Need buttermilk but forgot to buy it, or don’t need a whole container? Learn how to make Buttermilk Substitute with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now. Five options, ready in minutes!
Buttermilk! It is an essential ingredient in many baked goods, but if you’re anything like me, it is not an ingredient that you have on hand at all times. The good news is, you can make a Buttermilk Substitute at home with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. I’m sharing FIVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS for How to Make Buttermilk Substitute.
What is Buttermilk?
Store bought buttermilk is a slightly sour milk that comes from a combination of milk and lactic acid. It is thicker than plain milk, with a subtle tang. In recipes that call for buttermilk, it is not recommended to replace buttermilk with plain milk, because the absence of acid will not produce the same end result. But using an acidic ingredient combined with plain milk will create a substitute with properties closer to that of buttermilk.
Note: Buttermilk is not plain milk that is going bad. If you have regular milk that smells sour, or is thick and curdled, do not use it.
Why is Buttermilk Used in Baking?
The extra acid in buttermilk tenderizes gluten, helping to create baked goods that are light and fluffy. Buttermilk also helps with leavening. When combined with baking soda, the acid in buttermilk helps to create a high rise. Buttermilk can also impart a subtle tangy flavor that can take a recipe from good to great.
How To Make Buttermilk Substitute:
I have five different ways you can create a Buttermilk Substitute. These work in a pinch if you need buttermilk for a recipe and don’t have any on hand, or if you have a recipe that calls for a small amount of buttermilk and you don’t want to buy a whole container.
Milk and Lemon Juice: Measure out a scant cup of whole or 2% milk and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir, then allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. The acid from the lemon juice will curdle the milk slightly.
Milk and White Vinegar: Measure out a scant cup of whole or 2% milk and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Stir, then allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. The acid from the vinegar will curdle the milk slightly.
Milk and Plain Yogurt: Whisk milk into plain yogurt until you get the consistency of buttermilk (thickened milk). The measurements are around 3/4 cup yogurt plus 1/4 cup milk, but will vary slightly based on how thick your yogurt is.
Milk and Sour Cream: Whisk milk into sour cream until you get the consistency of buttermilk (thickened milk). The measurements are around 3/4 cup sour cream plus 1/4 cup milk, but will vary slightly based on how thick your sour cream is.
Milk and Kefir: Kefir is a fermented milk drink, similar to a drinkable yogurt. Kefir is already fairly similar in consistency to buttermilk, but I thin it out just a bit by whisking in a splash of milk.
Recipes Using Buttermilk Substitute
If a recipe relies heavily on buttermilk for flavor, texture, and rise (like these Buttermilk Biscuits), it is probably best to buy actual buttermilk, but I have used buttermilk substitutes many times in various recipe with success. The end result might be a bit different than if using actual buttermilk, but this is as close as you’re going to get as far as substitutions go.
Tip: The less buttermilk there is in a recipe, the easier it is to substitute. If a recipe calls for a small amount of buttermilk, it is likely that you won’t notice any difference in making this substitution. If the buttermilk is a key player in a recipe, I usually try to use the real deal.
Here are some of my favorite recipes using buttermilk:
- Pumpkin Carrot Cake (pictured above): – A moist and flavorful layer cake filled with carrots, pumpkin, and warm spices
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes: Tender and fluffy chocolate chip pancakes topped with a homemade strawberry syrup.
- Blueberry Pancake Casserole: Thick and fluffy pancake casserole filled with fresh blueberries and topped with a brown sugar crumble.
- Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake (pictured below): A layer of juicy strawberries topped with vanilla cake and a brown sugar crumb topping.
- Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake: Tender lemon bundt cake filled with fresh blueberries and topped with cream cheese frosting.
- Oatmeal Pancakes: Light, tender, fluffy whole grain pancakes.
You might also like: HOW TO MAKE WHIPPED CREAM
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How To Make Buttermilk Substitute
Make buttermilk in minutes with ingredients you already have. Five different options!
Ingredients
Option 1:
- 1 scant cup whole or 2% milk
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Option 2:
- 1 scant cup whole or 2% milk
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Option 3:
- approx 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- approx 1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
Option 4:
- approx 3/4 cup sour cream
- approx 1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
Option 5:
- 1 scant cup plain kefir
- 1 tablespoon whole or 2% milk more or less, to thin
Instructions
Option 1 or 2:
Stir lemon juice or vinegar into milk and set at room temperature for 10 minutes. Milk will begin to curdle slightly.
Option 3 or 4:
Whisk milk into yogurt or sour cream until you get the consistency of buttermilk (thick milk). Adjust quantity of milk based on how thick your yogurt or sour cream are. Use immediately.
Option 5:
Whisk milk into kefir to thin it out to the consistency of buttermilk. This typically only takes about 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of kefir. Adjust depending on the consistency of kefir. Use immediately.
Recipe Notes
If a recipe relies heavily on buttermilk for flavor, texture, and rise, it is probably best to buy actual buttermilk. That being said, these buttermilk substitutes can be used in many recipes with success.
Taryn says
I like how you give so many options to make a substitute for buttermilk. Very helpful!
Sandi says
This is such a great idea…I never have buttermilk on-hand.
Teri says
Thanks for all the different options since buttermilk is an item I don’t always have stocked in my refrigerator.