Let’s talk about buttermilk. More specifically, let’s talk about how I never have buttermilk in the refrigerator when I need it. Wwhhyy!?
What is buttermilk? Buttermilk is a slightly sour milk. The sourness of buttermilk comes from acids in the milk, most notably, lactic acids. Because the proteins in buttermilk are curdled, buttermilk is slightly thicker than regular milk, but not quite as thick as cream. Buttermilk is also usually much lower in fat than regular milk and cream.
Cultured buttermilk, as it is called in the United States these days, is a pasteurized milk product. A culture of lactic acid bacteria is added to low-fat milk to curdle and sour the milk. Many dairies also add tiny yellow colored flecks of butter to simulate, well… buttermilk.
Buttermilk is an important part of baking. The acidic milk combined with baking soda in a recipe is a baker’s dream. It’s helps add a lightness and tenderness to baked treats. When baking soda is combined with the lactic acids of buttermilk, the acid neutralizes the metallic taste of sodium carbonate. We talked about this in-depth in Baking 101: The Difference Between Baking Soda and Baking Powder.
What if you’re plum out of buttermilk? There are solutions…. let’s talk.
The Best Buttermilk Substitutes
Milk and Lemon or Vinegar
In a 1-cup measuring cup, add 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Top the lemon juice with skim, low fat or whole milk. Stir and let sit for two minutes. After two minutes, your milk is both acidic and curdled. If you need 2 cups of buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to the milk. Two tablespoons aren’t necessary.
Milk and Yogurt
Stir 1/4 cup milk into 3/4 cup plain yogurt to create a nicely thick buttermilk substitute.
Milk and Cream of Tartar
Stir together 1 cup of milk and 1 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar. To ensure that the mixture doesn’t get lumpy, mix the cream of tartar with 2 Tablespoons of milk. Once mixed add the rest of the cup of milk. Cream of tartar is an acid and will simulate the acidic environment of buttermilk in a pinch.
Non-Dairy Option: Almond Milk and Yogurt (with a splash of vinegar)
Stir 1/4 cup almond milk into 3/4 cup almond milk yogurt. Add a splash (about 1/2 teaspoon) vinegar to the mixture and stir well. Soy milk and yogurt can also be substituted for the almond milk products.
What We’re Making With Buttermilk
So soft and tender straight from the fryer. Don’t inhale and eat. Trust me.
Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake
Soft cakes topped with ultra sweet, roasted strawberries.
Brown Butter Banana Bread with Rum and Coconut
Brown Butter and Buttermilk in their greatest union yet.
Feta Chive and Sour Cream Scones
Dream biscuits. On the savory side.
Gigi
Can i use powdered milk then add water?
joythebaker
Sure!
Margaret DiNegro
Can you use Real Lemon instead of fresh lemon? – Margaret
joythebaker
Sure! Shouldn’t be a problem!
Bobby
I don’t know if you’re familiar with a Russian drink called kefir, sounds like it also would be a good substitute? It’s much easier to find in my country. Of course, yoghurt is even more accessible, as I’m taking Bulgaria, but i”‘m curious.
shannon skinner
This would be a good substitute although a little thin
Linda Corbin
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with simply putting one tablespoon of vinegar in a measuring cup and filling with milk until it reaches 8 oz.!! Why waste a lemon for this!? Ridiculous !
joythebaker
Cool, thanks.
Lesley Weatherford
Used unsweetened almond milk and recipe said add 2 Tbsp of lemon juice. It was too much, the batter is not thick enough and the mini muffins I made completely crumbled apart. I won’t risk it again, I’ll just go get buttermilk.
Damaris T Collins
Hi!…Just found out my love is for baking…since I’m a rookie, which would be the first instruments I should get to start my baking adventure?…
Thank you so much!
tin
hi! i thought its only here in the Philippines that buttermilk is nowhere to be found. So its a so american recipe when it calls for the use of buttermilk since even europeans dont find it most in their supermarket. How I wish dairy producing countries will find a way to reach us here… After reading these substitute of buttermilk from this site… you are the most helpful people on earth to tell us the best thing to do. Thank you so much for this info. You are God’s blessing to others…
mai
If i only need 1/2 cup of buttermilk, how can i substitute it using plain yogurt and milk?
Pls help!tnx
joythebaker
The answer in the post can help you in the “milk yogurt” section
Jona Vee Robles
Omg, good thing I have milk & cream of tartar
susaneapen's blog
Thank you from Kerala, India. Here we call the thin liquid left after churning yoghurt and removing butter as buttermilk. I will definitely try this.
Jacqueline
How do I make low fat buttermilk biscuits as I need them for weight watchers recipe please can any one help me. Thank you xxx jackie