10 Best Ways to Make Substitute for Buttermilk

Are you looking for a substitute for buttermilk?

In this article, we will explore what buttermilk is and other ways to make substitutes for buttermilk, and the nutritional value it contains. This easy buttermilk substitute recipe is excellent for baking and cooking, primarily vegan or allergic to milk.

Also, we will look into baking recipes where you can use these easy buttermilk substitute recipes.

1. What is Buttermilk?

Buttermilk is a by-product of making butter. What happens is that the cream is churned to butter, and the remaining liquid is left to ferment for some hours. This will give it enough time for milk sugars to lactic acid; the buttermilk lasts longer even without a fridge.

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By Camera Chemistry on Shutterstock

Buttermilk can make biscuits, fried chicken, dips, dressings, cakes, and quick loaves of bread, making the cakes light and fluffy. When you use buttermilk for baking, the acidity has a leavening power that reacts with baking powder, and then it breaks down the gluten formation for a more tender final product.

Store-bought buttermilk is mildly bitter milk that arises from a combination of milk and lactic acid. The mixture is heavier than milk and has a subtle tangy taste.

In some recipes that require buttermilk, you should not replace it with plain milk because the absence of acid from the buttermilk will not yield the same result. Instead, you use an acidic ingredient and combine it with plain milk to create buttermilk-like consistency.

Buttermilk was never going bad in any way but was thick and curdled. Do not use it if regular milk tastes dripping like sugar.

2. Dairy-Free Substitute for Buttermilk Substitute Recipe

If you are vegan or are allergic to milk, don’t worry; we look into a dairy-free substitute for buttermilk recipes that can be used in baking or cooking. Here we will look into some of the substitutes for buttermilk.

2.1. Unsweetened Soy milk and Acid buttermilk substitute

  • First, to make this vegan buttermilk substitute, you need unsweetened soy milk and an acid. The acid could be lemon juice, white vinegar, or apple cider.
  • To prepare the buttermilk substitute, add one tablespoon of your preferred acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to the soy milk in the liquid measuring cup. Stir the mixture for a few and then let it sit for 5 minutes or more. Once it thickens or curdles, the buttermilk is ready.
Buttermilk
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2.2. Vegan Sour Cream

  • To make a buttermilk substitute from vegan sour cream, add 1/2 cup of water to 1/2 cup of sour cream and stir it. Now you can add more water or sour cream to get the consistency or thickness according to your preference.
  • Note that sour cream is not as acidic as buttermilk, so add one tablespoon of lemon juice to it. Also, it is used as a dressing for salads, and dips.
Buttermilk
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2.3. Lemon Juice

  • For the buttermilk substitute, first add one or two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with any of your preferred plant-based alternatives (almond milk, soy milk, oat milk) in one cup of milk. Stir the mixture well. Let it sit for five to ten to thicken, and the buttermilk is ready.

2.4. Vinegar

  • To make this buttermilk substitute, add one tablespoon of vinegar or white vinegar into a measuring cup and then add 1 cup of milk to it (almond milk, oat milk). Stir it well, and then let it sit for five minutes. Then the buttermilk is ready.

2.5. Vegan Yogurt

  • This method is the same as the sour cream one. To make buttermilk, you can use unsweetened yogurt and add water to it. Stir it well until it sits for five minutes and if you want more consistency or thickness, add the water.
Buttermilk
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2.6. Tofu

Substitute for Buttermilk
By Polina Tankilevitch, Pexels Copyright 2021
  • Silken tofu is another excellent alternative to make a homemade substitute for buttermilk.
  • First, add three tablespoons of water with one tablespoon of vinegar to a measuring cup to make the buttermilk. Then add the mixture to a blender with one cup of tofu, and ½ cup of water, and blend the mixture till you get your preferred consistency.  Also, you can add ¼ cup of lemon instead and blend it in. Let it sit for ten minutes, and then the buttermilk is ready.

2.7. Unsweetened Coconut Milk and Acid

  • To substitute for buttermilk, you can use coconut milk which can be used in various dishes like curry, pancakes, pudding, and cookies. Also, coconut milk has a very similar consistency to buttermilk.
  • Add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk, stir it, and let it sit for five to ten minutes. Adding vinegar or lemon juice will give the buttermilk a more tangy flavor

2.8. Almond or Cashew Milk with Acid

Substitute for Buttermilk
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  • To make a substitute for buttermilk, you can use almond or cashew milk to make buttermilk, giving a more creamy consistency. The texture of plant-based milk is similar to milk. If you consider using almond or cashew milk for baking, try reducing the sugar since both these milk is sweet.
  • To prepare the buttermilk first, you need to add vinegar or lemon juice.

2.9. Cream of Tartar

  • To make a substitute for buttermilk, you can use the cream of tartar can also be used instead of lemon juice and white vinegar. To make buttermilk, first, take one cup of milk plus 1 or 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar. This would make an excellent substitute for buttermilk.
  • Stir it and let the mixture sit for five to ten minutes, and then the buttermilk is ready.
Substitute for buttermilk
By Gourmet sleuth, Google images, Copyright 2021

2.10. Milk and Kefir

  • To make a substitute for buttermilk, you need to know what exactly kefir is. Plain kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to drinkable yogurt. Another thing about plain kefir is that it has a very similar consistency to buttermilk.

3. Nutritional Serving of Buttermilk

When you make substitutes for buttermilk, you need to know the nutritional servings and health benefits. Buttermilk is packed with tons of nutrition into a small amount of serving.

In one cup of buttermilk it provides these nutrients:

  1. Calories: 98
  2. Protein: 8 grams
  3. Carbs: 12 grams
  4. Fat: 3 grams
  5. Fiber: 0 grams
  6. Calcium: 22% of the Daily Value (DV)
  7. Sodium: 16% of the DV
  8. Riboflavin: 29% of the DV
  9. Vitamin B12: 22% of the DV
  10. Pantothenic acid: 13% of the DV

Buttermilk is a healthy and vegan-friendly substitute, and it adds more texture to the flavor while cooking or baking.

4 Simple "Homemade" Buttermilk Substitutions

4. How Much Vinegar to Add to Buttermilk, and How Long Does It Last?

For making buttermilk, only one tablespoon of vinegar is enough. For buttermilk substitutes, it depends upon the plant-based that you use. Usually, buttermilk substitutes can last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

5. Can You Freeze Buttermilk?

Buttermilk can be frozen, and one of the ideal ways to freeze it is to pour it into an ice cube tray. When you are ready to use the ice cube for baking, put it into a measuring cup.

6. Recipes Where You Can Buttermilk Substitutes

It is probably best to buy actual buttermilk if a recipe relies heavily on buttermilk for flavor, texture, and rise. Still, you use homemade buttermilk substitutes, which are successful in various recipes. The result will be slightly different from actual buttermilk, but this is as close as you will get when using a buttermilk substitute.

Another fact is that if a recipe requires small quantities of buttermilk, then it’s easier to substitute. There won’t be much difference when you cover buttermilk, but if buttermilk is the main ingredient, it is better to use the real one.

If you are looking for recipes where you can use buttermilk, then this recipe will be helpful for you.

This is one of the easiest buttermilk biscuits recipes and makes it first preheat the oven to 450 F and put a baking sheet on the tray

* Now take a large bowl, put 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of salt, and whisk it all together. Then add one cup or 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter and mix it all (you can use a food blender).  Once this is done, pour the cold buttermilk into it and gently mix it till it becomes dough. You can use any one of the mentioned substitutes for buttermilk.

* Take the dough and place it on a floured flat surface and fold it with your hands for a few minutes. Now pat the dough into the shape of a triangle and then fold it two-thirds. Repeat the exact 2 more times.

* Use a floured biscuit cutter and then arrange the biscuit on the baking tray and brush it with some melted butter.

* Bake the biscuits at 450 F for 15-17 minutes, and once the biscuits are done, brush more melted butter on them.

Moist Vanilla Buttermilk Cake

7. Final Words

Everyone loves desserts, and substituting some ingredients with healthier options is good for your health.

Some of the substitutes for buttermilk are good when you are baking as it is already sweet and adds a good flavor and texture to the dish. Even using buttermilk as a salad dressing or making chicken is excellent. I hope these recipes will be helpful for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Can I Use in Baking in Place of Buttermilk?

In most baking recipes, regular milk can be used in place of buttermilk when combined with vinegar or lemon juice.

2. How Much Lemon Juice or Vinegar Do I Need to Make a Buttermilk Alternative?

Use 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per cup of milk to make a buttermilk substitute.

3. Can I Use Other Types of Milk as A Buttermilk Substitute?

You can replace buttermilk with other forms of milk, such as almond, soy, or coconut milk when combined with vinegar or lemon juice.

4. Are There Any Non-Dairy Options for Buttermilk?

Sure, you can use vegan yogurt, soy sour cream, or soy milk that has been combined with vinegar.

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Last Updated on by Steffy Michael

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