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Skip the trip to the store and learn How to Make Buttermilk substitute at home with simple pantry ingredients, including dairy-free and vegan options!
I love learning simple how-to swaps for my kitchen, like how to make your own Vanilla Extract, How to Ripen Bananas, or make some Playdough for the kids.
Our Buttermilk Substitute hack saves me time and time again.
Our Buttermilk Substitute hack saves me time and time again.We've all been there–you're several ingredients deep in a recipe and realize it calls for buttermilk, which you don't have. Instead of making a trip to the store, just make your own buttermilk substitute! It's easy, inexpensive, and I'm sure you already have everything you need.
Buttermilk Substitute:
Any of these options will work great in a recipe, just pick the best one for you based on what you have in your pantry and fridge.
- 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
How to make Buttermilk:
For the vinegar option, simply pour 1 Tablespoon vinegar into a measuring cup for 1 cup, then fill the rest of the cup with milk. Carefully stir the mixture then let it sit for 5 minutes. If you don't have vinegar, check out other easy alternatives above.
Dairy Free & Vegan Substitute:
Instead of dairy milk, use coconut milk or soy milk. Just add 1 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup measuring cup, then fill the rest of the way with coconut or soy milk. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes before using in a recipe.
Buttermilk Freezing Instructions:
Buttermilk freezes great for up to 3 months. You could even pour in an ice cube tray so it's easy to use small amounts as needed.
Use Buttermilk In:
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Buttermilk Cornbread
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Skillet Cornbread
- Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Pancake Syrup
- Cinnamon Roll Biscuits
- Hershey's Chocolate Cake
- Cannoli Cake
- Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
- English Muffins
Buttermilk Substitute
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar, (or lemon juice) (15 ml)
- 1 cup milk, (scant cup) (240 ml)
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe March 2019. Updated August 2024.
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!!