Buttermilk Substitutes
Buttermilk is a tangy, slightly acidic dairy product traditionally made from the liquid left after churning butter. Its acidity helps tenderize gluten in baked goods, resulting in a softer texture and enhanced flavor. It also reacts with baking soda to create leavening, contributing to light and fluffy baked items.
Primary function in recipes: Its primary function is to act as a tenderizer and leavening agent in baking by reacting with alkaline ingredients.
Choose Your Recipe (65 Recipe Guides)
The best Buttermilk substitute depends on what you're making. Select your recipe for a tailored recommendation with exact ratios.
Bagels
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
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Banana Bread
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
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Béarnaise Sauce
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Beef Stew
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Biscuits
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Bread Pudding
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Brownies
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Burgers
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Carrot Cake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Cheesecake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Chicken Pot Pie
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Chili
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Chocolate Cake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Chocolate Chip Cookies
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Chocolate Mousse
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Cinnamon Rolls
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Cream Sauce
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Crème Brûlée
Best: Heavy Cream with Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Crepes
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Cupcakes
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Curry
Best: Yogurt diluted with water
5 options with exact ratios
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Doughnuts
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Energy Balls
Best: Yogurt mixed with lemon juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Focaccia
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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French Toast
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Fried Chicken
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Fried Rice
Best: Plain Yogurt with Water
5 options with exact ratios
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Frittata
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Granola
Best: Yogurt diluted with water
5 options with exact ratios
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Hollandaise Sauce
Best: Lemon Juice and Milk
5 options with exact ratios
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Marinade
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Meatballs
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Meatloaf
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Muffins
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Oatmeal
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Omelette
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Pad Thai
Best: Lime Juice and Coconut Milk
5 options with exact ratios
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Pancakes
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Panna Cotta
Best: Greek Yogurt with Milk
5 options with exact ratios
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Pasta
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Pie Crust
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Pizza Dough
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Pound Cake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Quiche
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Quick Bread
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Red Velvet Cake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or White Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Risotto
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Roasted Vegetables
Best: Yogurt mixed with water and lemon juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Salad Dressing
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Scones
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Scrambled Eggs
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Shepherd's Pie
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Smoothie
Best: Plain Yogurt with Water
5 options with exact ratios
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Soup
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Sourdough Bread
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Stew
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Stir-Fry
Best: Rice Vinegar with Water
5 options with exact ratios
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Sugar Cookies
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Teriyaki Sauce
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Tiramisu
Best: Greek Yogurt with Lemon Juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Tomato Sauce
Best: Yogurt diluted with water and lemon juice
5 options with exact ratios
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Vanilla Cake
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Waffles
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Yeast Bread
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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Zucchini Bread
Best: Milk + Lemon Juice or Vinegar
5 options with exact ratios
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In-Depth Guides
Expert-tested substitution guides with detailed ratios, texture comparisons, and practical advice.
Emergency Cooking Substitutions: A Complete Pantry Rescue Guide
Missing an ingredient mid-recipe? Quick substitution ratios for eggs, butter, milk, buttermilk, cream, flour, sugar, baking powder, and more...
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How to Make a Buttermilk Substitute at Home (4 Methods)
Four tested methods to make buttermilk at home using milk and vinegar, lemon juice, yogurt, or cream of tartar. Exact ratios and resting tim...
Read Guide →
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