Buttermilk Alternatives: 7 Simple Substitutes for Recipes

A helpful Buttermilk Substitute guide for when you don’t have any on hand. Super easy, with just TWO ingredients and it works every time!

Buttermilk Substitute

Buttermilk is a key ingredient in pancakes, biscuits, dressings and other baked goods because its acidity tenderizes and adds tang. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make an excellent substitute quickly with just two pantry staples. This simple swap produces the acidity and texture you need for most recipes.

I use this method often since I rarely keep a carton of buttermilk in the fridge. It’s fast, reliable, and makes one cup of buttermilk substitute in just a few minutes. Use it wherever your recipe calls for regular buttermilk — pancakes, biscuits, fried chicken batter, or salad dressings.

The following yields one cup of buttermilk substitute.

Buttermilk Substitute Recipe

Buttermilk Substitute

A helpful buttermilk substitute for when you don’t have any on hand. Super easy, with just two ingredients, and it works every time.

Prep Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 6 minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Author: The Gracious Wife

Ingredients

• milk whole milk works best, but 2% or 1% work too
• white vinegar

Instructions

1. Place 1 tablespoon white vinegar in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Fill the measuring cup to the 1-cup mark with milk and stir briefly.
3. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes. It will thicken slightly and curdle — then it’s ready to use in your recipe.

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Looking for more tips? Try other useful kitchen substitutes and recipes that make cooking easier and faster.