🥛

Buttermilk Substitutes

Dairy

Tangy, slightly thick liquid that tenderizes gluten and activates baking soda. Essential in pancakes, fried chicken, quick breads, and cakes.

5 listed substitutes

First listed swap: Milk + Vinegar

First listed Buttermilk substitute option: Milk + Vinegar

In the current curated data, Milk + Vinegar is listed first at 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar. Its listed uses include pancakes, baking, fried chicken brine and quick breads. Compare the notes below before using it in recipes where the original ingredient drives structure, flavor, or texture.

How to choose a Buttermilk swap

Milk + Vinegar

Ratio: 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar

Listed for pancakes, baking, fried chicken brine and quick breads.

Milk + Lemon Juice

Ratio: 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice

Listed for pancakes, baking, cakes and quick breads.

Yogurt + Water

Ratio: 3/4 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup water

Listed for pancakes, baking, quick breads and marinating.

Buttermilk substitute ratios and notes

Milk + Vinegar

1 cup milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar

Add vinegar to milk, stir, and let sit 5 minutes until curdled. Works exactly like buttermilk. This is the classic quick substitute.

✅Listed for: pancakes, baking, fried chicken brine, quick breads

Milk + Lemon Juice

1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice

Same principle as vinegar version. Let sit 5 minutes. Lemon adds a slightly brighter tang.

✅Listed for: pancakes, baking, cakes, quick breads

Yogurt + Water

3/4 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup water

Thin plain yogurt with water to achieve buttermilk consistency. Use plain, unflavored yogurt. Works great in baking.

✅Listed for: pancakes, baking, quick breads, marinating

Oat Milk + Vinegar

1 cup oat milk + 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Plant-based buttermilk. Add vinegar, let sit 5 minutes. Curdles similarly to dairy milk and provides the same leavening activation.

✅Listed for: vegan baking, pancakes, quick breads

vegan dairy-free

Sour Cream + Water

3/4 cup sour cream + 1/4 cup water

Thin sour cream with water. Has the right tanginess and acidity to activate leaveners properly.

✅Listed for: baking, pancakes, quick breads

gluten-free

Buttermilk substitute FAQs

Which Buttermilk substitute is listed first?

Milk + Vinegar is the first listed Buttermilk substitute in SwapChef's curated data. The listed ratio is 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar.

Can I use Milk + Vinegar instead of Buttermilk?

The curated notes list Milk + Vinegar for pancakes, baking, fried chicken brine and quick breads. Add vinegar to milk, stir, and let sit 5 minutes until curdled. Works exactly like buttermilk. This is the classic quick substitute.