• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Emily Laurae
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Summer Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Portfolio
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Helpful How-To Guides

    How to Make Vegan Buttermilk

    Published: Oct 12, 2022 · Modified: Apr 1, 2024 by Emily Laurae · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    How to make Vegan Buttermilk.
    How to make Vegan Buttermilk.

    Making homemade Vegan Buttermilk is easy and only requires two ingredients! Use it to add rich, tangy, and fluffy properties to all kinds of dairy free treats, like pancakes, muffins, cake, and more.

    Measuring cup full of vegan buttermilk.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 
    • 🍴Ingredients
    • 📖 Step by Step Instructions
    • Ways to use dairy free buttermilk
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • More How To Guides
    • How to Make Vegan Buttermilk
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

    Whether you’re experimenting with vegan baking or don’t do dairy altogether, learning How to Make Vegan Buttermilk can be a great way to increase the quality of your baked goods.

    Making a homemade vegan buttermilk substitute is just as easy as making regular buttermilk. It’s a 2-ingredient, 2-minute, and 2-step process. All you need is dairy free milk and apple cider vinegar (or the acid of your choice).

    The effect vegan buttermilk has on vegan baked goods is the same as the classic, too. Buttermilk has an important role in baking, as the cultured, acidic liquid can improve the density of the batter and add a tangy flavor. Pastries made with buttermilk are typically very moist, fluffy, and have a tender crumb.

    This dairy free substitute will do the same to vegan pancakes, scones, red velvet cake, and anywhere else you want to use it. Keep scrolling to discover the many benefits and uses of vegan buttermilk!

    🍴Ingredients

    There are only two ingredients needed here:

    • Dairy free milk - Unsweetened soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk are the best options here and will curdle well. However, you can use any kind of unsweetened dairy free milk you already have at home.
    • Acid - My acid of choice here is apple cider vinegar. It’s not quite as strong as white vinegar, giving the buttermilk a nice, neutral flavor. If you don’t have ACV, use lemon juice or white vinegar instead. Don’t use balsamic or sherry vinegar because their sweet flavor and dark colors will affect the flavors of your bakes.
    labeled shot of vegan buttermilk recipe ingredients.

    📖 Step by Step Instructions

    This is a 2-ingredient, 2-minute recipe! Making vegan buttermilk couldn’t be easier:

    Pouring vinegar into oat milk within a liquid measuring cup.

    Step 1: Mix the milk and acid. Add the apple cider vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Pour in the dairy free milk of your choice until you reach 1 cup in volume. Stir to activate the chemical reaction needed to make cultured buttermilk.

    Tablespoon showing curdled homemade vegan buttermilk.

    Step 2: Let stand. Let the buttermilk sit undisturbed on the counter for about 10 minutes. It should curdle in this time, then be ready to use right after. Keep scrolling to discover a number of ways to use your homemade buttermilk.

    Ways to use dairy free buttermilk

    Use your buttermilk anywhere vegan buttermilk is called for or as a dairy free substitute for the real thing. These are my favorite ways to use it:

    • To make fluffy and moist vegan pancakes.
    • For an extra tangy layer in these Coconut Doughnuts.
    • In vegan buttermilk biscuits. Yum!
    • To provide lift and moisture to a vegan vanilla cake or red velvet cake.
    • In vegan blueberry scones and muffins.
    Stirring vegan buttermilk.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What kind of non-dairy milk is best for vegan buttermilk?

    You want to use a non-dairy milk with a high protein content because the proteins react with the acid, resulting in curdling. For this reason, soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk are the best options. Also, always make sure the milk you use is unsweetened and at room temperature.

    What is the ratio of acid to milk in homemade buttermilk?

    For every 1 cup of plant milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of acid (vinegar or lemon juice).

    How long does it last?

    Vegan buttermilk will last for 1 week when kept in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes! The best way to freeze any leftover vegan buttermilk is in ice cube trays. Transfer them to a large ziplock bag when frozen solid, then freeze for up to 3 months. Pop as many cubes as you need in the fridge to thaw, then they’re ready for use.

    More How To Guides

    • Proof box in an oven.
      How to Make a Proofing Box in your Oven
    • Choux à la Crème on a serving plate in the kitchen.
      How to Make Choux à la Crème (French Vanilla Cream Puffs)
    • Jar of honey syrup on the counter with a bowl of honey.
      Easy Homemade Honey Simple Syrup (Liquid Honey Recipe)
    • Three yellow bananas on the counter.
      Substitute for Bananas in Baking (Best alternatives to use)

    If you try this recipe for Vegan Buttermilk, please leave a 🌟 review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! 📧 

    How to Make Vegan Buttermilk

    How to Make Vegan Buttermilk

    Making homemade Vegan Buttermilk is easy and only requires two ingredients! Use it to add rich, tangy, and fluffy properties to all kinds of dairy free treats, like pancakes, muffins, cake, and more.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: essentials
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 12kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Liquid Measuring Cup
    • Tablespoon

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tablespoon shy of 1 cup Dairy free milk, Unsweetened soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk
    • 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice or Vinegar

    Instructions

    • Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup.
      1 Tablespoon shy of 1 cup Dairy free milk, 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice or Vinegar
    • Fill the measuring cup to the 1 cup marker and stir to combine
    • Allow the milk to sit for 10 minutes before using!

    Notes

    Frequently asked questions
    • What kind of non-dairy milk is best for vegan buttermilk? You want to use a non-dairy milk with a high protein content because the proteins react with the acid, resulting in curdling. For this reason, soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk are the best options. Also, always make sure the milk you use is unsweetened and at room temperature.
    • What is the ratio of acid to milk in homemade buttermilk? For every 1 cup of plant milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of acid (vinegar or lemon juice).
    • How long does it last? Vegan buttermilk will last for 1 week when kept in an airtight container in the fridge.
    • Can you freeze it? Yes! The best way to freeze any leftover vegan buttermilk is in ice cube trays. Transfer them to a large ziplock bag when frozen solid, then freeze for up to 3 months. Pop as many cubes as you need in the fridge to thaw, then they’re ready for use.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 12kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 23mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Calcium: 19mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

    More Step-by-Step Helpful How to Guides

    • Flowers on a counter that are edible with cutting shears thumbnail.
      How to Decorate a Cake with Flowers
    • Frozen sourdough starter in a bag.
      How to Freeze Sourdough Starter
    • Spoonful of pastry cream.
      How to Make Crème Pâtissière (French Pastry Cream Recipe)
    • Brioche bread on a cooling rack
      Sweet Brioche Bread Recipe - A Complete Guide (with video)

    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    emily laurae sidebar

    HELLO MY FRIENDS, I'M EMILY!

    I'm a professionally trained pastry chef, sharing a collection of my favorite recipes, tips, and tricks for you to create and enjoy in your home kitchen!

    RECIPES

    Spring Recipes

    • Mini lemon meringue tarts on the counter with toasted meringue.
      How to Make Mini Lemon Meringue Tarts with Homemade Lemon Curd
    • Strawberry charlotte cake on a white marble platter with small strawberries.
      How to Make a Classic Strawberry Charlotte Cake (Charlotte aux Fraises)
    • Matcha cookies with white chocolate chips.
      Easy No-Chill Bakery-Style Matcha White Chocolate Cookies
    • Strawberry macarons on the counter near fresh strawberries.
      How to Make Strawberry Macarons with Buttercream and Jam Filling

    Trending Recipes

    • Dutch oven sourdough bread - baked in a dutch oven.
      How to make Sourdough Bread (Dutch Oven Method)
    • 15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, and More!
      15+ Flavored Simple Syrup Recipes for Cakes, Cocktails, Coffee, & More!
    • How to make Sugared Berries
      How to make Sugared Berries
    • Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger Stack
      Chewy Molasses Cookies with Candied Ginger
    • Medicine ball tea - Starbucks copycat.
      Medicine Ball (5 Minute Starbucks Copycat Hot Tea Recipe)
    • Sourdough grilled cheese sandwich sliced in half on a plate.
      The Ultimate Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich (with VIDEO)

    FEATURED ON

    Featured image including martha stewart, sur la table, southern living,walmart and albertsons.

    Footer

    About

    • About Page
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • Photography Gear Guide
    • Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up so you're the first to know about new recipes, kitchen tips, and events!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Classes & Events
    • Collaborations & Partnerships
    • Special Orders

    Copyright © 2025 Emily Laurae of ACD Studio - All Rights Reserved

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.