Out of Buttermilk, one case
Vegan buttermilk substitutes: plant-based alternatives
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Almond milk + vinegar
Per cup of buttermilk
1 cup almond milk + 1 tbsp vinegar
For vegan buttermilk, the best substitutes are Almond Milk + Vinegar, Soy Milk + Lemon Juice, and Coconut Milk + Apple Cider Vinegar. Use 1:1 ratio and follow these plant-based techniques for optimal results.
- Best for —
- baking
One casethe full buttermilk card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup buttermilk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Almond milk + vinegarbaking | 1 cup almond milk + 1 tbsp vinegar |
| 2 | Soy milk + lemon juicebaking | 1 cup soy milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice |
| 3 | Coconut milk + apple cider vinegarbaking | 1 cup coconut milk + 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar |
| 4 | Oat milk + vinegarbaking | 1 cup oat milk + 1 tbsp vinegar |
| 5 | Cashew milk + lemon juicebaking | 1 cup cashew milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice |
Almond milk + vinegar
slightly different · similar texture
Almond milk with vinegar provides similar acidity and tang to buttermilk. Good for baking, pancakes, and when you want the buttermilk tang with nutty flavor.
- Best for
- baking, pancakes, when you want tang, nutty flavor, most buttermilk recipes
Mix 1 cup almond milk with 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles. Use unsweetened almond milk for best results.
Soy milk + lemon juice
slightly different · similar texture
Soy milk with lemon juice provides similar acidity and tang to buttermilk. Good for when you want the buttermilk character with protein benefits.
- Best for
- baking, pancakes, when you want protein, lemon flavor, most buttermilk recipes
Mix 1 cup soy milk with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles. Use unsweetened soy milk for best results.
Coconut milk + apple cider vinegar
different taste, thicker texture
Coconut milk with apple cider vinegar provides similar acidity and richness to buttermilk. Good for when you want the buttermilk character with tropical flavor.
- Best for
- baking, when you want richness, tropical flavor, creamy texture, most buttermilk recipes
Mix 1 cup coconut milk with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles. Use full-fat coconut milk for best results.
Oat milk + vinegar
slightly different · similar texture
Oat milk with vinegar provides similar acidity and creaminess to buttermilk. Good for when you want the buttermilk character with oat flavor.
- Best for
- baking, when you want creaminess, oat flavor, smooth texture, most buttermilk recipes
Mix 1 cup oat milk with 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles. Use unsweetened oat milk for best results.
Cashew milk + lemon juice
slightly different · similar texture
Cashew milk with lemon juice provides similar acidity and creaminess to buttermilk. Good for when you want the buttermilk character with nutty flavor.
- Best for
- baking, when you want creaminess, nutty flavor, smooth texture, most buttermilk recipes
Mix 1 cup cashew milk with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles. Use unsweetened cashew milk for best results.
How it behaves in this recipe
When using vegan buttermilk substitutes, the goal is to replicate the acidity, tang, and moisture that buttermilk provides while maintaining plant-based ingredients. The recommended substitutes work because they combine similar acidity levels with complementary textures while maintaining the intended functionality in vegan baking and cooking.
Tips for substituting buttermilk
8 tips- For vegan buttermilk in baking, use almond milk + vinegar for the best acid reaction
- When making vegan buttermilk pancakes, use soy milk + lemon juice for protein benefits
- For vegan buttermilk in cakes, use coconut milk + apple cider vinegar for richness
- In vegan buttermilk biscuits, use oat milk + vinegar for creaminess
- For vegan buttermilk in muffins, use cashew milk + lemon juice for smooth texture
- When making vegan buttermilk cornbread, use coconut milk + apple cider vinegar for tropical flavor
- For vegan buttermilk in scones, use almond milk + vinegar for nutty flavor
- In vegan buttermilk waffles, use soy milk + lemon juice for protein benefits
Notes on buttermilk
- For vegan buttermilk in baking: Use almond milk + vinegar for acid reaction
- For vegan buttermilk in pancakes: Use soy milk + lemon juice for protein
- For vegan buttermilk in cakes: Use coconut milk + apple cider vinegar for richness
- For vegan buttermilk in biscuits: Use oat milk + vinegar for creaminess
- For vegan buttermilk in muffins: Use cashew milk + lemon juice for smoothness
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best vegan substitute for buttermilk?
Almond milk + vinegar is the best vegan substitute for buttermilk. Mix 1 cup almond milk with 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of buttermilk and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Can I use soy milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, soy milk + lemon juice works well as a vegan buttermilk substitute. Mix 1 cup soy milk with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice per cup of buttermilk.
How do I make vegan buttermilk with coconut milk?
Mix 1 cup coconut milk with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar per cup of buttermilk. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles and thickens.
What can I use instead of buttermilk in vegan baking?
For vegan baking, use almond milk + vinegar for the best acid reaction, soy milk + lemon juice for protein benefits, or coconut milk + apple cider vinegar for richness.
Can I use oat milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes, oat milk + vinegar works as a vegan buttermilk substitute. Mix 1 cup oat milk with 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of buttermilk.