Learning how to make buttermilk homemade is great for cooking AND a fun kitchen science project to do with the kids! Here’s how to make buttermilk substitute for baking and buttermilk recipes using two ingredients you probably already have at home!
How To Make Buttermilk Homemade Recipe
Quick and Easy Buttermilk Recipe
- Whole milk or heavy cream
- Vinger or lemon juice
You can use this for how to make buttermilk for cake, fried chicken breading, buttermilk waffles and more!
Learning how to make buttermilk at home from scratch is so simple! See our full butter milk recipe below!
What can I use buttermilk for?
Buttermilk is great in many recipes for baking and cooking:
How to use buttermilk:
- In a recipe for homemade buttermilk biscuits
- Homemade buttermilk syrup
- Buttermilk chicken
- Fried buttermilk biscuits
- Homemade buttermilk ranch dressing
- Buttermilk chocolate cake
- Soda bread with homemade buttermilk
- Homemade buttermilk pie
- Buttermilk cookies
- Homemade buttermilk dressing or other creamy dressings
- Buttermilk cornbread
- Homemade buttermilk pancake batter
- Buttermilk fried green tomatoes batter
- Homemade buttermilk vanilla ice cream
- & SO MUCH MORE!
There are savory buttermilk recipes and sweet recipes for buttermilk. Once you make the buttermilk with kids, be sure to use it in a recipe so they can experience the whole process!
Before we get to the homemade buttermilk substitute recipe, here are some frequently asked questions about it that you can share with the kiddos:
What exactly is buttermilk?
Buttermilk is exactly what it sounds like — the milk that is leftover after churning butter. However, today buttermilk is fermented and cultured to become buttermilk since not many people are churning their own butter these days.
What is the difference between milk and buttermilk?
Buttermilk is different from regular milk in that regular milk is produced by the animal (or human). Buttermilk is created by lactic acid being fermented in the milk, creating a slightly sour taste.
Can you drink buttermilk?
Yes! Buttermilk is actually a good milk alternative to those with digestive issues. It is more easily digested than regular milk for many people. It is high in lactic acid, which helps with harmful bacteria. Buttermilk is also high in potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, and riboflavin for other health benefits.
What does buttermilk taste like?
Buttermilk is richer than regular milk. It has a tangy almost sour taste. However, when it is used in baking the tangy doesn’t doesn’t come through.
How do you make buttermilk from regular milk?
How to make buttermilk from milk? You can make buttermilk from regular milk using whole milk and adding an acid like lemon juice or white distilled vinegar. The acid causes the milk to slightly curdle, which makes buttermilk. You can then drink buttermilk or use the buttermilk in recipes. This is often referred to as “clabbered milk” or “soured milk.”
What does buttermilk do in baking?
Buttermilk can help breads rise when interacting with baking soda. It also reacts with the gluten in baking, which can make baked goods lighter and fluffier.
How can I substitute buttermilk?
What can be used in place of buttermilk? You can use whole milk and lemon juice or white distilled vinegar or plain yogurt mixed with milk and cream of tartar.
OK!
Now onto the buttermilk alternative recipe if you don’t have store-bought buttermilk.
Our recipe is how to make buttermilk from regular milk and how to make buttermilk with vinegar and also how to make buttermilk with lemon juice.
You can also learn how to make buttermilk from yogurt, but we’ve always just use whole milk in our homemade buttermilk recipe. Many people make buttermilk from curd, too, but I’ve yet to try that. If you do, let me know!
How To Make Buttermilk Homemade
“Tried this recipe and my cake came out great..” -Jennifer from Pinterest
“Thank you it worked just like buttermilk” -Ethne from Pinterest Recipe
Quick and Easy Homemade Buttermilk
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or white distilled vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk together milk and lemon juice. (Or milk and vinegar)
- Use as normal in recipes that call for buttermilk.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
Ideas For Kitchen Science With Kids:
Can I use bottled lemon juice ?