How to Make Your Own Buttermilk (No Store-Bought Needed!)

Buttermilk is a staple ingredient in many recipes, from fluffy pancakes and biscuits to creamy dressings and marinades. However, if you don’t use it often, buying a whole carton can feel wasteful. The good news? You can easily make your buttermilk at home using simple ingredients! Whether you need it for baking, cooking, or just to have on hand, this guide will show you how to make buttermilk from scratch—no store-bought needed!

What Is Buttermilk?

Traditional buttermilk is the liquid leftover after churning butter from cream. It has a tangy flavor and a slightly thick texture, making it perfect for baking and tenderizing meats. However, the buttermilk sold in stores today is usually cultured, meaning it’s milk that has been fermented with bacteria to achieve that same tangy taste.

The good news is that you can easily replicate this process at home with a few basic ingredients!

3 Easy Ways to Make Homemade Buttermilk

If you need buttermilk for a recipe but don’t have any on hand, try one of these simple methods:

1. Buttermilk with Vinegar or Lemon Juice (Quick & Easy Method)

This is the fastest and most common way to make buttermilk at home.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk (whole, 2%, or even plant-based alternatives)

• 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Pour the milk into a measuring cup.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.

3. Stir well and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. The milk will curdle slightly, creating a buttermilk-like consistency.

4. Use it immediately in your recipe!

2. Buttermilk from Heavy Cream (Traditional Method)

If you’ve made homemade butter, you already have real buttermilk!

Instructions:

1. Start by whipping heavy cream in a stand mixer or shaking it in a jar until the butter separates from the liquid.

2. Strain the buttermilk into a jar and store it in the fridge.

3. Use it in your favorite recipes!

This method gives you true buttermilk, just like the old-fashioned kind!

3. Cultured Buttermilk (For Future Use)

Want to have buttermilk on hand all the time? Try making a batch of cultured buttermilk, which you can keep and use as a starter for future batches.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole milk

• 2 tablespoons of store-bought buttermilk (or a previous homemade batch)

Instructions:

1. Pour the milk into a clean glass jar.

2. Stir in the buttermilk and cover loosely with a lid or cheesecloth.

3. Let it sit at room temperature for 12–24 hours until it thickens.

4. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and use some of it to start your next batch!

How to Store Homemade Buttermilk

• Refrigeration: Keep your buttermilk in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

• Freezing: Buttermilk freezes well! Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze, then transfer the cubes to a sealed bag for easy portioning.

Ways to Use Buttermilk

Now that you have homemade buttermilk, here are some delicious ways to use it:

• Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes 🥞

• Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

• Homemade Ranch Dressing 🥗

• Moist Buttermilk Cake 🍰

• Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken 🍗

Final Thoughts

Making buttermilk at home is quick, easy, and a great way to avoid unnecessary grocery store runs. Whether you use vinegar, lemon juice, or real buttermilk from butter-making, you’ll have a perfect substitute whenever you need it. Give it a try, and enjoy the homemade goodness!

Have you tried making buttermilk at home? Let me know in the comments! 😊