The 7 Tastiest Dairy-Free Buttermilk Recipes From Biscuits to Fried Chicken

Of all the Southern cooking staples, buttermilk is one of the most versatile. It gives biscuits their signature light and fluffy texture, for example, and it also helps to add texture and flavor to fried chicken. It’s used in pancakes, cornbread, ranch dressing, and so much more. But while the name doesn’t sound in the least bit vegan-friendly, it is actually possible to make a dairy-free version. Find out more about how to make vegan buttermilk below, as well as some of our favorite dishes to make with it, from vegan buckwheat pancakes to fried tofu.

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What is buttermilk?

The definition of buttermilk has changed significantly over time. Before the 20th century, the term referred to the sweet or sour byproduct of churning sour milk or cream into butter, but it also meant old milk that had turned sour. Now, when you see buttermilk in the store, it doesn’t mean either of these things—unless it’s specifically labeled as “traditional buttermilk.”

In modern times, buttermilk is typically made by fermenting low-fat or skim milk with lactic acid bacteria. This fermentation process gives buttermilk its characteristic tangy flavor and thick consistency.

RELATED: Turn Those Canned Biscuits Into Donuts, Waffles, Pizza Bombs, and More

Minimalist Baker

How to make vegan buttermilk

It might sound like dairy is an integral part of making buttermilk, but actually, it is easy to make vegan buttermilk, too—or at least something that performs in almost the exact same way. 

This recipe from Minimalist Baker, for example, requires just five minutes of your time and only two ingredients: dairy-free milk and lemon juice. “Let it sit for a few minutes, and the mixture should curdle slightly from the acidity,” notes the recipe blog. “It won’t thicken quite like buttermilk, but it has a similar effect in recipes.”

This recipe from Connoisseurus Veg is similar, but instead of lemon juice, it calls for apple cider vinegar. “This adds some acidity to our milk, so we get a tangy flavor that enhances the taste of our baked goods, just like you would with conventional buttermilk,” the blog post explains.

What to make with vegan buttermilk

Jeremy Patton

1 Vegan Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

According to Chef Cynthia Nevels, making delicious buttermilk biscuits takes time and practice, but it is worth the journey. Take your first step to creating your own Southern deliciousness by checking out her vegan recipe below. “The key to real Southern biscuits is not in the ingredients but in the preparation of the dough, which must be handled as little as possible to ensure light, flaky biscuits,” she advises.
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Shanika Graham-White

2 Vegan Buttermilk Oat Cupcakes With Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Fluffy, sweet, and topped with fruity frosting, these vegan buttermilk oat cupcakes from the Orchids + Sweet Tea: Plant-Forward Recipes with Jamaican Flavor & Southern Charm cookbook are hard to beat. Bookmark the recipe for your next birthday party, or, you know, just a regular old Tuesday. Who needs an excuse to make delicious cupcakes?
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Ashley Madden

3 Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes With Almond Butter Caramel

Made with wholegrain buckwheat, brown rice flour, banana, and chia seeds, these vegan buttermilk pancakes from The Plant-Based Cookbook are not just tasty, but they’re also packed with nutrition, too. Top tip: Make them even *more* nutritious and delicious by serving them with chopped berries.
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Kirsten Kaminski

4 Silky Vegan Tiramisu

Sometimes, only an ultra-rich, super chocolatey dessert will do. For days when you’re sweet tooth is calling, try this delicious silky vegan tiramisu recipe from the Vegan Holiday Cooking cookbook. Important note: There are no rules that state it has to be a holiday when you make it.
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Veganosity

5 The Best Vegan Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Why not skip the store-bought ranch and make this vegan buttermilk ranch dressing from scratch? It’s made with simple plant-based ingredients, like cashews, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley, and it’s just as good as anything you’ll find on the shelf. In fact, once you’ve tried it, you won’t want to go back.
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Thee Burger Dude

6 Tofu Fried Chicken

This crispy tofu fried chicken burger from Thee Burger Dude might be the ultimate comfort food. The secret to the crunchy, “finger-looking good” coating is, you guessed it, vegan buttermilk. “Use unsweetened plant milk along with some apple cider vinegar, hot sauce, and then a little flour to help get it nice and thick so it sticks to the fillets,” advises Thee Burger Dude.
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Vegan Richa

7 Vegan Spinach and Cheese Savory Scones

Vegan Richa’s vegan spinach and cheese savory scones are seriously addictive, just to warn you. They’re the perfect mix of crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside (shout out to the vegan buttermilk!) and they have a delicious savory flavor, thanks to spinach, vegan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and green onions.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.