Buttermilk substitute: 4 easy ways to replace it
Quick answer: for 1 cup of buttermilk, stir 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a measuring cup, add milk up to the 1-cup line, and let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes.
Substitute 1: milk and lemon juice or vinegar
- Pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar into a liquid measuring cup.
- Add milk until it reaches 1 cup.
- Stir and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. It will thicken slightly and may look curdled, which is what you want.
Use whole or 2 percent milk for the best texture. Non-dairy milks such as soy or oat also work, though results vary by brand.
Substitute 2: plain yogurt and milk
Mix 3/4 cup plain yogurt with 1/4 cup milk to make 1 cup. Stir until smooth. This is thicker and tangier than buttermilk and works well in pancakes, muffins and quick breads.
Substitute 3: kefir
Plain kefir is fermented like buttermilk and can replace it 1 to 1. It is the closest substitute in flavor.
Substitute 4: cream of tartar and milk
Whisk 1 3/4 teaspoons of cream of tartar into 1 cup of milk. This works because cream of tartar is an acid. Add it to the milk, then let it stand a few minutes.
Scaling the recipe
| Buttermilk needed | Lemon juice or vinegar | Then add milk to |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 3/4 tsp | 1/4 cup |
| 1/2 cup | 1 1/2 tsp | 1/2 cup |
| 3/4 cup | 2 1/4 tsp | 3/4 cup |
| 1 cup | 1 tbsp | 1 cup |
| 2 cups | 2 tbsp | 2 cups |
Why recipes use buttermilk
Buttermilk is acidic. In baking, that acid reacts with baking soda to make gas that lifts the batter, and it softens the crumb of cakes, pancakes and biscuits. A substitute has to be acidic to do the same job. That is why plain milk is not a good swap on its own. See baking soda vs baking powder for how the two leaveners work.
When a substitute will not do
Soured milk works well in baking. For dips, dressings and fried-chicken marinades, where the flavor of real buttermilk is the point, a yogurt or kefir substitute gets closer. And it is not meant for drinking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use vinegar instead of lemon juice? Yes. Use plain white or apple cider vinegar in the same amount.
Do I have to wait 5 minutes? Give it at least 5. The milk should thicken a little.
Is buttermilk lower in calories than milk? Low-fat cultured buttermilk has fewer calories than whole milk. Compare them in our nutrition facts.
Try these substitutes in our easy pancakes from scratch, which uses plain milk, or swap in buttermilk for a tangier stack.