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.

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

• 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.

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

Did you make this vegan buttermilk recipe?

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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.