One of the best tricks I’ve learned in the past ten years in my home kitchen is how to make this easy and quick buttermilk substitute in a pinch. All you need is milk and vinegar.
What is buttermilk?
First of all, what in the world us buttermilk? Simply put, it is soured milk. Traditionally made out of the liquid left behind after butter churning but now it is made on mass out of culture sweet cream.
What is buttermilk used for in baking?
Although, baking can be quite complex learning a few things like what buttermilk does to your baked goods can help you make delicious baked goods at home. Buttermilk contains acid which helps with the activation of the leavening agent in most cases this is baking soda or baking powder or a combination of both.
How to make an easy buttermilk substitute at home.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of milk (Any dairy milk will work but whole fat is preferred for baking.)
- 1 tbsp. of white vinegar (lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can be used but I prefer white vinegar)
Instructions
- Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into a 1 cup measuring cup.
- Add enough milk to fill to the 1 cup line.
- Mix and then let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Use as instructed
At the end of the ten minutes, you might see small bubbles and the milk should look thick and clumpy.
Why make a buttermilk substitute?
First of all, I do not know about you but I never have buttermilk on hand! It is not something I regularly consume outside of baking and ever since I learned how to make this buttermilk substitute I have not bought it since.
Secondly, buttermilk is quite pricey! I don’t know about you but I would rather not pay over four dollars for half a gallon when I can make a buttermilk substitute at home.
Finally, you can have it on demand. I actually use it all the time now that I’ve learned how to make it! Buttermilk pancakes are a favorite at our house as well as homemade biscuits, chocolate cupcakes, and more!
Can milk kefir be used?
Yes, with a caveat. I have used milk kefir for baked goods like biscuits, pancakes, and muffins which are quite hearty and they turned out just as great. I have never tested it on anything like chocolate cake or cupcakes that have a more delicate balance between ingredients. New to kefir? Here is a great source to learn more about it.
Easy Butter Milk Substitute
An easy and affordable way to substitute buttermilk in most recipes. This is great for use in pancakes, biscuits, and scones. You will never run out of buttermilk again.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice (whole milk is best for baking)
- 1 tbsp of white vinegar
Instructions
- Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into a 1-cup measuring cup.
- Add enough milk to fill to the 1-cup line.
- Mix and then let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Use as instructed
Notes
- The recipe can be easily doubled.
- This has worked great for me for pancakes, biscuits, scones, and even chocolate cake and cupcakes.
- This can be made dairy-free using almond milk or coconut milk. For baking, the higher fat content is preferred so use full-fat canned coconut milk if possible.
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