!!
Awesome! You saved me a trip to the store!
Excellent, thank you.
Yummy that is all
What kind of milk I should mix to vinegar? Condensed? Evaporated? Powdered Milk?
Regular cows milk.
Sheep or breast is best
breast is best
Hahahahahaha!!!
They are yummy and satisfy my munches
Straight to the point. Well done and Thanks!
This always works!
Thank you 😉
Great thank you
I didn’t have any fresh milk, so I used evaporated milk from the can and added the white vinegar. It worked very well. Thank your for this recipe as I cannot get buttermilk in my area. Also I have heard that it is quite pricey!
This worked well for us in a pancake recipe and added to our smashed potatoes. I’m seeing folks successfully freeze store purchased buttermilk and I am wondering if anyone has had success in freezing this “homemade” version.
Thank you!
Which one of these tastes true-est to buttermilk? Why not add a bit of (melted?) butter and maybe cream or halfnhalf too? My buttermilk usually has chunks of butter floating around in it; can’t imagine it would taste the same without it…
Buttermilk doesn’t actually contain butter. It’s a by-product from the production of butter. When you whip cream, it will eventually separate into curds (butter) and whey (buttermilk)
This was a big help n a pinch. I also take my leftover (store bought) buttermilk and pour it into measuring cup. I then pour it evenly into an ice tray. I write on the freezer bag how many cubes I need for a 1/4 or 1/2 cup so I can just thaw what I need for my recipe. This method works great for all sorts of liquids. It’s a simple way to save a few $ and a trip to the store.
Great tip on the freezing in trays and marking for future recipes!
Delicious! I was a little hesitant to make biscuits, but these are so easy and so good! I grated unsalted butter that I had stored in my freezer and it worked perfectly. They puffed up very nicely. Thank you!
This doesn’t even remotely taste of ranch. I feel lied to.
Has anyone else who left a comment tasted ranch recently? Because this is weird savory milk product
It shouldn’t taste like ranch (it’s buttermilk). If you’re looking for a ranch recipe I have one here: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/ranch-dressing/
This ISN’T a recipe for Ranch dressing my friend. It’s a recipe to make BUTTERMILK if you cant find it at a store. There are really great recipes using this recipe of buttermilk if you are either out of buttermilk or can’t get it locally.
Thank you so much, as I am lactose intolerant and use Lactaid milk just perfect😊
Thank you!! I live in Hawaii, in a VERY rural area and a major store is 50 minutes away (one way). On top of that, EVERY store I went to today was out of buttermilk (Safeway, KTA, Target, Walmart). It happens SO MUCH it drives me crazy and I need to just not worry about it and find another way to deal with these outages. I love making buttermilk biscuits but have been very discouraged. I live almost a mile up so it’s cold and rainy quite often. I love biscuits.
Jodi, to have buttermilk in a pinch there are two dry forms I have used in recipes. Walmart carries “Saco Buttermilk” that comes in a small (12 oz) canister. However, my favorite is “Bob’s Red Mill Sweet Cream Buttermilk”, it comes in a plastic pouch, and I order it online. I mainly buy dry buttermilk to make ranch seasoning from scratch.
I just wanted to say thank you for this! I don’t use buttermilk very much and it never occurred to me to buy powdered buttermilk so that I can have it when I need it and nothing will go to waste.
Jodi,
So jealous you live in Hawaii my husband and I miss Hawaii so much. I love the lemon and milk way of making buttermilk.
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION 👍 REALLY APPRECIATE IT, WORKS GREAT WITH2% MILK!
So simple and smart. I’ve lost count on how many times I needed buttermilk and had none! I have used all 3 options and I must say the vinegar works best for me taste wise!
Can you use semi skimmed milk to make butter milk or does it have to be full fat milk
Skim will work, it just wont be as thick.
Clearly explained! Thank you for posting this info: I’m in New Zealand, and a fan of ‘American regional cooking’… The term “Buttermilk” turns up regularly in recipes – and now I know how to replicate it! Cheers
Thank you very much! This was perfect.
I didn’t know how to make butter milk yet I wanted to use it during cooking. Now I’ve got it.
Thank you. Sarah, Uganda
i tried it it worked pretty well actaully
This was a life save because I had just run out and needed it for a cobbler I was making!! Do you know how long it can be stored for in the refrigerator?
not more than 3 days
I looked it up on the internet and it said 2weeks. Check it out. Ask about home made
If I add more vinegar will it make it thicker?
Thank you Lauren, I made corn dogs for my hubby last night and the recipe called for buttermilk. I found your buttermilk recipe right away with great reviews so I went with it. My hubby enjoyed the corn dogs and wants me to make them again soon. Thank you for posting this for us. 😁
I just love to drink buttermilk. I am always picking up a quart when wife isn’t looking. It never lasts for more than a few hours. My Dad loved it too. My brother can’t stand it at all. He even tried to like it to be like my dad but failed. I wish there was a way to get the butter chunks in. By the way, if you get a really sore throat, try drinking lots of cold buttermilk and your sore throat will be finished.
I need to make 500mls do I use 2 cups almond milk and 2 teaspoons white vinegar?
If making just 1/2 cup of buttermilk, do I half both ingredients or just the milk?
Yes, half both.
I tried this with coconut milk and it didn’t curdle at all.
That’s not milk 🤦🏾♂️
this literally saved my life . THANK U.
I’m almost a 70 year old male. Never baked before. I’m trying different recipes to replicate my mam’s baking when I was a teenager. The buttermilk substitute is a god send. Thank you. John.
After I make it how long does it last in the refrigerator?
1-2 weeks depending on the freshness of your ingredients.
Can I substitute milk for almond milk?
yes, that should work!
very pleased to have found your buttermilk recipe. shop-bought cartoons just contain too much quantity for my use.
thank you!
I have been using your suggestions for making buttermilk. Thank you for saving me. I never have buttermilk when I need it.
Really easy and good
Where I live, the only kind of butter milk available anywhere is cultured non-fat butter milk. I have found that a cup of sour cream is a great subs for butter milk. My cakes come out moist and delicious when I use sour cream.
Can I make the buttermilk the day before or is it best on the day I make my chicken dish?
Yes, that should be fine.
Store-bought buttermilk will last for three or four months in the refrigerator. Pay no attention to the expiration date on the bottle. Thanks My only suggestion Is to shake before using. It tends to separate and shaking it restores to the way it should be.
This is what I was about to say, I keep it in the fridge for a long time. Shake it up and good to go.
Very clear instructions for understanding.
How long I this safe to set aside?
Could I use this buttermilk to make a homemade Crème fraîche?
Can low fat or 2% milk be used? If yes, do I need cut down on the lemon juice/vinegar?
Yes, that’s fine. No changes needed.
would this receipe for buttermilk be good just for drinking it….
You can drink it, if you want.
Why would you want to???
I got a really good laugh from your reaction, LOL! Thanks for that!
My great uncle, would pour a cup of buttermilk and crumble cornbread in it. Of course he was raised in the south and picked cotton, they made the best of what was available being poor. He loved it.
I love buttermilk in the summer it is just refreshing and I also crumble some cornbread in it.
Hi
I use buttermilk for the enzymes to tenderize my chicken before I cook it. If I make buttermilk by combining milk and vinegar will that still tenderize my chicken?
Yes it sure will
Can I reduce my quantities to 1/2 cup of mild and 1/2 tbs. of vinegar?
Yes, that’s fine!
Could you use a flavored yogurt if making a dessert cake? I think it would give it a nice taste
Sure!
Can you use skim milk
Yes, you can.
Will fat free milk work or is it better to use whole milk?
Fat free milk will work fine.
Could I use almomd milk instead of coconut milk?
Yes, that would be fine.
Hi Lauren
Can I make the milk and vinegar mixture the night before or is it best not to store?
Thanks!
Yes, that would be fine. 🙂
Is distilled white vinegar ok as well?
Yes!
Can you use almond milk instead of coconut milk?
Yes, that would be fine.
Hello I do not have white vinegar or Lemon Juice, but I do have Apple Cinder will that work?
Yes, that would be fine.
What to do if your milk doesn’t curdle… add more vinegar?
Did you give it time to rest? You could add a splash more.
Has anyone tried any other nut, seed, grain milks that aren’t coconut? Would say almond, cashew, or oat milk work? I’m severely allergic to coconut in an any form, and I don’t use soy of any kind.
Thanks I love it you are the best.
It workedok
What about buttermilk from making homemade butter?
What is the ratio of vinegar to milk? My recipe calls for 1-1/3 cups of buttermilk
Thanks in advance
Measure out 1 cup plus 3 1/2 tablespoons milk and add 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar.
Would the coconut milk cause a coconut taste? I’m going to make banana bread and curious if it’ll give the bread a coconut taste.
I was also going to make banana bread
Can you use other types of vinegar, like apple cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar?
Yes, that would probably be fine.
Can I use Half and Half Cream instead milk ?
Sure!
I wouldn’t recomend it turned out weird for me
Thank you for saving me some money
What a great resource. Thanks for sharing!