Kitchen Tips: Buttermilk Substitute
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
This easy Buttermilk Substitute requires just two ingredients and comes together in seconds. No more running to the store in the middle of baking your favorite recipes! Recipe includes a how-to video.
Quick & Easy Buttermilk Substitute
Have you ever been in the middle of prepping what will be a beautiful batch of waffles or pancakes and BAM–you realize you need buttermilk?! I don’t know about you, but I don’t keep a bottle in my fridge at all times, so when this happens, I’m left with two options: get in the car and drive to the store, or just make this easy buttermilk substitute. The choice is really an no-brainer.
While real, cultured buttermilk is honestly better than any substitute and will always yield the best taste, texture and flavor, when you’re in a pinch a substitute is better than nothing at all (and better than just regular milk–more on that below!) This “recipe” I’m sharing today is extremely simple and uses ingredients that, unlike the real thing, are almost always already in your kitchen.
What does buttermilk do?
- Imparts a rich, slightly tangy flavor.
- Can be a major factor in creating texture and rise (as you can see in my tall, fluffy banana muffins).
- Adds moisture, much like sour cream.
What You Need
This quick and easy buttermilk substitute is incredibly simple, and my hope is that you have what you need at home already. Here’s what you need:
- Lemon juice OR vinegar. Fresh or bottled lemon juice OR distilled white vinegar will work equally well. Whichever you choose, this ingredient is the acid that will change your milk into buttermilk. Having trouble deciding between the two? Don’t think too much about it–you really won’t taste either ingredient in your end result, so just use whatever you have on hand!
- Milk. If you’ve ever used store-bought buttermilk, then you know it’s pretty thick. To get this quick and easy substitute as close to the consistency of the real thing, I recommend using whole milk or even heavy cream. If all you have on hand is 2% milk, that will work–thinner buttermilk is still better than nothing. And yes, non-dairy milks work just fine too!
SAM’S TIP: While I haven’t tried these myself, here are a few other substitutes that should work well for replacing one cup of buttermilk: 1 cup of plain yogurt; ¾ cup sour cream (or full fat Greek yogurt) + ¼ cup water or milk; 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar + 1 cup milk; or buttermilk powder (follow package instructions).
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make My Easy Buttermilk Substitute
- Add one tablespoon of either vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup.
- Add milk until you reach 1 cup of liquid.
- Stir together. The mixture may curdle; do not stress if this happens–this is a good thing!
- Use as needed.
SAM’S TIP: Many buttermilk substitute recipes suggest you let the milk mixture sit for 5-10 minutes before using. This actually isn’t necessary, because once the milk and acid are combined, the acidification happens instantly! If you still feel better letting the mixture sit, you can just prepare your buttermilk substitute at the beginning of your recipe.
Today’s recipe is for a full cup of buttermilk and can easily be doubled. Here is a breakdown for recipes that require less than a cup of buttermilk:
- ¾ cup buttermilk = 2 ¼ teaspoons lemon juice/vinegar + milk to fill to ¾-cup line
- ⅔ cup buttermilk = 2 teaspoons lemon juice/vinegar + milk to fill to ⅔-cup line
- ½ cup buttermilk = 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice/vinegar + milk to fill to ½-cup line
- ¼ cup buttermilk = ¾ teaspoon lemon juice/vinegar + milk to fill to ¼ cup line
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Buttermilk is acidic, and any recipe that has been created using it is typically designed to have a specific reaction between the buttermilk (acid) and the leavening agents (usually baking soda). Note: sometimes I do use buttermilk without baking soda, like in my coffee cake and vanilla cake. In these instances it is to enhance the moisture and flavor of the recipe.
Regular milk isn’t acidic, which means the reaction won’t take place. Your baked goods may not rise properly and can turn out drier, less flavorful, and less tender if you use plain milk where buttermilk is called for.
Yes! You can use the ratio mentioned above with non-dairy milks, and you’ll still be left with a fantastic buttermilk substitute! I rarely bake with these milks, but this is a good vegan buttermilk substitute if you need one.
It should hold up about a week in a sealed container in your refrigerator. However, I recommend just making it as needed rather than making it in bulk in advance.
Generally I would not recommend it. While some recipes will fare well with this substitution (I often make my biscuits with buttermilk instead of the whole milk indicated), not all recipes will be as forgiving and it is best to use the type of milk called for.
I know that this isn’t new information to many seasoned bakers, but I’m hoping that it will help someone out in a pinch.
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
How to Make Buttermilk Substitute
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (fresh or bottled), may substitute 1 Tablespoon white distilled vinegar
- 1 scant cup* milk
Instructions
- Pour one Tablespoon of lemon juice (or one tablespoon of vinegar) into a liquid measuring cup.1 Tablespoon lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- Add milk until liquid reaches the 1-cup line (at eye level).1 scant cup* milk
- Stir. The milk will thicken a little and may appear to be slightly curdled or chunky.
- Use buttermilk in your recipe as instructed (note that this recipe yields a cup, please use only the amount called for in your recipe).
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Hi Sam! Today my 2 year old nephew and I tried this recipe. It was very easy to follow and he enjoyed it a lot. I divided the batch into 3 and added some food colouring to make it more entertaining for him. Buttermilk is not sold in my country so I used to buttermilk substitute you posted. We also did the chocolate frosting.
I noticed a couple of things. Firstly, the frosting felt a little bit grainy, as if I could feel the sugar (I used icing sugar). The next thing I noticed was that the cake was sunken down in the middle. And lastly, the texture of the cake felt as if it was not cooked well enough, I checked it with a toothpick and it was cooked all the way through. The texture of the cake felt like play dough. What do you think might have caused these problems, please?
Thank you in advance 🙂
Hi Maryrose! I’m so sorry your cake turned out like that and your frosting was disappointing. The cake probably sunk due to over-mixing, which would also make it dense. I’m not sure why the icing would be grainy if you used powdered sugar. I hope this helps. 🙂
Hi! Thank you for this great tip! Question though, a recipe that i want to try out only requires 1/3 cup buttermilk; is it correct to measure just 1 tsp of lemon juice or vinegar plus milk till it reaches 1/3 cup line? I just want to make sure, i dont want to mess up the whole recipe. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Yvette! You would add the one teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice and then fill the measuring cup up to the 1/3 cup line. 🙂
Thank You!!! Have never tried this but most certainly am going to right now!!!
Hello,
What I have in my fridge is 1% fat milk.
Can I use it to make buttermilk with Lemon juice?
Hi Oma! Yes, you can use that, enjoy!
Pls do I still Need to add milk to the mix after adding the butter mlk
Hi Chummie! I am not quite sure what you mean here? You need milk to make the buttermilk substitute. If your recipe calls for both milk and buttermilk then add the milk as well.
Can you use skim milk for your buttermilk recipe?
Skim milk will work for this. 🙂
Do you removes the curdles before using?
Nope, leave them in 🙂
Yes it works as a substitute but it does not Buttermilk. In this example I can’t comment on the taste of the cake as I have not made it (I will) but in other recopes that call for Buttermilk ie Bran Muffins, Pancakes etc there is a noticable flavour difference.
As always thanks for the wonderful recipes.
Hi! When you say milk, is it fullcream or evaporated milk?
Whole milk. 🙂
Very useful indeed, especially as you have listed the different quantities of vinegar or lemon juice and milk. Unfortunately I am still a pounds and ounces girl and usually have to convert everything. Isn’t that sad! However, I thank you for listing these amounts and will print and keep handy.
I hope you get to use it frequently! 🙂
Thank you so much! Very informative 🙂
Hi again!
I was only able to find cultured buttermilk at my local grocery store.
Is there a difference? Can I use the cutltured buttermilk for the chocolate cake recipe?
Thanks- Vanessa
Hi Vanessa! Cultured buttermilk is fine, that’s what I use. 🙂
This is a question. May I use buttermilk instead of regular milk in a cake recipe?
It depends on the recipe, honestly. Generally I’d say you can get away with it, but ultimately it depends on the recipe and I recommend using whatever the recipe calls for.
Hi Sam, I am fairly new to your wonderful recipes. I only use half & half for my tea and 2% for drinking. May I use either of these for your butter milk recipe?
Hi Debra! The 2% milk should work. 🙂
I made this last night but it did not curdle. Is it because I used fresh milk? Thanks in advance.
Hi, Jocel. Sometimes the curdling is subtle and sometimes it takes a few minutes to curdle, however, it will still function the same without the curdling. 🙂