Name: DIY Homemade Buttermilk
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 15/16 c whole milk (1 c of milk minus 1 tbsp); 1 tbsp white distilled vinegar

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Whip up a batch of DIY Homemade Buttermilk in seconds with only two ingredients. Never be without this simple ingredient again.

I love in a pinch recipe substitutes that require nothing more than a well-stocked pantry. This DIY Homemade Buttermilk is one of those great pantry recipes to have in the catalog. Without fail, my nearest grocery store runs out of buttermilk right when I need it most. So, knowing that I can just whip some up takes the stress out of meal planning.

What is buttermilk?

Traditional buttermilk is the liquid left over after butter is made. The fat, or cream, from the milk, is allowed to separate through curdling and the remaining liquid is the buttermilk. The product that we purchase nowadays is milk that has been soured or curdled by adding bacteria similar to what is used in yogurt. Cultured buttermilk is much thicker than traditional. This recipe is an acidified version and is closer in texture to that of the traditional.

How to use it

cup of milk next to a bottle of white vinegar

Buttermilk is used in many recipes to tenderize ingredients. I use it to tenderize the meat in my Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe. It also adds moisture and a tanginess to my Buttermilk Cornbread and richness to the perfect Yellow Cake recipe. It also makes terrific:
Muffins
Waffles
Banana Bread
Syrup
Turkey Brine
Pie
Scones

How to make buttermilk

adding vinegar to whole milk with a measuring spoon

Acidified buttermilk uses acidic ingredients to curdle the milk. For this recipe I am using whole milk and white vinegar. For every cup minus a tablespoon of milk, add one tablespoon of vinegar. I generally pour a cup of milk and remove one tablespoon of it before adding the vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 10-12 minutes to thicken before using.

Variations

stirring the buttermilk in a cup with a spoon

There are other methods for making buttermilk in a pinch.
Lemon juice can be used in place of vinegar in the exact measurements.
Buttermilk powder mixed with water is another personal favorite.
Cream of tartar made into a paste then stirred into whole milk. Mix 1 3/4 teaspoons of cream of tartar with 1-2 tablespoons of milk from the measured one cup of milk then stir it all together.
Diluted sour cream can also be a replacement in a pinch. Whisk together 2/3 cup of sour cream with 1/3 cup of water.

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