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    Home > Recipes > How-Tos

    Vegan Buttermilk

    Published: Nov 17, 2019 · Modified: Oct 8, 2022 by Iosune · This post may contain affiliate links · 21 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Video
    A side shot of a glass with vegan buttermilk with the words how to make vegan buttermilk

    Learn how to make vegan buttermilk with just 2 ingredients in less than 2 minutes! Great to make all kinds of recipes such as pancakes.

    A picture of a glass glass with homemade vegan buttermilk

    I was making a delicious vegan recipe the other day and I realized I didn't have any buttermilk in my fridge, so I made it from scratch and I want to share this super simple recipe with you.

    Buttermilk is not easy to find in some countries, or maybe you want to make some recipe that calls for buttermilk, but you don't have any at home. That's why I love this recipe so much, as it's made with ingredients we already have in our pantries!

    If you want to make buttermilk from scratch, you just need two ingredients: dairy-free milk and an acid (lemon juice or white vinegar). It's ready in less than 2 minutes as you only need to mix those ingredients. Then wait for 10 minutes and voilà, you have your buttermilk ready to use.

    To make a vegan version of the classic recipe, just use any unsweetened plant milk instead. Soy milk is my favorite choice, but you can make your vegan buttermilk with any type of milk you have on hand.

    Use it to make any recipe that calls for buttermilk, like pancakes, muffins, cakes, bread, cookies, biscuits, dressings, or just drink it plain if you want! You can even use it in savory recipes.

    How to make vegan buttermilk – Step by step

    Step by step photos of how to make vegan buttermilk from scratch
    • Mix the milk and the lemon juice or white vinegar in a jar or bowl until well combined (photo 1).
    • Let the mixture rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes. After this time, the milk will thicken and curdle (photo 2).
    • Use your vegan buttermilk immediately.

    Pro tips

    • Most recipes call for lemon juice or white vinegar, but I prefer to use lemon juice as it's what I always have on hand.
    • Some people also use apple cider vinegar, but I've never tried it myself.
    • I don't think using other types of vinegar is a good idea, balsamic or sherry vinegar for example, as your buttermilk will change its flavor and won't taste like the real thing.
    • Soy milk is my favorite choice to make this vegan substitute to buttermilk as its consistency is similar to cow's milk, but any unsweetened plant milk will do, such as almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.
    A side shot of a glass jar with vegan buttermilk

    Is buttermilk vegan?

    No, regular buttermilk is not vegan because it is made from dairy milk. But remember, there are alternatives, like this dairy-free buttermilk recipe!

    How long does homemade vegan buttermilk last?

    You can keep it in a mason jar or any kind of container in the fridge for about 3-4 days, but the time may vary, depending on the type of milk you're using. If it lasts longer, your buttermilk will last longer as well.

    If you're using store-bought milk, just read the package instructions to know how long your buttermilk is going to last.

    Remember to give the container a shake or stir the vegan buttermilk before adding it to your recipe.

    Can you freeze vegan buttermilk?

    Yes, you can! I prefer to make the exact amount I'm going to use as it's ready in just 2 minutes (you have to wait another 10 minutes to thicken, though), but if you have leftovers or want to make big batches of non-dairy buttermilk, just freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Remember, frozen liquids expand, so don't overfill, or you will end up with a cracked container or jar. You can also freeze the buttermilk in ice cube trays and store the cubes in a container once they're frozen hard.

    To defrost the vegan buttermilk, just transfer the container to the fridge the night before, that way it will defrost by itself.

    Keep in mind, frozen buttermilk is best used for cooking or baking. It won't maintain its qualities for drinking or using in uncooked recipes after you have frozen it.

    Looking for more must-have vegan recipes?

    • Vegan Butter
    • Vegan Sour Cream
    • Coconut Whipped Cream
    • Vegan Mayonnaise
    • Vegan Cream Cheese
    A picture of a glass container with vegan buttermilk made from scratch

    Did you make this vegan buttermilk recipe?

    Please leave a comment below, share it, or rate it. You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I’d love to see what you cook!

     

    A small picture of a glass container with vegan buttermilk

    Vegan Buttermilk

    Learn how to make vegan buttermilk with just 2 ingredients in less than 2 minutes! Great to make all kinds of recipes such as pancakes.
    4.75 from 8 votes
    PRINT PIN RATE
    Course: How to
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Total Time: 2 minutes
    Servings: 1 cup (250 ml)
    Author: Iosune


    Ingredients 

    US Customary - Metric
    • 1 cup unsweetened plant milk of your choice, I used soy milk
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Mix the milk and the lemon juice or white vinegar in a jar or bowl until well combined.
    • Let the mixture rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes. After this time, the milk will thicken and curdle.
    • Use your vegan buttermilk immediately.
    • Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days (time may vary depending on how long the milk you're using lasts) or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Video

    Notes

    • Most recipes call for lemon juice or white vinegar, but I prefer to use lemon juice as it's what I always have on hand.
    • Some people also use apple cider vinegar, but I've never tried it myself.
    • I don't think using other types of vinegar is a good idea, balsamic or sherry vinegar for example, as your buttermilk will change its flavor and won't taste like the real thing.
    • Soy milk is my favorite choice to make this vegan substitute to buttermilk as its consistency is similar to cow's milk, but any unsweetened plant milk will do, such as almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 0.6g | Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 1mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.2g

    Update Notes: This post was originally published in November of 2019, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in February of 2022.

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    2.5K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sandy says

      August 02, 2022 at 10:42 am

      Hello,
      I am trying to find a vegan buttermilk to veganize a dressing recipe. Have you tried using this in a dressing? And if you have, is it necessary to use it all up or can it be stored in the fridge for a day or two if you have leftovers?

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        August 04, 2022 at 12:22 pm

        Hi! I haven't tried to use it in a dressing, sorry 🙁

        Reply
    2. Ellen says

      June 27, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      Hi! Does your vegan buttermilk help pancakes (and other baked goods) rise? The pancakes I made with dairy buttermilk were fluffy, but the vegan version (I use almondmilk) are flat.
      What do you think?

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        June 29, 2021 at 10:09 am

        Hi Ellen! I've never tried to make pancakes with vegan buttermilk, sorry!

        Reply
    3. Alyssa says

      May 09, 2021 at 3:07 am

      5 stars
      I just need 3 tbsp of buttermilk for my recipe - how would I convert your suggestions?

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        May 10, 2021 at 9:25 am

        Hi Alyssa! This recipe is for 1tbsp of buttermilk so you will need to triple the quantities 🙂

        Reply
    4. Alishba says

      March 24, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      Hi! Could I use unsweetened almond milk? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        March 26, 2021 at 8:44 am

        Hi! Feel free to use your favorite one 🙂

        Reply
    5. Les says

      February 09, 2021 at 6:41 am

      5 stars
      Thank you, I feel empowered.

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        February 10, 2021 at 10:37 am

        That's good! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Mr.S M JALLOH says

      December 23, 2020 at 3:32 am

      It is a great one I gave it a good try on my vegan buttermilk it works perfectly with unsweetened soy milk and fresh lemon juice. Many thanks.

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        December 24, 2020 at 10:44 am

        I'm glad you liked our vegan buttermilk 🙂

        Reply
    7. Savanah says

      October 10, 2020 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! Thank you very much for this recipe!!

      In my country buttermilk is used in many recipes, and even consumed daily I0ve having a really hard time trying to look something to replace it. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome so I'm not allowed to eat any dairy products nor cafeine, not red meat and basically... Is so depressing... all of a sudden there are a lot of things I can't eat... pills and ... and I don't know what else to cook... and is very frustrating!! So thank you!! This helps me a lot! Blessings! 🙂 Best wishes!

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        October 13, 2020 at 11:26 am

        Hi Savanah! So glad our recipes help you 🙂 Have a nice day!

        Reply
    8. Chelsea says

      June 03, 2020 at 3:56 am

      Can powdered soy milk be used to make this buttermilk?

      Reply
      • Iosune Robles says

        June 03, 2020 at 2:08 pm

        Hi Chelsea! I haven't tried it myself, sorry. But, feel free to make it with powdered soy milk and tell me if it works 🙂 Have a nice day!

        Reply
    9. Hilary says

      March 29, 2020 at 8:35 pm

      Thank you, just what I was looking for.

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        April 01, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        Hi Hilary! You're so welcome 🙂

        Reply
    10. Phil Willie says

      January 23, 2020 at 7:56 am

      So funcy to see the article within this blog. Thank you for posting it

      http://kartra.servehttp.com/products/ketodietj/index.html

      Reply
    11. Joshua Howard says

      November 28, 2019 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      Made it for the first time and it turned out perfect! thank you for the share!

      Reply
      • Iosune says

        December 04, 2019 at 6:49 pm

        Hi Joshua! You're so welcome 🙂 SO glad to hear that!

        Reply

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