How To Make Buttermilk
Ever wondered How To Make Buttermilk? This fail-proof method shows you how to whip up a homemade buttermilk substitute easily so that you end up with light and fluffy baked goods and delicious dishes like cakes, donuts, pancakes.ย ย

Homemade Buttermilk Substitute
Ever reached into the fridge to grab some buttermilk to make yourself some lovely glazed donuts or crunchy cornbread and come up empty?
Well, worry not, this post shows you how to make buttermilk easily with two everyday ingredients so you always have some to hand.
And this awesome substitute for buttermilk is fail-proof which means I (and you, my friend) can bake and cook away like a pro.
But before we get into the recipe, let’s look at a few basic facts.
Related Link => How To Scald Milk.

What is buttermilk?
Traditionally, buttermilk was just that, the milk left after you’ve made butter. It would have fermented slightly, making it a little bit acidic.
Now people use carefully controlled microbial cultures to make the buttermilk you buy in the store. It still gives you the same product, but it has been standardized for supermarkets.
Why use buttermilk?
And the science bit, Bintu style…
The acidic nature of buttermilk reacts with baking soda, forming lots of lovely bubbles of carbon dioxide in whatever you are cooking or baking, helping it rise better than if you had no acid. Aka helloooooooooo light fluffy baked goods.
How To Make Buttermilk From Milk
- Add your milk into a mixing bowl or mason jar.
- Add in the lemon juice and stir.
- Let the mixture stand at room temperature for 10 minutes during which it will curdle.
- Give it another stir and your homemade buttermilk is ready.

Pro Recipe Tips
- You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice
- I usually use whole milk but reduced-fat milk works too if that is what your recipe calls for.
- If heated too quickly buttermilk can curdle. Sometimes it is best to warm the buttermilk up a bit in a saucepan before adding to warm or hot dishes.
How To Make Buttermilk With Vinegar
This is super easy. Simply use some white or apple or cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.
Vegan Buttermilk Substitute
If you are dairy-free, you can use almond milk instead. You would simply mix 1 cup of almond milk with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar, stir, let stand for 10 minutes, stir again and use.

Some FAQs
How Long Does It Last?
Good news, you can keep your homemade buttermilk in a mason jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks no problems at all.
Just make sure to label it, so you remember when you made it and give is a pretty good shake or stir before using.
Can you Freeze Buttermilk?
Oh yes, you can. That is the beauty of this recipe.
- Portion the buttermilk into ice cube trays.
- Once frozen, pop out the individual ice cubes of seasoning and then add them into a labeled Ziploc bag.
- Store in your freezer for up to three months.
Note: a silicon ice cube tray will make your life much easier.
Freezing in smaller portions is good especially since for a lot of recipes you only need a small amount. However, you can also freeze bigger portions in Ziploc bags. Allow it to thaw overnight in a refrigerator before using.

More How To Posts
- How To Scald Milk.
- How To Bread Chicken.
- How To Smoke Chicken Breasts.
- How To Make Fajita Seasoning.
- How To Make Poultry Seasoning.
- How To Make Pickled Onions.
- How To Cut A Watermelon.
Recipes You Can Use Buttermilk In
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How To Make Buttermilk
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 ml) whole milk or dairy free milk like almond milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
Instructions
- Add your milk into a mixing bowl or mason jar.
- Add in the lemon juice and stir.
- Mix and let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature during which it will curdle.
- Give it another stir and your homemade buttermilk is ready
Video
Notes
- You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice.
- I usually use whole milk but reduced-fat milk works too if that is what your recipe calls for.
- If heated too quickly buttermilk can curdle. Sometimes it is best to warm the buttermilk up a bit in a saucepan before adding to warm or hot dishes.
Great tutorial! I seem to never have buttermilk on hand when I need it. Saving this one for for sure!
What a great handy recipe to have ready to go!! I an see so many uses for the buttermilk. I have never made it from scratch but I can’t wait to try. Cheers
Buttermilk is probably one of those things I’d take for granted and not consider why we use it, or how to make it myself. Great informative post, and good to know it is so easy to make yourself.
No more guessing on what’s best to make buttermilk – you’ve got it all covered. And I like how detailed the post is – fabulous job!
Thanks for the info in this post! I don’t get buttermilk where I live (Argentina) so I need to make my own. I like the idea of using lime juice, never thought of it.