01
Plain Yogurt
8.01 cup : 1 cup
Thin with milk to pourable consistency; adds tang and tenderness, works in pancakes and biscuits
8.0
gluten-free buttermilk
substitute.
14 gluten-free substitutes for buttermilk — top pick Plain Yogurt at 80% function match.
all substitutes on this page are gluten-free
top substitutes
02
Sour Cream
8.01 cup : 7/8 cup
Thin with milk or water to pourable consistency; adds tang and richness to baking and dressings
8.0
03
Greek Yogurt
8.01 cup : 3/4 cup
Thinner; best in baking or marinades
8.0
show 11 more substitutes
04
Kefir
7.51 cup : 1 cup
Nearly identical tang and thin consistency; 1:1 swap in baking, marinades, and dressings
7.5
05
Whey
6.71 cup : 1 cup
Tangy liquid, similar in baking
6.7
06
Lemon Juice
6.01 cup : 1 cup
Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to 1 cup milk and let sit 5 min; creates acidic substitute for baking
6.0
07
Heavy Cream
6.01 cup : 2/3 cup
Whip for richness; much thicker than buttermilk, thin with water and add 1 tbsp vinegar per cup
6.0
08
Whole Milk
6.01 cup : 1/2 cup
Add 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar per cup whole milk; let sit 5 min to curdle before using in batter
6.0
09
Half and Half
6.01 cup : 1 cup
Richer and thicker; thin with water to buttermilk consistency and add 1 tbsp lemon juice per cup
6.0
10
Milk
4.01 cup : 1 cup
Add 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice per cup milk and let sit 5 min to curdle into buttermilk substitute
4.0
11
Coconut Milk
4.01 cup : 1 cup
Add 1 tbsp lemon juice, let sit 5 min
4.0
12
Egg
4.01 cup : 1/4 cup
1/4 cup per egg, adds moisture and tenderness
4.0
13
Skim Milk
4.01 cup : 1 cup
Very thin with no fat; add 1 tbsp lemon juice per cup and let sit, still leaner than true buttermilk
4.0
14
Baking Soda
2.01/2 tsp : 1/2 tsp
Activate baking soda's rise with acid; use 1/2 tsp vinegar or lemon juice per 1/4 tsp baking soda
2.0
pitfalls to avoid
watch out
Plain Yogurt: Thicker — thin with milk to pourable state
watch out
Sour Cream: Very thick — thin with milk or water
watch out
Greek Yogurt: Thicker than buttermilk — thin with milk
watch out
Heavy Cream: Thin with water and add 1 tbsp vinegar per cup
watch out
Heavy Cream: Much thicker and richer than buttermilk
watch out
Whole Milk: Add 1 tbsp lemon juice per cup and wait 5 min
watch out
Half and Half: Thin with water and add 1 tbsp lemon per cup
watch out
Milk: Add 1 tbsp vinegar per cup milk and wait 5 min
watch out
Coconut Milk: Coconut undertone in dairy-forward recipes
watch out
Coconut Milk: Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to curdle for tang
watch out
Egg: Eggs bind and leaven — buttermilk does not
watch out
Skim Milk: Very thin with no fat — leaner than buttermilk