Buttermilk’s tangy flavor and smooth texture make it useful in a wide variety of cooking and baking recipes. What is Buttermilk exactly? It’s a special kind of dairy product that has many uses and is loved all around the world. 

Mason jars labeled with buttermilk.
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If you happen to be looking at an ingredient list that requires buttermilk, you might be wondering what is buttermilk? Is it possible to whip some up in your own kitchen? We’re going to answer all of your questions.

From Texas Sheet Cake Bites and Red Velvet Pound Cake to the Best Vanilla Cupcake Recipe and more, buttermilk is a key ingredient. It also makes homemade ranch dressing, Fried Chicken and buttermilk biscuits fabulous.

Prepare to witness the magic of buttermilk, and you’ll be surprised at how easy homemade buttermilk is to make and use. 

What is Buttermilk?

Originally, buttermilk has been the milky liquid of milk sugars that remains after you churn the cream into butter. However, these days buttermilk is commonly prepared by fermenting low or nonfat milk with lactic acid bacteria to produce a drink with a slightly tangy sourness and thicker consistency. 

Thus, buttermilk gets its signature sour flavor and creamy texture from the fermentation process. Moreover, its acidity is one of its defining characteristics and breaks down milk proteins, making it a versatile and excellent culinary staple. 

The thick, yogurt-like texture of buttermilk makes it useful in a wide range of recipes. Its tenderizing and flavor-enhancing abilities have made it a popular ingredient in baked goods, as it contributes to their lightness and airiness of them.

Buttermilk is versatile enough to serve as a great foundation for a variety of culinary and beverage applications, such as salad dressings, marinades, and even cool drinks.

It’s also lower in calories than skim milk and high in vitamin B12.

That said, if you’d want to try your hand at making homemade buttermilk, I’ve included some simple guides below.

Ingredients You Need to Make Buttermilk

Ingredients needed to make buttermilk - vinegar, lemon juice, milk.
  • Milk  (whole milk or low-fat milk)
  • Lemon juice or vinegar (white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)

How to Make Buttermilk

Lemon juice poured into measuring cup.

Step 1. Get out a measuring cup and fill it with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. If using lemon juice, use freshly squeezed juice.

Milk poured into measuring cup.

Step 2. Add the milk to the measuring cup on top of the vinegar or lemon juice.

Milk stirred together in a measuring cup.

Step 3. Make sure the lemon juice or vinegar is spread throughout the mixture by stirring it gently for a few seconds.

Jars of buttermilk with labels.

Step 4. Allow the ingredients to settle for about 10 minutes at room temperature. At this point, the milk will have curdled and thickened slightly due to the acid in the lemon juice or vinegar. When the 10 minutes are up, give the ingredients a quick stir. You’ll find that the consistency is now more like that of buttermilk. Pour into a mason jar or storage container.

Now you can use homemade in any recipe calling for it. You can use it right away or store it in the fridge for later.

Keep in mind that you can let the mixture sit for up to 30 minutes if you want it tangier. However, 10 minutes is usually all that’s needed to create the ideal taste and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will Homemade Buttermilk Last?

Like store-bought buttermilk, homemade buttermilk has a short shelf life. The exact time frame is dependent on a number of variables, including the quality and freshness of the milk used and its storage conditions. 

When properly refrigerated, homemade buttermilk has a shelf life of around 2 weeks. It may last up to 3 months when put properly in the freezer.

How To Use in Baking?

Baking using buttermilk is a great way to give your baked products extra moisture, suppleness, and a tangy flavor. In baked goods, it acts as a tenderizer and improves the texture of things like cakes, muffins, and quick breads.

The slight acidity in buttermilk also activates leavening ingredients like baking powder and baking soda, leading to a more fluffy, light result. Thus, buttermilk is a great ingredient to add to baked goods to make them moister and more flavorful.

How To Use in Cooking?

Likewise, buttermilk has a wide range of uses in cooking. It’s wonderful for using as a meat marinade, making luscious salad dressings and dips, and spicing up batters and coatings for fried meals with a tangy flavor.

It also adds a tangy twist to smoothies and shakes, makes pancakes and waffles fluffy, and improves the flavor of soups and creamy sauces. 

As such, the combination of its tangy taste and smooth texture can indeed do wonders for the flavor of your foods.

Can you make it dairy free?

Yes, substitute milk for almond milk, coconut milk or your non daily milk of choice.

Mason jars with buttermilk ready to use.

Recipes with Buttermilk

Now that you know what is buttermilk, try making it today. Please leave a comment and star rating once you try it.

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

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