Here’s an easy tutorial for How to Make Buttermilk Substitute, and all you need are just 2 ingredients! This substitute for buttermilk is perfect for making tender, flavorful baked goods.

Buttermilk Substitute in a mason jar with text overlay for Pinterest

Folks, I have a confession! Anytime a recipe calls for buttermilk, I ALWAYS make my own and I never buy it at the grocery store!

Why?

  1. This shortcut is just too easy!
  2. In most recipes, you only need a cup of buttermilk, at most, and the rest of the carton of buttermilk usually sits in the fridge and doesn’t get used. So, I’ve learned how to make my own over the years.
Buttermilk Substitute Recipe - Step 3

Recipe FAQ’s

How do I make buttermilk?

It’s a very simple process! First, you fill a liquid measuring cup with a scant cup of milk. Then, add in 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and give the mixture a quick stir. Finally, let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to thicken and curdled.

Why use Buttermilk? Can’t I just use milk?

Buttermilk does something to batters, baked goods, and even syrups (like my Buttermilk Syrup) that regular milk just can’t! Buttermilk makes for a tender crumb in baked goods and it lightens the batter. Plus it gives any baked good a flavor kick!

Won’t Buttermilk make my batter and baked goods sour?

Nope, thanks to chemistry! When the tangy buttermilk reacts with the baking powder or baking soda in a recipe it fizzes and cancels out the sour flavor of the buttermilk!

Can apple cider vinegar make buttermilk?

Yes! You can use either white vinegar (my personal preference) or apple cider vinegar to make a buttermilk substitute.

What is a substitute for buttermilk?

Well, there are a few other buttermilk substitutes besides the milk and vinegar or lemon juice mixture that is below. These other substitutes involve cream of tartar, sour cream, plain yogurt, and even soy milk for a vegan buttermilk substitute!

Buttermilk substitute in a mason jar

Other Buttermilk Substitutes:

BONUS! There are other ways to substitute buttermilk in a recipe! Here they are:

  1. Cream of Tarter – Simply whisk together 1 cup of milk with 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, or until the milk has curdled and thickened.
  2. Sour Cream – Whisk together 3/4 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup of milk to thin the mixture out. Then, use the mixture as you would buttermilk.
  3. Plain Yogurt – Whisk together 3/4 cup of plain yogurt (anything but fat-free) and 1/4 cup of milk to thin the mixture out. Then, use the mixture as you would buttermilk.
  4. You can even make vegetarian or vegan buttermilk, too! Just use soy milk or almond milk in place of regular milk!

Delicious recipes to use this Buttermilk Substitute in:

A mason jar of Buttermilk Substitute

Cook’s Note:

  • This substitute for buttermilk will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Cook’s Tools:

  • liquid measuring cup
  • measuring spoons
  • mixing spoon
Buttermilk substitute in a mason jar
4.65 from 14 votes

How to Make Buttermilk Substitute

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
4 people
Here’s an easy tutorial for How to Make Buttermilk Substitute, and all you need are just 2 ingredients! This substitute for buttermilk is perfect for making tender, flavorful baked goods.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup milk anything but skim milk
  • 1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Instructions

  • Pour the milk into a liquid measuring cup.
    Buttermilk Substitute Recipe - Step 1
  • Add the vinegar or lemon juice and give the mixture a quick stir.
    Buttermilk Substitute Recipe - Step 2
  • Let the milk sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, or until it has thickened and curdled.
    Buttermilk Substitute Recipe - Step 3

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 89mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 116IU | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg

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Buttermilk substitute collage with text overlay for Pinterest

This Buttermilk Substitute recipe first appeared on FFF on April 7, 2011. I recently updated the pictures (thank goodness!). You can see the original picture below.

Original Buttermilk Substitute recipe picture

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23 Comments

  1. @ Ethnic Girl Fun: You’re Welcome! =)

  2. This is such a great idea!! Such a simple buttermilk recipe!! Thanks for sharing

    1. You’re so welcome! 🙂

  3. Thanks for the tips! I needed buttermilk for a recipe and the substitute worked perfectly!

    1. Awesome, I’m so glad it worked for you!

  4. I haven’t bought buttermilk in years because of this trick! I love it that you posted it, but I really love the links to buttermilk recipes you included. I’ll be checking those out. Just pinned this one, of course 🙂

    1. Awesome, so glad this tip comes in handy for you!

  5. Mary Bostow says:

    I LOVE how easy and delicious this is! Good idea! Looks very tasty! I am going to make this! This recipe really impresses! I really like! Thank you.

  6. Lisa Bynum says:

    I have done this and it worked beautifully. Never tried the cream of tartar method, but that’s good to know if I’m ever out of lemon juice!

  7. This is such a great kitchen hack that everyone should know. Thanks for the reminder that I don’t need to buy it every time. 🙂

    1. You’re so welcome! 🙂

  8. Great tips and ideas! Thanks for sharing very informative details about buttermilk. Very helpful!

    1. You’re so welcome. I’m glad you found it helpful!

  9. The BEST buttermilk substitute!

    1. Awesome, so glad that it worked for you!

  10. I had forgotten how to make this and was glad to find your explanation. Something I find that helps is to place 1 T vinegar or lemon juice in an empty 1-cup measure, then fill the rest of the way with the milk, to make the measuring more precise. Just thought I’d pass this on. Thank you!

    1. Great tip, thank Margaret!

  11. Anne Silverstein says:

    Thank you! My question was about using white vinegar Or apple cider vinegar. Quick answer and lots of good information.

  12. Can I use pickling vinegar instead of white vinegar for making buttermilk?

    1. Hi Farah, I haven’t tried this recipe with pickling vinegar. My initial reaction is that it might alter the flavor too much.

  13. Elizabeth Smith says:

    I got my question answered. Thanks, I will use the lemon juice