A pancake recipe on the back of a container of powdered buttermilk answers this question. by Kat Thompson. May 20, 2025, 2:00 PM UTC. Lille Allen/Eater.

Many cooks I know don’t bother with buttermilk, though. Usually you only need a small amount for, say, a cake recipe, and if you don’t regularly make biscuits, you’ll probably end up tossing ...

When buttermilk isn't available, the best substitute for buttermilk is another cultured dairy product, such as: Natural yogurt. Cultured sour cream. Kefir.

Buttermilk provides some other significant health benefits: It can give you more energy. The riboflavin in buttermilk is a B vitamin that is vital for your body’s energy production systems.