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How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute – 4 Simple Substitutions

Make any one of these substitutes to use in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

March 1, 2020 By Mary's Nest Leave a Comment

How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute – 4 Simple Substitutions

Watch the How to Make Buttermilk Substitute – 4 Simple Substitutions video

As part of my ongoing Baking Basics series, I’m sharing with you How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute. Not just one substitute, but four simple substitutions that you can easily make. Any one of these substitutes can be used in any recipe that calls for Buttermilk.

*Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My videos and blog posts may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

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What? No Buttermilk!

Have you ever started to make a recipe, and you come to the ingredient list where it says buttermilk, and you realize that this ingredient is not a staple that you keep in your fridge? I understand completely!

But now, with the substitutions that I show in my video, you can have a mock buttermilk whenever you need it. Chances are you’ll have at least one of these ingredients on hand so that you can continue with your main recipe without interruption!

It’s Easy to Make Substitutes

My video shows you four simple ways to make buttermilk substitutes that include:

  1. Adding an acidic medium like vinegar or lemon juice to milk and letting it curdle.
  2. Thinning yogurt with a bit of milk.
  3. Thinning sour cream with a bit of milk.
  4. Adding a bit of cream of tartar to milk and letting it curdle.

After you follow one of my simple techniques, you have buttermilk! How easy is that? Be sure to watch the Buttermilk substitutes video, where I show you the right proportions for each formulation and share a few tips and tricks to help you get the perfect results every time.

More Baking Basics Videos

For more Baking Basics, try your hand at making these other recipes, including:

  • 10 Flavored Extracts, including a “Perpetual” Vanilla Extract
  • Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk (Yes, they’re two different forms of milk.)
  • Natural Food Colorings
Mary with 10 favors of homemade extracts.
  • How to Make Homemade Extracts  – Flavored Extracts – Baking Basics
Mary holding a jar with Vanilla Extract.
  • How to Make Homemade Vanilla Bean Extract – A Perpetual Vanilla Extract Recipe
Mary holding a bottle of condensed milk.
  • How to Make Condensed Milk
Mary holding a jar of evaporated milk
  • How to Make Evaporated Milk
Mary holding vials of natural food coloring .
  • How to Make Natural Food Coloring – Homemade Food Coloring

And in case you’ve ever wondered how to make REAL Buttermilk, be sure to watch the video where I show you how to make Homemade Cultured Butter, which creates buttermilk as a by-product! It’s a two-for-one recipe!

  • How to Make Cultured Butter with Only 2 Ingredients

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

  • FREE 36 Page Traditional Foods Pantry List – Printable Pantry Staples List

Kitchen Academy Videos

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos, live streams, and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

JOIN NOW
And become a Traditional Foods Kitchen Pioneer

In the following members-only video, I talk about The Importance of Cooking with Traditional Fats: Butter and Ghee.

  • The Importance of Cooking with Traditional Fats: Butter and Ghee

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

  1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.

  2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.

  3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos, live streams, and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

Love,
Mary ♥

Trending Posts on Mary’s Nest

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Print Recipe

How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute

Learn how to make a Buttermilk Substitute with these 4 simple substitutions that can be used in any recipe that calls for Buttermilk.
Prep Time1 hr
Cook Time0 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Pantry Staples
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: Buttermilk, Buttermilk Substitute, Homemade Buttermilk Substitute
Servings: 1 cup
Author: Mary’s Nest

Ingredients

Buttermilk Substitute #1: With Vinegar

  • 1 cup Full fat milk Lower fat milks can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.
  • 1 tablespoon Vinegar or lemon juice Any type of vinegar can be used. More may be needed—up to 2 tablespoons.

Buttermilk Substitute #2: With Yogurt

  • 3/4 cup Full fat plain yogurt Lower fat yogurts can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.
  • 1/4 cup Full fat milk Lower fat milks can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.

Buttermilk Substitute #3: With Sour Cream

  • 1/2 cup Full fat sour cream Lower fat sour creams can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.
  • 1/2 cup Full fat milk Lower fat milks can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.

Buttermilk Substitute #4: With Cream of Tartar

  • 1 cup Full fat milk Lower fat milks can be substituted, but the consistency will be slightly different.
  • 2 teaspoons Cream of tartar More may be needed for up to 3 teaspoons.

Instructions

Buttermilk Substitute #1: With Vinegar

  • Pour milk into a jar and add vinegar or lemon juice. Stir well.
  • Allow milk to curdle, which can take up to 1 hour.
  • After milk has sufficiently curdled, whisk milk mixture vigorously to reincorporate the "curdles" (curds and whey) until it resembles the consistency of buttermilk.
  • You can now use your substitute in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

Buttermilk Substitute #2: With Yogurt

  • Place yogurt and milk in a jar, and whisk well to thin yogurt to the consistency of buttermilk.
  • You can now use your substitute in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

Buttermilk Substitute #3: With Sour Cream

  • Place sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and milk in a jar and whisk well to thin the sour cream to the consistency of buttermilk.
  • You can now use your substitute in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

Buttermilk Substitute #4: With Cream of Tartar

  • Place the cream of tartar into a jar and pour a small amount of milk over it. Whisk mixture into a paste.
  • Now add the remainder of the milk to the jar, and whisk well to incorporate the cream of tartar paste with the milk.
  • Allow milk to curdle, which can take up to 1 hour.
  • After milk has sufficiently curdled, whisk milk mixture vigorously to reincorporate the "curdles" (curds and whey) until it resembles the consistency of buttermilk.
  • You can now use your substitute in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

Video

Notes

You can make Buttermilk substitutes in advance and store them in your refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.  However, the buttermilk substitutes made with vinegar, lemon juice, or cream of tartar may separate and will need to be re-whisked before using.
Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-a-buttermilk-substitute/
Copyright © 2020 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Shop for items used in this blog post or video

Favorite Buttermilk Substitute Making Supplies

  • Wide Mouth Pint Sized Jars
  • Glass Measuring Cup
  • Magic Whisk
  • Cream of Tartar

Favorite Kitchen Supplies

  • Favorite Aprons
  • Spice Grinder
  • Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
  • Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
  • Vacuum Lids
  • Whisk
  • Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
  • Cast Iron Dutch Oven
  • 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
  • Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
  • Flour Sack Towels
  • pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)

More Kitchen Supplies with Discount Codes

  • Mockmill Grain Grinder (for making homemade flour)

Use my Mockmill affiliate link for a special one-time 5% discount on Mockmill Stone Grain Mill products, including Ancient Grains, like Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt. (The Mockmill discount will appear when you checkout.)

  • Masontops Fermentation Kit

Use promo code MARYSNST for a one-time 15% off Masontops and Breadsmart products on Amazon.com.

Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide

  • Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
  • Visit my Shopping Guide page
    Learn where I buy my beef bones, electric grain mills, sprouted grains, and more…and get special discounts for Mary’s Nest visitors, including from US Wellness Meats, Mockmill, Masontops, and Cultures for Health.

Recommended Reading

  • Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and Diet Dictocrats
  • Nourishing Broth: An Old-Fashioned Remedy for the Modern World
  • Substituting Ingredients: The A to Z Kitchen Reference
  • Food Storage 101 Where do I begin? (Cookin’ With Home Storage)

**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.

Filed Under: Buttermilk Substitute, Pantry Staples Tagged With: Buttermilk, Buttermilk Substitute, Homemade Buttermilk Substitute

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