Homemade Buttermilk Substitute

This fool-proof buttermilk substitute comes together with just 2 ingredients. Say goodbye to last-minute grocery runs and make Homemade Buttermilk in 5 minutes!

An Easy Homemade Buttermilk Substitute

Everyone knows the struggle of needing buttermilk, but only having regular milk on hand. This quick and easy recipe presents a simple solution to that problem. All you need is the milk in your fridge and an acid to thicken and flavor it.

This recipe also makes it easy to adjust the amount of buttermilk you make. The ratio is simple and can be halved, doubled or tripled as needed!

What is Buttermilk and What Does it Do in Baking?

Buttermilk is a thicker, slightly more sour milk that’s often used in pancakes, biscuits, cupcakes and other baked goods. It has a tangy flavor, making it a great ingredient for both sweet treats and savory morsels.

But that’s not all! When used in baking, buttermilk provides the fluffiest, most tender texture. You really don’t want to leave it out when it’s called for in a recipe. And with this super easy substitute, you’ll never have to!

Recipe Ingredients

You only need 2 ingredients to make buttermilk.

• Lemon Juice: Fresh or bottled. (You can also use white vinegar but lemon juice is my favorite acid to use.)
• Milk: My go-to is whole milk, as it already has a thicker consistency to begin with. But feel free to use what you have!

How to Make Homemade Buttermilk

This homemade buttermilk is so easy to throw together! You just have to gently combine the ingredients.

1. Combine Ingredients: Pour the vinegar or lemon juice into a measuring cup, then pour in the milk until it reaches one cup.
2. Stir: Gently stir and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it’s curdled, then stir it again before using it in the recipe.

• 

• 

Why This Method Works

The chemical reaction that occurs between the milk and the acid is what makes this recipe work. The lemon juice (or vinegar) triggers a fermenting process that thickens the milk and gives it its tangy taste. All you have to do to make it happen is measure, pour and stir.

Can I Make a Dairy Free & Vegan Version?

Yes! You can easily make dairy-free and vegan buttermilk with this recipe, if needed. Just use soy milk or almond milk.

Can I Freeze Homemade Buttermilk?

Want to freeze your buttermilk? Just pour it into an ice tray. Measure the amount you pour into each section so you know how much you’ll need to thaw for whatever you’re baking.

Once the buttermilk is frozen, remove the milk-ice from the tray and store it in a freezer-safe container. Thaw as needed in the fridge before using.

Print

Recipes That Use Buttermilk

Check out some of my favorite treats to make using buttermilk!

• Yellow Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
• Buttermilk Chocolate Cake
• Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
• Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake