Ever start baking only to realize the recipe calls for buttermilk and you don’t have any?
No need to worry! You don’t need a special store run, dairy products, or complicated swaps. This simple dairy-free buttermilk substitute uses just two ingredients you likely already have, especially if you do a lot of baking with dairy-free milk. It works beautifully in baking and delivers the same tangy reaction traditional buttermilk provides.
Table of Contents
Whether you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, or just out of milk, this quick solution will save your recipe and keep you from having to make an emergency run to the grocery store for one item.
Why This Recipe for Dairy-Free Buttermilk Alternative?
What I like most about this buttermilk alternative recipe is that it reduces the amount of lactose in the recipe. Lactose is the sugar that can irritate people’s digestive system if they have lactose intolerance.
Often, when I’m going to have company over, and I know one of my guests has a lactose intolerance or milk allergy, I’ll use this buttermilk alternative instead of buttermilk in my recipes. That’s also true if I’m not quite sure.
What’s the difference between lactose intolerance and a milk allergy, though?
Good question! According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), food allergies happen when a person’s immune system has a bad response to a protein found in a certain food.
Symptoms of food allergies include rashes, hives, itching, and swelling in minor cases. They can also include trouble breathing, wheezing, and loss of consciousness in severe cases. FARE estimates that 2.5% of children under the age of three are allergic to milk, and they can develop an allergy to milk in their first year of life.
Lactose intolerance involves the digestive system being unable to properly process the specific type of sugar found in milk. At some point in their lives, they lose the enzyme that breaks down this sugar, known as lactase. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include nausea, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Other times, I may simply have some non-dairy milk to use up from something else, and no buttermilk on hand! So I’ll just whip this up to make my life easier.
This buttermilk alternative is also completely vegetarian because it uses a non-dairy milk. Almond milk is my favorite, though nearly any non-dairy milk will work. The thing to remember, though, is that the exact non-dairy alternative you use can affect the flavor of the buttermilk and the finished baked item you use it in.
Ingredients for Non-Dairy Buttermilk Substitute
The ingredients for this buttermilk substitute are deceptively simple for how important buttermilk is in many of the most flavorful baked items! All you need is:
- 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup milk ~240-250 grams of unsweetened non-dairy milk
Why Just These Two Ingredients?
It’s really simple! The white vinegar provides the acid needed to react with baking soda to make baked goods light and fluffy. Normally, buttermilk comes with its own acidic content due to its naturally tangy lactic acid content. The white vinegar takes its place by bringing the acid.
The non-dairy milk brings the flavor and texture that help make buttermilk popular in baking. It’s important to use unsweetened non-dairy milk to keep the buttermilk from becoming too sugary.
The thing to remember is that the exact type of non-dairy milk will affect the flavor.
- Almond milk can make it taste slightly nutty.
- Coconut milk brings a slight coconut flavor.
- Sometimes, if I’m making an oat-based baked item like this one bowl banana bread, I’ll use oat milk to supplement the oat flavor.
Printable Dairy-Free Buttermilk Alternative Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 cup almond milk ~240-250 grams
Instructions
- Place the tablespoon of white vinegar in a measuring cup.
- Add enough almond milk to the measuring cup to reach the 1-cup line.
- Set the mixture aside for 5 minutes to develop the buttermilk substitute.
- Use as directed in your favorite recipes that call for buttermilk.
Notes
- Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar may be used in place of the white vinegar.Â
- Oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk can replace the almond milk if needed.
Nutrition
How to Make Dairy-Free Buttermilk (Step-by-Step)
This is the standard recipe I generally follow for homemade vegan buttermilk:
Step One: Start with the Vinegar
Place one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar in the bottom of a measuring cup.
Step Two: Add Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk Alternative
Fill the measuring cup to the 1-cup mark with unsweetened non-dairy milk.
Step Three: Let Ingredients Blend
Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. You may notice that this dairy-free buttermilk substitute won’t thicken up like regular buttermilk, but it will add the creaminess your recipe needs and the acid to activate the baking soda.
Step Four: Use in Your Favorite Recipes
Use it like you would use buttermilk in your favorite recipes.
Substitutes for Ingredients for This Dairy-Free Buttermilk Substitute
- I like to go for a neutral flavor with the dairy-free milk. Coconut milk has a higher fat content, which can add the richest flavor. You can also use soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or the slightly harder-to-find macadamia nut milk.
- Although I use regular white vinegar, you can also use fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, or these apple cider vinegar substitutes. I recommend using a very mild-tasting and pale vinegar whenever possible to avoid altering the color of the buttermilk and to give it that classic tangy flavor.
Dairy Free Buttermilk FAQs
Before you start mixing, here are answers to the most common questions about making and using this dairy-free buttermilk substitute. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to leave it in the comments. I’m happy to help!
Are there other buttermilk alternatives I can use?
I’ve had some luck with using vegan sour cream, vegan plain yogurt (Greek yogurt optional), cream of tartar, and cultured lactose-free drinks like Kefir as buttermilk substitutes. The important thing is to get both the acid that reacts with baking soda and a dairy-like creaminess. I still very much like to make my own buttermilk substitute, though.
Can I store this buttermilk alternative for later use?
I like to use this buttermilk almost immediately after I use it. However, it can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. Be sure to stir it before using.
Can this buttermilk alternative be frozen?
Like many dairy or dairy alternatives that aren’t meant to be frozen dairy-based treats, I don’t recommend freezing. It has a tendency to separate when thawed, which affects the texture of many baked products.
Does dairy-free buttermilk work in savory items?
It can work in just about any recipe that calls for buttermilk, including biscuits, cornbread, vegan fried coatings, and marinades. Just make sure you use an unsweetened dairy-free milk alternative.
Some Recipes to Try This Dairy-Free Buttermilk Alternative In
Don’t forget to do a 1:1 substitution of dairy-free buttermilk alternative for the buttermilk in these recipes.
- Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pie: Custardy, Tangy & Irresistible
- Gluten Free White Cake Recipe: Moist & Fluffy
- One Bowl Gluten Free Banana Bread: Super Moist & Easy!
Best Dairy-Free Substitute for Buttermilk: Key Takeaways
Buttermilk is used in many baking recipes to add a tender, moist texture and to offset the sweetness of your favorite fluffy pancakes or scones. It’s also a common way to activate baking soda, giving your favorite muffins and cakes a nice rise. However, it can be challenging to find vegan buttermilk in stores. Fortunately, you can easily make your own vegan buttermilk substitute by following a super simple recipe (listed below).
This homemade vegan buttermilk is so easy to make and much cheaper than the other dairy-free options listed below. However, some simple store-bought options, like dairy-free yogurt, sour cream, cultured drinks, and cream of tartar, can also work in a pinch.
More Baking Substitutes You Might Need
Running out of one ingredient doesn’t have to stop your recipe. If you’re baking dairy-free, egg-free, or just working with what’s in your pantry, these helpful substitution guides can keep things moving:
- Bake Practically Anything Using Egg Substitutes – Learn which egg replacements work best in cakes, cookies, muffins, and more.
- 6 Best Baking Soda Substitutes (And How to Use Them) – Simple swaps when you’re out of baking soda.
- Best Quinoa Substitutes – Easy alternatives for both sweet and savory recipes.
- Unsweetened vs Bittersweet Chocolate – Understand the difference and how to substitute one for the other correctly.
Bookmark these guides so you’re never stuck mid-recipe again. With the right substitutes, you can adapt almost any bake with confidence.
Did You Try This Dairy-Free Buttermilk Substitute?
Did you try this recipe? Did you love it, or do you have any questions or concerns? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
