Vanilla milk and buttermilk are on two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to flavors – but there’s a lot more to these two wonderful milk options than meets the eye!
If you want to make the best possible choice between these two, we need to explore all their different characteristics including flavor profiles, textures, allergens, nutritional characteristics, and more! After all, the best choice for you may be different than the best choice for someone else, so we need to go through all the nitty gritty details to make sure you have all the info you need!
And, you may even decide that both of these deserve a spot in your fridge!

Without further ado, let’s check out vanilla milk versus buttermilk!
Comparing vanilla milk vs buttermilk
The thing with vanilla milk is that it can come from any type of milk, being plant-based or animal-based. This creates some variability in its allergens, including how suitable it is for vegan, paleo, and keto diets – make sure to check the labels!
Buttermilk, on the other hand, is animal-based with milk as an allergen. It’s not suitable for vegan, keto, or paleo diets, making it less dietary versatile than some other milks (like almond milk, for example).
Vanilla milk | Buttermilk (lowfat/1%) | |
Type | Animal or plant-based | Animal-based |
Allergens | Varies | Milk |
Vegan? | Varies | No |
Paleo? | Varies | No |
Keto? | Varies | No |
Differences between vanilla milk and buttermilk
The main difference between vanilla milk and buttermilk is how they taste, with potential differences in their sources as well.
Vanilla milk comes from many different types of milk, as it’s basically just your pick of milk (like oat milk, almond milk, regular milk, etc.) with vanilla extract, vanilla beans, or other flavoring added! You can make it quite easily at home!
Buttermilk is made from regular milk by adding a probiotic culture which ferments it – it’s a similar process to making kefir! It’s tangy and slightly sour, with a thick and creamy texture. Buttermilk is very popular in many different recipes because of its distinct taste and ability to moisten bakes!
How to use vanilla milk vs buttermilk
Vanilla milk and buttermilk can be used in many ways to take advantage of their unique flavors and textures, including:
Vanilla milk:
- Pour it over your cereal or granola.
- Mix it into your coffee or tea.
- Make smoothies with it.
- Use it as an ingredient in baking.
- Mix it into your oatmeal.
- Make vanilla ice cream with it.
- Froth it for your London Fog.
Buttermilk:
- Drink it by itself.
- Use it for marinades and brines.
- Tenderize meat with it.
- Add its tangy flavor and creamy texture to recipes.
- Moisten different bakes like pancakes, cookies, and cakes.
- Use it to make thick and creamy dressings and dips.
Can you substitute vanilla milk for buttermilk?
This gets a little tricky, because vanilla milk can come from so many different types of milk. However, its sweeter and vanilla flavor can make some big differences when using it in something that calls for buttermilk, and it won’t be as thick or creamy either most of the time…
If you’re using them in things like smoothies or bakes like pancakes, you can absolutely experiment with using them interchangeably. However, I recommend keeping buttermilk in recipes that specifically call for it, as they usually need its distinct taste and texture.
Nutrition: Vanilla milk vs buttermilk
Vanilla milk has a varying nutritional profile because it can come from different milks – for example, vanilla oat milk is going to have different nutritional values than vanilla regular milk. However, it tends to have added sugar in it, although there are some unsweetened vanilla milks out there.
Buttermilk is somewhat high in calories, and contains 2.5 grams of fat per serving. It’s quite high in carbs, with 15 grams per serving! Its sugar content is also fairly high, but it has a great protein content of 10 grams per serving.
Buttermilk also contains calcium, vitamin D, and probiotics, which are all great for overall health!
Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.) | Vanilla milk | Buttermilk (lowfat/1%) |
Calories | Varies; vanilla is a flavoring in many plant-based milks. | 120 |
Total fat (saturated) | 2.5 g (2 g) | |
Total carbs | 15 g | |
Total sugars (incl. added) | 11 g (0 g) | |
Protein | 10 g | |
Calcium | 25% DV | |
Vit D | 10% DV |
How to store vanilla milk and buttermilk
You should store vanilla milk based on the recommendations for the milk it’s made from, which should be on its label. However, the general recommendations are to store it in the fridge and use it within 7 days.
Buttermilk should be stored in the fridge as well, and will last about 7 days when unopened and 5 days once opened. Some brands claim that it’ll last up to 14 days after opening, but give it a sniff and taste test if you’re unsure!
Vanilla milk vs buttermilk: The ultimate verdict
So, do you go with the sweet vanilla milk or the tangy buttermilk?
Both milks obviously have advantages over one another, with vanilla milk boasting a sweeter flavor and more versatility depending on what type of milk it’s made from. Buttermilk boasts a thick and creamy texture, along with a distinct flavor and moistening capabilities that are both often called for in many recipes!
It comes down to your taste preferences and needs, with vanilla milk being a great choice for a stand alone beverage or for adding the vanilla flavor to many different milk-based dishes such as milkshakes and ice cream, but buttermilk is the better choice for most bakes and for its unique characteristics that vanilla milk can’t replace.
FAQs
This comes down to your preferences, but vanilla milk offers a sweeter and more desirable taste while buttermilk is amazing for baking and cooking.
You’ll find health benefits and drawbacks in many different types of milk, so check them out to find one that fits your needs – or talk to a health professional!
Buttermilk is fermented and provides a tangy, slightly sour taste and has a thicker texture. It also has less fat and slightly more protein, and is better used for adding moisture to bakes. a flavor without the extra sugar. Check the labels to be sure you’re getting what you want!
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