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
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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
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I originally shared this recipe March 2019. Updated August 2024.
This post contains affiliate links.
This recipe worked just like store-bought buttermilk.
Could whey be used instead of vinegar to make buttermilk?
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.