DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, I receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For everyone who is used to make desserts, they would know how important buttermilk powder is. Buttermilk powder is made through the removal of liquid content from the buttermilk.
Buttermilk, in turn, is derived by churning cream into butter. Before it can be condensed, the buttermilk is pasteurized.
Depending on the weight, buttermilk powder generally contains 5% or less moisture, which is one of the main reasons it is such a popular choice for desserts.
To be classified as buttermilk, the powder must have a minimum protein content of 30%.
The buttermilk powder is extensively used in cakes and biscuits, but that’s not all. It is also commonly added to a variety of different dips and soups as well.
However, you should know that buttermilk powder is not the only choice available.
There are several different substitutes available for buttermilk powder. But you have to understand that not all of these substitutes can be considered a direct swap.
It primarily depends on the dish that you are making and the flexibility in the recipe.
For instance, several dishes absolutely require the use of buttermilk powder. If that’s the case, none of these substitutes will be suitable for you.
However, if you can allow yourself to be a bit flexible with the ingredients and don’t mind the slight variation in taste, then here are some of the most popular substitutes for buttermilk powder.
Buttermilk Powder Substitute
1. Whole Milk
Buttermilk powder is primarily used for neutralizing acidity because it helps with many different recipes that also include baking soda.
So, if you cannot find a packet of buttermilk powder and you don’t mind adding a bit of liquid content to your dish, it’s best to opt for whole milk.
After all, buttermilk powder is simply a derivation of whole milk, so using that as an alternative makes complete sense.
However, keep in mind that it might impact the overall texture and flavor of your dish. Also, you could try using whole milk powder.
As an example, many people like to use buttermilk when making alfredo pasta. It’s a commonly consumed dish sold all around the world.
If you add whole milk instead of buttermilk powder, your pasta might become a bit watery. Make sure you don’t add a lot of water as well, as that might impact the dish’s taste.
It’s important to understand that adding a liquid ingredient instead of powder will alter the dish’s taste, so that’s something that you need to keep in mind.
2. Mix Up Lemon
This might come as a surprise to most people, but lemon can be used as a substitute for buttermilk powder as well.
You can take one cup of milk and add one tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix the two properly and let them sit for around 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, the milk and lemon juice combination will thicken up. Again, this is not exactly a powder, so you will have to compromise on the dish’s texture.
3. Add Some Vinegar
Other than lemon juice, you can also add one tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk. This combination will take around 10 to 20 minutes to thicken properly.
As for the vinegar, it’s best to opt for white vinegar for your dish.
4. Tartar Cream
You need to take one cup of milk and around two small spoons of tartar cream in this substitute. Once you combine the ingredients, mix them well and let them sit for around 20 minutes.
This will create a paste-like consistency that you can use in place of buttermilk powder. This is the best substitute for baking purposes.
5. Yogurt to the Rescue
For everyone who needs to make soup and has to use buttermilk powder, it is suggested to mix plain yogurt and milk.
If you want to use this replacement, take a 3/4th cup of yogurt and 1/4th cup of milk and mix them. This substitute works perfectly for dips and sauces.
6. Sour Cream
But what if you don’t have yogurt available? If you need an instant substitute for your buttermilk powder, you can always opt for sour cream.
All you have to do is to fill up the 3/4th parts of a cup with sour cream and the rest with milk. This is a great substitute for making biscuits and needing the dough to work out properly.
However, there will be a significant difference in texture and flavor. Besides, you can also use one full cup of sour cream if you want to add a bit of sour tinge to your biscuits.
7. Go Greek
Yes, we are talking about Greek yogurt because it has a consistency thicker than plain yogurt, making it a better choice as a direct alternative to buttermilk powder.
For creating this combination, you will require one-part Greek yogurt and two parts of milk. Mix them, and you are good to go!
8. Milk Powder
As mentioned above, if you don’t have buttermilk powder, you can also use whole milk. In this scenario, you can also use milk powder as a substitute.
You can take one-fourth part of milk powder and add a cup of water to create a mixture. You can utilize this mixture in place of buttermilk powder for when you have to make soup.
If not this, you can create a mixture by adding one cup of water, 1/3rd of dry milk powder, and a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to the mixture. You can complete this mixture within 5 minutes.
9. Cream Cheese
This is a fine choice for people who prefer to use buttermilk powder for making cake frosting.
If you are going to use cream cheese as a replacement, it is best to use softened cream cheese (three ounces), half teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4th cup of softened margarine with one cup of powdered sugar.
You can mix them all properly and create the perfect frosting even if you do not have buttermilk powder.
10. Buttermilk
In case you cannot find buttermilk powder, using the buttermilk in liquid form is the best choice out there and the most convenient one.
However, you will need to modify the ratio depending upon the kind of recipe you are making and the taste as per your preferences.
The Bottom Line
Buttermilk powder is a low-fat powder made by drying out buttermilk using a series of processes. This makes it a great source of proteins and additional nutrients like calcium and vitamin.
Buttermilk powder is readily available at major stores worldwide, but in case you cannot find it, the substitutes in this article will suffice!