Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar


Last Updated: Feb, 24, 2026 by Mimi Council | This post may contain affiliate links.

Learn how to make homemade buttermilk with this Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar. All you need is whole milk and lemon juice and you can use this homemade buttermilk in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.

If you're looking for more homemade ingredients, check out some of my other favorites like Homemade Dark Brown Sugar, Homemade Organic Cake Flour, or Organic Strawberry Jam With Fresh or Frozen Berries.

homemade organic buttermilk in a white milk pitcher on a marble counter with lemons all around.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

  • Recipe Name: Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar
  • Ready In: 5 minutes
  • Makes: 1 cup
  • Main Ingredients: milk, lemon (or vinegar)
  • Flavor Profile: tangy milk
  • Dietary Info: gluten free, eggless, no seed oils
  • Difficulty: Easy!
  • Why You’ll Love It: make your own buttermilk at home

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • 2 Ingredients: This recipe only has two ingredients: organic whole milk and lemons (or vinegar)! That makes it incredibly simple to make anytime.
  • Easy: This recipe for homemade buttermilk with lemon juice takes less than 5 minutes to mix up and you have a fresh made ingredient that's ready to use in recipes.
  • Use in Recipes: You can use this homemade buttermilk in any recipe that calls for buttermilk. So, if you can't fine organic buttermilk at the store, you can easily just make your own.
  • Make Anytime: With only two common ingredients, you can make this homemade buttermilk anytime you need it.
Jump to:

What is buttermilk?

Buttermilk is a fermented dairy drink. It is also acidic which can react with baking soda in certain recipes. Buttermilk has a signature tangy flavor that goes incredibly well with pastries like Vanilla Buttermilk Sheet Cake with Vanilla Frosting, Buttermilk Pumpkin Waffles, Blueberry Buttermilk Banana Bread, Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes, and more. It can also be used to retain moisture and tenderize chicken and pork.

It's commonly used in fried recipes and pastries like cakes, waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and more. I believe buttermilk is what gives waffles that “nostalgic” taste that you just can't put your finger on! But, buttermilk is a specialty item and can be harder to find at the grocery store, especially organic versions.

Why This Recipe Works

Buttermilk is an acidic milk, so all you need is whole milk and lemon juice to create your own homemade buttermilk at home! You can also use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in place of lemon juice. All three of these ingredients are acidic and will create an acidic milk right in your own kitchen that can be used in place of buttermilk in any recipe.

Ingredients

individual ingredients for organic buttermilk laid out against a white background.
  • Whole Milk: Use organic whole milk for the best flavor. Traditional buttermilk is made with whole milk.
  • Lemons or Vinegar: You need organic lemons or even bottle lemon juice will work. You can also use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you prefer.

*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.

Tips for Organic Buttermilk Recipe With lemon Juice or Vinegar

  • Use whole milk, not skim. Whole milk has more fat which will provide a creamier texture that is most similar to store bought buttermilk.
  • You can use lemon juice, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, these all work! All three of these ingredients are acidic and will work to create homemade buttermilk.
  • Store homemade buttermilk in the fridge for up to 7 days.

How to Make Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar

Step 1

Add the milk and lemon juice (or vinegar) together and stir. Allow to sit for a few minutes while the milk curdles. Use in recipes!

maple syrup being poured on a stack of homemade buttermilk pancakes on a plate with sliced strawberries on a white marble counter.

How to Use Homemade Buttermilk

This Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar can be used in any recipe that calls for buttermilk. You can also use it in place of milk in many recipes such as cakes, waffles, pancakes, and more if you want to give a tangy flavor to pastries.

Recipe FAQ's

Can I use lemon juice from a bottle for homemade buttermilk?

Yes, you can use lemon juice from a bottle.

How long homemade buttermilk last?

Store in the fridge for up to 7 days.

More Homemade Ingredients

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homemade organic buttermilk in a white milk pitcher on a marble counter with lemons all around.

Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar

Mimi Council
Use this easy Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar to make your own homemade buttermilk with organic ingredients! You can use this homemade buttermilk in any recipe that calls for buttermilk.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Course Ingredient
Cuisine American
Makes 1 cup
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or white vinegar)

Instructions
 

  • Add the milk and lemon juice together and stir. Allow to sit for a few minutes while the milk curdles.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Notes

Tips
  • Use whole milk, not skim. Whole milk has more fat which will provide a creamier texture that is most similar to store bought buttermilk.
  • You can use lemon juice, white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, these all work! All three of these ingredients are acidic and will work to create homemade buttermilk.
  • Store homemade buttermilk in the fridge for up to 7 days.
High Altitude — Follow the recipe as noted.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 93mgPotassium: 381mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 396IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 301mgIron: 0.01mg
Want more recipes?Follow along on @mimisorganiceats for more inspiration!

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One response to “Organic Buttermilk Recipe With Lemon Juice or Vinegar”

  1. Mimi Council says:

    5 stars
    Love using this recipe when I don’t have buttermilk on hand, because there’s always milk and lemons (or vinegar) in my kitchen!

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