There’s nothing worse than getting home and realizing you’ve forgotten something for a recipe at the grocery store. For me, it seems like it’s always buttermilk.
Buttermilk gives things like biscuits, chocolate cake, pound cake, and pie unqiue flavor and texture.
But if you find yourself without it, here’s a quick and easy way to turn plain milk into a buttermilk substitute in a pinch!
What is buttermilk?
Buttermilk is that cool, tangy sidekick in the dairy world. And while traditionally speaking, it was the liquid that was left over after churning butter. That liquid was left to ferment into the resulting buttermilk.
Toady’s buttermilk is the same, though. Instead, it’s a cultured dairy product made by fermenting low-fat milk with lactic acid bacteria. This process gives buttermilk its characteristic creamy texture and slightly sour taste. It’s a versatile ingredient, working its magic in everything from pancakes to marinades, adding a delightful zing to both sweet and savory dishes. So, whether you’re baking up a storm or whipping up some tangy dressings, buttermilk is your trusty culinary companion.
How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute
Making a quick substitute for buttermilk is actually pretty easy by combining milk and an acid like white vinegar or lemon juice.
- To make 1 cup of buttermilk substitute, start by measuring 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a 1 cup liquid measuring cup.
- Next, add enough milk (whole milk, 2%, or skim will work) to fill the measuring cup to the 1 cup line and stir to combine.
- Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes and it will thicken.
- Then use the 1 cup buttermilk substitute as you would real buttermilk.
Recipe Card
How to Make Buttermilk
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
- 15 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- To make 1 cup of buttermilk substitute, start by measuring 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a 1 cup liquid measuring cup.
- Next, add enough milk (whole milk, 2%, or skim will work) to fill the measuring cup to the 1 cup line and stir to combine.
- Allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes and it will thicken.Then use the 1 cup buttermilk substitute as you would real buttermilk.
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* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Judith
I live in North Alabama close to Huntsville. I love your site and those amazing recipes. It’s good to be “home” after 45 years of living in Utah and parts North West. I missed our good Southern Home Cooking…….Thank you!
Welcome back, Judith! Thank you so much for the kind words!
Phyllis
Hi Stacey.
I’m Phyllis, a new member from Canada and I have a question.
I’m lactose – intolerant and still want to enjoy foods that use milk.
Can you suggest a way for me to make a substitute for buttermilk, please ?
Cornbread is a particular favourite of mine, but I can’t eat it every time I want to have some. That’s a major disappointment for me, but at least I can have it occasionally as a special treat.
Thank you.
Phyllis
You can make a buttermilk substitute by using this method and simply using a non-dairy milk: https://southernbite.com/cooking-lesson-how-to-make-a-buttermilk-substitute/
pamela marid
Hello Stacy, I live in Umbertide, Italy and in Italy you can’t find buttermilk. I’d appreciate to have your recipe for this. Thanks so very much,
Pamela Fortunati
Hello, Pamela! It’s always great to hear from my readers from across this great big world! So glad to hear you found this helpful!
Jill Niccum
Appreciate your videos, keep them coming!
Thanks, Jill! Will do!
Winnie Mom
I don’t keep buttermilk on hand as a rule so when I need some I make a substitute using lemon juice as you have done or white vinegar. Both work well and I can’t tell the difference if I had used
the actual buttermilk. Keep up the good work and enjoy your recipes!
Thanks so much, Winnie Mom!!!
Linda Suit Studdard
I did not know this! I have passed up making some recipes because I didn’t have any buttermilk and was too “lazy” to go back to the store!
It’s a great substitute!