Buttermilk Substitute: A Simple Trick to Try at Home!

This homemade buttermilk substitute comes together in 5 minutes and requires only 2 ingredients. Skip the grocery store and make your own!

Homemade buttermilk substitute comes together in 5 minutes and requires only 2 ingredients. Skip the grocery store and make your own!

Have you ever started preparing a recipe, only to realize you’re out of buttermilk? For many, this common ingredient isn’t a staple in the fridge. Rather than running to the grocery store or relying on someone else to make the trip, there’s a simple solution: a quick and easy homemade buttermilk substitute.

Buttermilk is usually purchased when you plan to use most of it—perhaps while baking blueberry biscuits or making multiple batches of buttermilk pancakes. When only a small amount is needed, it makes more sense to skip the store and whip up a quick substitute at home, saving both money and reducing waste.

Over the years, I’ve incorporated this substitute into countless recipes—from delectable chocolate cakes to fluffy banana bread—without ever encountering issues. This simple buttermilk substitute has proven to be a reliable choice for various baking endeavors.

Homemade buttermilk substitute comes together in 5 minutes and requires only 2 ingredients! So simple.

What Does Buttermilk Do in a Recipe?

Omitting buttermilk when a recipe calls for it is not advisable. But what role does it play? Buttermilk, with its thick texture and tangy flavor, adds depth to both sweet and savory dishes. Its distinctive taste is attributed to the lactic acid it contains, which not only flavors but also interacts with baking soda during the leavening process, ensuring the finished product is light and airy.

Additionally, buttermilk helps maintain moisture in baked goods. This essential ingredient finds its way into a myriad of recipes, including buttermilk biscuits, banana bundt cakes, pancakes, and even fried chicken. So, if you find yourself without buttermilk, fret not! You can easily make your own substitute with ingredients you likely have at home, and it’s faster than a trip to the store.

Homemade buttermilk substitute comes together in a snap and requires only 2 ingredients. No need to make a special trip to the store!

How to Make a Substitute for Buttermilk

Crafting a buttermilk substitute is incredibly simple. All you need are milk and white vinegar or lemon juice. I recommend using 2% or whole milk along with fresh lemon juice, although bottled lemon juice will suffice.

  • Measure one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup.
  • Add in a scant cup of milk, filling it to the 1 cup measurement line.
  • Stir the mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Looking for a way to make a Homemade Buttermilk Substitute? I’ve got easy recipe to use with ingredients already in your kitchen!

How to Use Your Buttermilk Substitute

After the mixture has rested for 5 minutes, it will have thickened and curdled slightly—indicating success! You can now use your homemade buttermilk substitute in a 1-to-1 ratio in your baking recipes. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of buttermilk, simply substitute it with 1 cup of your homemade version.

Note that if you’re using non-dairy milk, it may not curdle like dairy milk, but it can still be used effectively in most recipes!

Looking for a way to make a homemade buttermilk substitute at home? I can teach you how to pull it together in 5 minutes!

Can You Freeze Buttermilk?

The answer is yes! However, I often forget to freeze buttermilk before it spoils. A great tip from my readers is to freeze buttermilk in ice cube trays. Measure out 1-2 tablespoons of buttermilk into each cube section and freeze. Once solid, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag and label them accordingly (for instance, each cube equals 1 tablespoon).

When ready to bake, simply defrost the cubes in the fridge or melt them at a low setting in the microwave.

Looking for a way to make a homemade buttermilk substitute at home? I can show you how to pull it together in about 5 minutes!

And there you have it! My favorite homemade buttermilk substitute can easily be integrated into any recipe that calls for buttermilk. Consider using it in recipes like raspberry lemon cupcakes or red velvet cupcakes to elevate their moisture and flavor.

No need to panic if you find yourself lacking buttermilk—just use this straightforward recipe to whip up a substitute in minutes!

Graphic showing a buttermilk substitute printable in a kitchen, next to the words: Download this printable for your kitchen! Click to download.
  • Measure one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup.
  • Add in a scant cup of milk and fill to the 1 cup measurement line.
  • Stir the mixture together and let sit for 5 minutes.

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