Buttermilk Substitute: 10 Easy Options

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Buttermilk Substitute

Are you looking for a substitute ingredient to use in place of buttermilk? I’ve got 10 options that work great as a buttermilk substitute, plus some are dairy free!

Buttermilk gives recipes a nice tangy taste. Have you tried buttermilk pancakes?

To be honest, I never buy buttermilk and I’ve been running a food blog since 2011 and wrote a Globe and Mail Bestselling cookbook.

I’ve never seen it at my grocery store. I’ve always relied on buttermilk substitutes. When I’ve eaten dairy free, I used dairy free buttermilk.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make a great alternative for buttermilk that can help in a pinch.

What is Buttermilk?

Traditionally buttermilk is a type of milk that is made from the liquid that is left over after churning butter. Modern-day buttermilk is milk that has been cultured milk (like yogurt and kefir), to transform it into tangy buttermilk.

What can you make with buttermilk?

Buttermilk is a fun ingredient to use in recipes to add a nice tangy flavor. Popular recipes that use buttermilk are biscuits, pancakes, waffles, cornbread, muffins, cakes, and cookies.

Buttermilk is also commonly used in marinades for chicken, pork, and fish, as it helps to tenderize the meat and give it a tangy flavor.

You can also use it in salad dressings, dips, and other savory dishes like buttermilk fried chicken and buttermilk ranch dressing.

If you’re wondering, what to use instead of buttermilk for recipes, I’ve got 10 options below.

Substitute for Buttermilk

You can use these as a substitute for buttermilk in baking or savory recipes.

1. Plain yogurt
2. Sour cream
3. Kefir
4. Cottage cheese (You can blend it to make it smooth)
5. Milk mixed with cream of tartar
6. Milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar
7. Milk mixed with a little bit of melted butter
8. Coconut milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar
9. Almond milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar
10. Heavy cream mixed with lemon juice or vinegar

Keep in mind that these buttermilk substitutes may not provide the same flavor as real buttermilk, but they should work well in most recipes.

How to Make a Substitute for Buttermilk

To make a buttermilk alternative, take one cup of milk (or dairy free milk) and mix it with 1 tbsp of vinegar or lemon juice and allow it to sit for a few minutes.

If you mixed it with milk it will curdle a little bit and develop a slightly tangy flavor.

Substitute for 1 cup of Buttermilk

1. 1 cup plain yogurt
2. 1 cup sour cream
3. 1 cup kefir
4. 1 cup cottage cheese (You can blend it to make it smooth)
5. 1 cup milk mixed with 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
6. 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar
7. 1 cup milk mixed with a little bit of melted butter
8. 1 cup coconut milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar
9. 1 cup almond milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar
10. 1 cup heavy cream mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar

You do not need to mix the yogurt, sour cream, kefir, or cottage cheese with an acid since they are already acidic.

Non Dairy Substitute for Buttermilk

To make a dairy free buttermilk substitute use coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, etc mixed with vinegar or lemon juice.

These also work as a vegan substitute for buttermilk.

Homemade Buttermilk

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