Substitution for Buttermilk: How To Make Buttermilk, 7 Simple Substitutions
When it comes to making soft fluffy pancakes or dreamy homemade biscuits you can’t go wrong by using buttermilk. Of course, buttermilk can get expensive when you do not use it often and find it going bad long before you can use the average container at the local grocery store.
A great alternative is to make your own buttermilk to use when you are cooking. When you learn how to make buttermilk you will be able to save money by not having waste and there is no reason to run out to the store when you can just whip a small batch up as needed allowing you to make do and save money with a simple substitution for buttermilk.
How use buttermilk
The reason buttermilk works so well when making fluffy baked goods is that the acid in the buttermilk interacts with the baking powder.
Buttermilk can be used to add a bit of tartness to smoothies, fluff up a dense cake recipe, or help make quick breads and muffins rise to their fullest. These buttermilk substitutes will give you a similar baking result to your favorite cultured buttermilk from the store.
4 ways to make buttermilk substitutes
Learning how to make buttermilk is a great way to help stretch your budget now that items like this cost even or are nearly impossible to find in the stores.
Substitute buttermilk with vinegar and milk
One of the easiest options to make buttermilk is to use vinegar and milk. Most every home has vinegar on hand. While white vinegar is ideal you can whip this up using apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar depending on what is in the house.
:: Combine 1 cup milk with one tablespoon vinegar
:: Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before using
How to make buttermilk with lemon juice
If you have fresh lemons or a bottle of lemon juice in your kitchen you can whip up make buttermilk quick and easy.
:: Combine 1 cup milk with one tablespoon Lemon juice
:: Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before using
How to make buttermilk with cream of tartar
To make a batch of buttermilk with cream of tartar. This is a great option if you happen to be unlucky enough to be out of both vinegar and lemons or you just don’t want to use them.
:: Combine 1-3/4 teaspoons cream of tartar with 1 cup milk
:: Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before using
Using buttermilk from making homemade butter
The buttermilk leftover from making butter can be used for cooking. This will need to sit for a few days until it naturally sours or you can use one of the above methods to speed it up of you can not wait for it to sour on it’s own.
How to make dairy-free buttermilk
:: 3/4 cup plain almond milk yogurt, 1/4 cup almond milk and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice.
:: Let stand for 5–10 minutes before using.
Ready-to-go buttermilk substitutes
Plain yogurt
Plain yogurt makes a great substitute for buttermilk. Yogurt is slightly acidic in nature and is capable of creating the chemical reaction that buttermilk makes in baking to give you the light fluffy texture you are after
. Depending on the type of yogurt this may make your batter a bit thicker and makes amazing pancakes. Make sure you use plan yogurt as it has not been cut with sweeteners to change the flavor of your foods or alter the acid levels.
Sour cream
Mixing sour cream with a little water or milk is a great way to thin out this tangy cream that makes a great buttermilk substitute. This will give you a similar flavor to buttermilk while helping achieve that fluffy soft texture you are after for the perfect pancakes or biscuits.
The acid in the sour cream will work to react with the baking soda perfectly. 1/4 cup sour cream to 3/4 cup milk will give you a well-thinned blend that can easily copy both the textures and taste of buttermilk in your favorite recipes.
Whey left over from homemade yogurt
This is my family’s favorite substitute for buttermilk in homemade buttermilk pancakes. The whey leftover from making yogurt makes fluffier pancakes than real buttermilk does without altering the sweet tangy flavor of the perfect melt on your tongue pancakes.
Recipes to use buttermilk in
Southern Drop Biscuits
Garden Fresh Strawberry Pancakes
