We’ve all been in the middle of making a recipe when we realized we didn’t have buttermilk on hand! Luckily, making your own buttermilk is so easy and only requires two simple ingredients. If your looking for ways to use your buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute), try these perfect buttermilk pancakes, biscuits, or my favorite Hershey’s “perfectly chocolate” Chocolate Cake.
Making buttermilk is as easy as using 1 tablespoon of acid for every cup of milk. For this recipe, just add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a 1 cup of milk. Mix and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Keep the remainder in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it to use later.
What can I use if I don’t have buttermilk?
There are a few popular methods for substituting buttermilk. Pick which one is best for you, based on what you have on hand:
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon white vinegar + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 Tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to measure 1 cup
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk = 1 and ¾ teaspoon cream of tarter + 1 cup of milk
How to substitute Buttermilk
The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
If you don’t have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tarter also work as great buttermilk substitutions. Use them in the same way described above.
Dairy free buttermilk substitution:
If you have a dairy allergy you can also use this buttermilk substitute recipe with a small adaptation. Instead of using 1 cup of milk, use coconut milk! So add vinegar or lemon juice to a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with coconut milk. Voila! I dairy-free buttermilk substitute.
Vegan buttermilk substitution:
If you are vegan, you can use the dairy-free substitute described above or you can also use soy milk! To use soy-milk as a vegan buttermilk substitute, simple add 1 tablespoon of vinegar (or lemon juice) to a 1 cup measurer and fill the rest of the cup with soy milk. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before using.
Can you freeze buttermilk?
Yes! Buttermilk freezes well. Just be sure to store it in a sealed container and it will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also freeze buttermilk by using and ice cube tray and freezing it in 1 tablespoon portions! This makes it really convenient when you need to use just a small amount.
