Out of buttermilk? No need to run to the store anymore, when you can easily make your own with only two ingredients in less than ten minutes!
Heyaaaaa friends! Welcome back to my series of Kitchen How-To’s! We took a little hiatus from me forcing you to learn last week but we’re coming back strong today with one of my favorite things on earth….
*cue the curtains.* Enter buttermilk!
The only thing I need in life. ♥
It’s no secret that this baker looooooves her buttermilk. It’s easily one of my most-used, absolutely-gotta-have baking ingredients. I swear it’s a magic ingredient! It makes everything moister plus adds a subtle tang that contributes a nice punch of flavor.
Buttermilk > Regular milk. Always.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, uh NO! I don’t go so far as to drink buttermilk straight. There is a line and that is definitely crossing it.
Come to think of it though, my mom once told me that HER grandma/my great-grandma used to drink buttermilk from a glass. By itself.
That is an excellent way for one to kill one’s love for buttermilk. Eeeek!
I clearly got MY love from buttermilk from my great-grandma, but thankfully not ALL of it.
So I’m pretty sure we all know that as awesome as buttermilk is, it’s kinda an inconvenient ingredient and definitely not one that everybody has on hand regularly, right?
I have the solution: Make ‘yer own! (you totally did not see that coming)
Here’s what you’ll need: Milk and lemon juice (you can also use white vinegar in place of the lemon!). Whisk it all in a bowl and then let ‘er sit for about 10 minutes. During this time, the acidity from the lemon juice will somewhat “curdle” the milk and make it slightly thick and give it that unmistakable tangy buttermilk flavor.
Then you can use it in anything and everything you desire! Not from a glass though, puhhhhhleeeeze. 😉
Just a feeeeeew of my favorite things to use buttermilk in…
- Fluffiest-Ever Buttermilk Pancakes —-> see more pancakes!
- These biscuits and THESE biscuits.
- Perfect Scrambled Eggs (secret ingredient alert!!)
- Glazed Lemon Poppyseed Bread —> and these other quick breads!
- Mashed potatoes (!!!)
- Family-Favorite Cornbread
- Bakery-Style Blueberry Almond Crumble Muffins
Okay that might have been more than a few, but that just goes to show that you can use buttermilk in such a HUGE variety of things! And it’s total game-changer in flavor + texture department.
Liquuuuuuuuuuid gold. It’s pretty much the only word that comes to mind.
I ♥ buttermilk.
You ♥ buttermilk.
We all ♥ buttermilk. The eeeeeeend, thanks for coming. 😉
How To Make Homemade Buttermilk (with just 2 ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk I used skim, but 2 percent or whole milk would work too
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice*
Instructions
-
Place milk in a small bowl and pour lemon juice over top. Allow milk to stand 5 minutes or until milk is somewhat "curdled" and slightly thick. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
Recipe Notes
Store buttermilk in refrigerator up to 1 week.
NOTE: White vinegar may be used instead of lemon juice.
See more recipes using buttermilk here! —–>
Guess who drinks buttermilk straight up? I do! Mainly, though, just to use up extra buttermilk…they need to sell it in 8 ounce cartons. Try it, you’ll like it!
No wayy!! Maybe I should give straight buttermilk another chance! 😉
I drink Buttermilk and love it!
I’ve never made buttermilk before!! Wow I didn’t know it was so easy to make like that. Thanks for sharing, Sarah 😉
Olivia – Primavera Kitchen recently posted…Quick Easy Fruit Salad
It’s so easy to make buttermilk it’s almost scary! 😉
Love your tutorials Sarah! So helpful! I’ve been following this method for a while and works perfect for me!
Thanks Mira!! Isn’t homemade buttermilk just SO stinkin’ easy?!
What a great post, Sarah! I had no idea you could make buttermilk from just milk and lemon juice. I’ve heard of using milk and vinegar before, but this sounds a lot better! I’m definitely going to try this out the next time I need some!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Roasted Garlic Green Bean Salad
Milk and vinegar works in a pinch, but I definitely prefer the nearly-identical buttermilk flavors the lemon juice gives it! 😉
ok, I love you for this Sarah!! Because everytime I have a cake recipe and it calls for buttermilk I just cringe because I hate stocking it in my fridge because it goes bad so fast and I hate spending the money on it for just one recipe. Brilliant!!
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen recently posted…10 Delicious Disney Cupcakes
Ahhhh! Problem just solved FOREVER! 😉 Thanks Renee! xoxo
I love this, I don’t think I’ve ever bought buttermilk because I always use this trick, thank you for sharing it because a lot of people aren’t aware you can do this!
Sam @ SugarSpun recently posted…Cheesecake Filled Cookie Cups
Same deal with me! Ever since I learned of this simple trick, I haven’t bought buttermilk since! 😉
Love this post, Sarah! This is my favorite way to make buttermilk too. So easy and better than having to run out and buy some. Yay for buttermilk 🙂
Thanks Kelly!!
Good morning Sarah:) I grew up with this method but down home we call this sour milk. When my daddy was stationed in Alaska, fresh buttermilk was hard to come by. Thank you for sharing!!
It’s such a simple DIY, isn’t it?? Nobody even needs the “real” stuff anymore! 🙂
This is amazing!!! I’ve got to try this!! Thanks, Sarah!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Summer Berry Salad + A Giveaway!
LMK if you do, girl!! You will love it. 🙂
I actually tried this for the first time right before we went on vacation – worked like a charm!
Joanne recently posted…Potato and Red Pepper Tortilla
Isn’t it the best trick EVER, Joanne?!
Lovely tutorial of making homemade buttermilk. Loved this amazing share!
Thanks Anu!
I love adding buttermilk to everything from baked goods to meatballs. It gives recipes such a nice tang and tons of moisture. Love this tutorial for how to make it!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy recently posted…Strawberry Basil Bruschetta
Yes! It’s totally my most-used ingredient around here! 😉
This is the best trick ever! I use it all the time, because I rarely need a whole container of buttermilk.
Rachel @ Bakerita recently posted…Blackberry Peach Scones
Right?? Best hack ever!!
Ick, my grandma drinks buttermilk too! Cold, straight from the fridge! I don’t know how she does it . Must b a southern thing. Love your trick of making buttermilk from regular milk! I always hate to have to buy a big quart of buttermilk when all I really need is just 1 cup. This will be much easier!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely recently posted…First Trimester.
Ewww I can’t even imagine being able to do that! Believe it or not, my mom once accidentally put buttermilk in her coffee! She thought it was half-and-half! LOL.
I am so trying this next time I need some buttermilk! I always buy it then it goes bad and then when I really need it, I don’t have any! Love your kitchen how to’s. Keep’em coming! Pinned! 🙂
Cyndi – My Kitchen Craze recently posted…Swedish Meatballs
Thanks Cyndi! I’m glad that you love my kitchen how-to’s!! xoxo 🙂
haha as much as I love buttermilk for baking, I am with you. I could not just drink it! Yuck!
Love this tutorial – I have to do this all the time when I forget to buy it! Which seems to happen more often than not… whoops!
Ashley recently posted…Summer Garden Veggie Flatbreads
Haha! Thanks Ashley!! Happy Friday. 🙂
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE drinking buttermilk. If I feel hungy between meals, I drink a small glass and it takes away the hunger. It’s very similiar to unsweetened yogurt which I’ll also eat between meals. I sprinkle lots of black pepper on either one. My brother & I love it, but we love very spicy, hot food too, and we’re the ONLY ones in our family who love both foods. Most people love chocolate…..me, not so much. It’s So funny about food isn’t it!!
That’s so interesting to hear, Marilyn! People definitely have different perspectives of food!
Every taste is an acquired one. I love buttermilk with plain dry toast if my tummy is upset…………..well, actually, my tummy doesn’t really need to be upset, I just really love buttermilk and plain toasted bread. It is like being a kid again and slamming my granny’s back door just to watch her cringe with the bang!! I used to drink Buttermilk to make my cousins sick! Wonderful child hood memories. And, to make it all real yucky, we got all of our milk, butter, cream, cheese, and cottage cheese from real milk from real cows!!! I love a gal that knows her own mind though and since this is your blog, you have a right to your own opinion…….which is my opinion is so totally not fair to a good cold glass of buttermilk along with a piece of plain toast. I give you only a 4 rating because you would have to have the real thing from the real cow to get a 5 star from me.
Hi Ledonna! Believe it or not, I actually make my buttermilk from real raw milk that my family buys locally in our city. It totally makes for the best buttermilk ever. 🙂 I loved hearing your story of buttermilk memories!
Nice post! 🙂
Regarding drinking Buttermilk straight up, i am not a fan, i used to know a guy who loved it though… Anyways, i am from Denmark, and here we make something called: “KoldskÃ¥l” directly translated: “Cold Bowl”, it is a Summer thing, and people put these Cookie things in it called: “Kammerjunker”, according to Google Translate, that would be: “Rusks”, but you can drink it straight up:
Recipe:
1 Liter (33 oz) Buttermilk
5 Tsp Vanilla Sugar
Stevia or Sugar to taste (start with 1 Tablespoon!)
*1 Egg Yolk
Directions:
Take a bowl, or what ever you want to Whisk / Store it in… Add the Egg Yolk, Stevia / Sugar, Vanilla, and Whisk to combine.
Add the Buttermilk while you Whisk, make sure it is all dissolved / combined.
Refridgerate, and serve Cold! 🙂
*NOTE: You don’t have to use Egg Yolk, it is not there to add taste, it is just to thicken it up a little bit!
*NOTE: A lot of people drink / eat it, with a little grated Lemon Zest, some use Strawberries, but i am sure there is a lot of other things that can be used! 🙂
Trust me, if you haven’t tried this, you’re gonna love it! 🙂
Cheers from Denmark
Having rasied milk cows, the buttermilk of old , was left over from making butter, it is sweet and rich,. Unlike the cultured buttermilk sold in the stores.
I am tempted to add this buttermilk substitute to my pancake. It appears easy to make.