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Glass bottle filled with homemade buttermilk substitute on a white background

QUICK WINS

Cheat’s Buttermilk Substitute

A simple two-ingredient buttermilk substitute for baking without buying a carton.

EASY

10 MINS

1 CUP

ABOUT THE RECIPE

Buttermilk is always the ingredient recipes ask for in tiny, annoying amounts, which is why this cheat’s version earns its place. Milk, lemon juice or vinegar, a few minutes, and you have a buttermilk substitute ready for scones, muffins, pancakes or whatever started the problem.

THE RECIPE

Ingredients

1 cup (250ml) milk (dairy or plant-based)
1 Tbsp (20ml) lemon juice or white vinegar

Method

1.

Pour the milk into a jug and stir in the lemon juice or vinegar.

2.

Leave to sit for 5-10 minutes until it looks slightly curdled. That's it, you've got buttermilk!

SAMANTHA'S NOTES

Make it vegan

Scale the ratio

Let it thicken

For vegan recipes, use unsweetened soy or oat milk. Both curdle nicely and give you that tangy buttermilk-style result.

Only need a splash? Halve or quarter the amounts, but keep the ratio the same. It works just as well in smaller batches.

The longer the mixture sits, the thicker it becomes. Use it straight away for baking, or rest it longer if you need it for coating.

KEEP COOKING

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