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Home - Basics

Published: Jun 10, 2020 · Modified: Oct 5, 2021 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Make Buttermilk

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If you've been looking for a buttermilk substitute, you can try one of these tried and true methods for making your own buttermilk. Learn how to make buttermilk with the ingredients you have at home!

buttermilk and sliced lemon together

Jump to:
  • What is buttermilk
  • Why you need it
  • Where to buy 
  • How to make buttermilk
  • Using vinegar
  • Milk and lemon juice method
  • Using cream of tartar
  • Sour cream as a replacement
  • Yogurt as a replacement
  • Kefir as a replacement
  • Storage tips
  • Recipes you may like
  • Recipe Card

What is buttermilk

I might be the only one fascinated by this fact, but buttermilk gets its name because it was simply the byproduct of churning butter. If you've never made butter before, you can do so by whipping heavy cream. First, you still get whipped cream, but if you keep whipping, you end up with butter, plus a liquid that separates from the cream. That is the original buttermilk, and how it got its name. 

Today, buttermilk is thicker, cultured liquid that is tangy, and even slightly acidic. 

Why you need it

If you are wondering why a recipe calls for buttermilk instead of regular milk, it comes down to one of two main reasons:

  • Flavor. The tanginess does amazing in baked goods, especially fluffy pancakes or buttery biscuits. 
  • Leavening. The acidic nature plays well with baking soda to give your baked good just a little bit more rise. That rise and acidity also gives recipes a little more tenderness. 

Where to buy 

Most well-stocked grocery stores have buttermilk in the dairy aisle. It is usually sold in pints and quarts. Unlike regular milk, buttermilk usually only lasts about two weeks, which means you better have a lot of things you want to use it in before you invest. 

In my experience, most recipes only require ½ - 1 cup at a time, and even though I bake often, I rarely ever use up a whole pint before it goes bad. It is easier to just make my own homemade buttermilk when I need it. 

bottle of vinegar next to milk

 

How to make buttermilk

Believe it or not, but there are actually three ways to make your own buttermilk, and three additional substitutions you can use. So no matter your personal situation, there is probably a suitable substitution that works for you! Let's dive in. 

Using vinegar

This is one of the most common methods for making buttermilk at home. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. In a pinch, I've even used white wine vinegar. When you mix the two together, let it rest for five minutes.  Here is the ratio you need:

1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon vinegar = 1 cup buttermilk

Here's the real deal though - you don't need to be 100% accurate with the amount of vinegar you use, just don't go over 1 tablespoon. A lot of times I will use just one capful and that'll be enough. 

Milk and lemon juice method

Whenever I have lemons on-hand, this is my favorite method to make buttermilk at home. Lemon juice gives it a very subtle brightness you only get with lemons that I adore. If you don't have lemons, you can also use limes. 

1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice = 1 cup buttermilk

Store-bought lemon juice works just as well when using this method, so you can use either at your convenience. Again, you don't have to be 100% accurate, just don't go over 1 tablespoon, and give the mixture 5 minutes before you use it. 

buttermilk and cream of tartar together

Using cream of tartar

Believe it or not, but you can use cream of tartar to make buttermilk! I usually only use cream of tartar when I am whipping meringues, so this is a great way to make sure I use up the bottle instead of letting it languish in the back of the cabinet. 

1 cup of milk + 2 teaspoons cream of tartar = 1 cup buttermilk

This is one that I recommend being more careful with measuring. Like the above methods, it needs to rest for five minutes before you can use it. 

Sour cream as a replacement

Did you know you can use sour cream as a replacement? It needs to be thinned out with milk or water a bit before you can use it, but it has tanginess and acidity, so it is an easy substitution. 

¾ cup sour cream + ¼ cup water or milk = 1 cup buttermilk 

Yogurt as a replacement

Yogurt is an amazing replacement. It is tangy and delicious. Plus it has the added benefits of probiotics. Just like sour cream, it will need to be diluted. Regular plain yogurt needs the same ratio as sour cream, but Greek yogurt is thicker, so it needs a different ratio. 

¾ cup regular plain yogurt + ¼ cup milk or water = 1 cup buttermilk

⅔ cup plain Greek yogurt + ⅓ cup milk or water = 1 cup buttermilk

Kefir as a replacement

Although probably not as common to have around, plain milk kefir makes a great replacement. You can use flavored kefir as long as you want those flavors in your baked good (I'm looking at you, pancakes). What makes it even more amazing is its a straight replacement. 

1 cup kefir = 1 cup buttermilk

milk next to milk

Storage tips

I don't recommend making extra buttermilk to store for later, but if you do, I recommend freezing it. You can store them in ½ cup portions in airtight containers (I use freezer bags and place them in a gallon freezer bag). It will keep for about 2 months. 

Recipes you may like

Let's put that buttermilk to good use! Here are some of my favorite recipes that use it. These banana chocolate chip muffins are so good and tender, and this Irish soda bread wouldn't be the same without it. Buttermilk is essential for my red velvet bundt cake, honey cake, and donut cake. My mermaid cupcakes and lemon blueberry cupcakes have a deliciously tender crumb thanks to this amazing ingredient. 

Recipe Card

milk and sliced lemon together

How to Make Buttermilk

Amanda Powell
An easy and popular method for making homemade buttermilk
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Basics
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cup
Calories 128 kcal
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Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice*
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Mix the milk and lemon juice together in a cup or bowl.
  • Allow the mixture to sit for five minutes, then use.

Notes

*You can replace the lemon juice with vinegar. You can also substitute this mixture entirely with thinned out sour cream or yogurt. You can also use kefir. For more substitutions and ratios, please refer to the full post.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 131mg
Keyword buttermilk, cream of tartar, kefir, lemon juice, sour cream, vinegar
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

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About Amanda Powell

Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

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I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a cookbook author, food science nerd, world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese.

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