What can I substitute for buttermilk?
The easiest buttermilk substitute is 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar + enough milk to make 1 cup. It works in almost every recipe. Here are 5 options ranked by effectiveness.
2 min read · Updated 2026-04-14
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Short answer
The fastest buttermilk substitute: add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup, then fill to the 1-cup line with regular milk. Stir and let sit 5 minutes. The acid curdles the milk and mimics buttermilk's tangy, acidic profile. Works in pancakes, cakes, muffins, and marinades.
Why buttermilk matters in recipes
Buttermilk does two things:
- Tenderizes — the acid breaks down gluten strands, making baked goods more tender
- Activates leavening — buttermilk reacts with baking soda to produce CO2, which creates rise and lightness
A good substitute needs to be acidic to replicate both effects.
5 buttermilk substitutes ranked
1. Milk + lemon juice or vinegar (best overall)
- Ratio: 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
- How: Stir and let sit 5 minutes until slightly curdled
- Best for: All baking — pancakes, cakes, quick breads, muffins
2. Plain yogurt (great for baking)
- Ratio: ¾ cup yogurt + ¼ cup water or milk (to thin it)
- Best for: Dense baked goods like muffins and cakes
- Note: Use full-fat for best texture
3. Sour cream (rich and tangy)
- Ratio: ¾ cup sour cream + ¼ cup water or milk
- Best for: Rich cakes, muffins, biscuits
- Note: Heavier than buttermilk, adds richness
4. Kefir (closest to real buttermilk)
- Ratio: 1:1 replacement
- Best for: Anything — kefir is fermented milk and nearly identical to buttermilk in behavior
- Note: Use plain/unflavored
5. Dairy-free options
- Plant milk + acid: Oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Works for: Most baking, though texture may vary slightly
- Best plant milk: Soy milk (higher protein, curdles most like dairy)
Recipes where substitution works perfectly
- Pancakes and waffles ✅
- Muffins ✅
- Banana bread and quick breads ✅
- Cakes ✅
- Fried chicken marinade ✅
- Ranch dressing ✅
When to just buy real buttermilk
For biscuits where texture is critical, real buttermilk genuinely produces a different result. The substitute works in most applications, but if biscuits are the centerpiece of a meal, buy the real thing.