Buttermilk Substitutes — Tested Swaps & Ratios

Buttermilk substitutes^A

Tested swaps for buttermilk, with ratios and sources.

1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar + milk^A to fill 1 cup; rest 5–15 minutes until slightly thickened (King Arthur Baking)
← Lemon juice converter
← Milk converter
⅓ cup Greek yogurt^A + ⅔ cup milk^A, whisked smooth (King Arthur Baking)
King Arthur tested this as the best-performing buttermilk substitute in pancakes, biscuits, and cakes — it brings real tang and richness, not just acid.
← Plain yogurt converter
← Milk converter

Safety

Measure substitutes by weight where you can. The Buttermilk converter gives the grams.

Note: our substitutions are direct, not chained — we don't recommend substituting a substitute.

Buttermilk substitutesA