Buttermilk Substitutes

Out of buttermilk? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert buttermilk between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the buttermilk converter.

What to use instead of buttermilk

  • Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar (use the calculator)

    Calculator

    Standard DIY swap: stir acid into milk and let it curdle for a few minutes before using. The calculator works out the exact amounts for any recipe size.

  • Plain Yoghurt

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup buttermilk = 3/4 cup yoghurt + 1/4 cup milk

    Plain yoghurt shares the tang but is thicker. Thinning with milk matches the pourable texture buttermilk gives pancakes and quick breads.

  • Sour Cream

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup buttermilk = 3/4 cup sour cream + 1/4 cup milk

    Same acidity, but thicker. Thin with milk to a pourable consistency. Works in cake batters and marinades.

    See sour cream substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for buttermilk?
There are 3 workable substitutes for buttermilk, depending on what you have on hand and which property of buttermilk matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually Milk + lemon juice or white vinegar (use the calculator). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting buttermilk change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the buttermilk converter
How do I measure buttermilk accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The buttermilk converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, millilitres, fluid ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the buttermilk converter

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