13 Best Sour Cream Substitutes for Health-Conscious Cooking

Sour cream is a popular ingredient used in many recipes, especially baking. That's why having some in stock is always a smart idea.

But what happens if you run out of it? Should you head out to your nearest grocery store to get another container? Not necessarily.

Look around your kitchen. You might have a sour cream substitute lying around the corner.

Jump to:

• Understanding Sour Cream
• Best Sour Cream Substitutes
• Best Dairy Sour Cream Substitutes
• Best Dairy-Free Sour Cream Substitutes
• Keeping Your Food Delicious with Sour Cream
• Recipe

Understanding Sour Cream

Finding a replacement for sour cream or any other product is next to impossible if you don't know the original ingredient very well in the first place.

So, to get that out of the way, here are some things you need to know about sour cream.

What's Sour Cream?

Sour cream started out by letting fresh milk sit out at room temperature until it develops naturally-occurring bacteria for fermentation.

The cream from fresh milk then rises to the surface, which is more acidic than regular milk (this also causes it to be sour). This preserved the milk; soon after, we figured out how to use it in baking recipes.

Eventually, manufacturers started making commercially-produced sour cream for public consumption.

Where Does It Come From?

Even though sour cream started out from fresh milk, it's not the case anymore. Nowadays, we get sour cream by fermenting different types of cream (commonly heavy cream).

Nonetheless, the cream comes from cow's or goat's milk, so it's still a dairy product. The cream thickens and sours through the introduction of lactic acid bacteria.

How Does Sour Cream Affect Our Recipes?

First, the acidity in sour cream tenderizes gluten strands, so our baked goods aren't too dense. Moreover, sour cream makes our baked goods richer, moister, and thicker.

That's one of the many things that set it apart because, more often than not, ingredients that add moisture will thin your batter.

Best Sour Cream Substitutes

So, can you replace sour cream in a recipe? The quick answer is yes! Just choose one substitute for sour cream on this list and make sure it suits your recipe.

1. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt, also known as plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt, is a dairy product that also undergoes fermentation using bacteria cultures.

The only difference is that sour cream comes from cream, while yogurt comes from milk. It's one of the best sour cream substitutes because you can use it in almost every recipe that includes sour cream.

A full-fat Greek yogurt would also have a similar consistency to sour cream, which means it won't thin your batter.

You may also try looking for vegan yogurt as a dairy-free alternative. Substitute sour cream with vegan or Greek yogurt in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods and salad dressings.

Here's an Air Fryer Vanilla Cake recipe to try it on.

2. Crème Fraîche

Crème fraiche translates to "fresh cream." You can probably already guess where this ingredient comes from just by its name.

It's a common condiment in Europe, but you will also find it in US markets (thanks to its popularity!). Crème fraiche offers a similar consistency and sourness, making it an excellent sour cream alternative.

You can use crème fraiche as a substitute for sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods, dips, and as a condiment.

3. Regular Cream Cheese

It's unusual to find cream cheese as a direct substitute for sour cream because of its relatively thicker texture and the absence of a tangy taste.

However, if you have the time (and patience), regular cream cheese can become a sour cream substitute with fresh milk and lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar).

The fresh milk will give it a slightly thinner consistency, while the lemon juice or apple cider vinegar will give it that sour kick.

You can also try using vegan cream cheese as a dairy-free alternative. Use the mixture to replace sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods and dips.

Try it on this Air Fryer Cheesecake recipe.

4. Mayonnaise

Consistency? Check. Tanginess? Check. Moisture? Check. Mayonnaise is among the best sour cream substitutes because it checks all the boxes.

It works in almost all recipes (except for baked potatoes and tacos), and you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. However, you may want to tame the mayo flavor a little for dips and salad dressings.

Try adding buttermilk or regular yogurt for a more balanced flavor profile.

Best for baked goods, dips, sauces, and salad dressings.

5. Mexican Crema

Let's borrow another substitute from a different cuisine. Mexican crema is a popular substitute for sour cream because of its tanginess and creaminess, which are very similar to sour cream.

However, its consistency is slightly thinner than mayo and sour cream, so you may not want to use it on dips and baked goods.

Nonetheless, it works great with salad dressings and sauces; you can use it as an alternative in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for salad dressings, toppings, and sauces.

This substitute should work well on this Ground Beef Burritos with Guacamole recipe.

6. Mascarpone Cheese

Mascarpone cheese looks just like sour cream, except it is slightly yellowish. It comes from Italy, the land of wine and cheese, so you already know it's good.

The taste is tangy and sweet, meaning you can use it for many recipes. But in my experience, mascarpone cheese is best used as a sour cream substitute in baked recipes.

Just don't forget to add fresh milk and lemon juice (like cream cheese) to make it tangier. Use it to replace sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.

Best Dairy Sour Cream Substitutes

I also have many options for you if you don't mind dairy products. Here are some of the best dairy substitutes for sour cream.

1. Buttermilk

If sour cream started with fermenting fresh milk, then why not make the original DIY sour cream at home? The consistency is very different, but the flavor is almost identical.

You can make your own sour cream by mixing whole milk with lemon juice or vinegar. However, since it's thinner, you must only use ¾ cup of buttermilk for every cup of sour cream called for in the recipe.

Best for baking recipes and dressings.

Check out this Pistachio Cake recipe for this substitute.

2. Powdered Milk

If you have an infant at home, you probably have powdered milk somewhere in there as well. Good news! You can use this to make a homemade sour cream substitute.

Just use the same ingredients above. First, make 1 cup of milk using ⅓ cup of powdered milk and water. Then add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice for the tangy flavor.

Use it as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for sauces and soups.

3. Heavy Whipping Cream

If consistency plays a major role in the recipe, try using heavy whipping cream. It's one of the closest things to sour cream in terms of fat content.

However, because it has a neutral taste, you may want to add a squeeze of lemon juice to get that sour and tangy taste. You can also use any kind of citric acid to get the same flavor.

Use the mixture to substitute sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for sweet and savory dishes, baked goods, sauces, and soups.

Here's a Lemon Cheesecake recipe to try it on.

4. Cottage Cheese

Here we have another cheese-based alternative to sour cream. It's chunkier than mascarpone cheese, so you might have to tweak it slightly to use it as a substitute.

For the sour flavor, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, vinegar, or other acidic ingredient. For the consistency, use a food processor or blender and mix it well until no lump or chunk is visible.

This should give you a smooth consistency closer to sour cream than regular cheese. Substitute sour cream with this mixture in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods, savory dishes, sauces, and soups.

Best Dairy-Free Sour Cream Substitutes

If your recipe calls for sour cream, but you're lactose-intolerant, vegan, or just trying to avoid dairy products, here are some options.

1. Coconut Cream

There's truly nothing more versatile than coconut palm trees. We turn almost every part of it into all sorts of things. Today, we can add "sour cream substitute" to that list.

Coconut cream comes from coconut milk. Its consistency and fat content are similar to sour cream, making it an ideal alternative.

However, coconut cream does not have that tangy flavor. It might also have a distinct coconut flavor, so add a splash or a tablespoon of lemon juice before using it as a substitute.

I also suggest you process it first with a blender to make it smoother. Use it as a sour cream substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods, dips, toppings, and dips.

Do you know what pairs well with coconut? Chocolate! Try this substitution on this Homemade Strawberry Chocolate Pop Tarts recipe.

2. Cashew Cream

If you're not fond of the distinct flavor of full-fat coconut milk, try using cashew cream instead. It's very similar to coconut cream, except that it has a milder flavor.

Because it's made with cashew nuts, this is also a vegan and dairy-free sour cream substitute. The only downside is that it might be harder to find than the other alternatives here.

You might have to go to a specialty or health food store to grab a container. Nonetheless, it's relatively easy to make at home.

Just soak cashews in a covered bowl filled with water. Let it sit there for about 2 hours before draining it. Add ⅔ cup of water and blend it until you get the desired consistency.

To get the tangy flavor, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar and mix well. Use the finished product as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for dressings, toppings, and dips.

3. Vegan Sour Cream

Vegan sour cream is one of the most popular substitutes for those following a plant-based diet. You can find this in numerous stores nationwide or online, especially specialty stores.

Vegan sour cream has the taste and consistency of regular sour cream. The only difference is its origin. It usually comes from raw cashews mixed with water, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.

Since it's identical to milk-based sour cream, you can use this as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for just about anything.

Check out this Easy Raspberry Cake recipe and use vegan sour cream as substitute. You won't even notice the difference!

Replacing Sour Cream in a Recipe

The versatility of sour cream in recipes is truly amazing but not irreplaceable. When choosing a substitute from the list above, consider the following factors.

Consistency

Consistency is perhaps the most important consideration when looking for a sour cream substitute. The thickness plays a major role in many recipes, so be mindful of that.

Yogurt, cream cheese, and coconut cream are perhaps the best choices. If none of these are available, going for a thinner substitute is fine.

Just be sure to use other ingredients that will help thicken your recipe.

Tanginess

The first major role of sour cream lies in its second name, "cream." On the other hand, the second major role lies in its first name, "sour."

That signature tanginess isn't something you can just neglect. Otherwise, the overall flavor profile of your final product will be very different.

So, try to find an acid ingredient or citric juice to make flavorless substitutes more sour.

Additional Flavor

Lastly, be mindful of the additional flavor of a substitute. This probably isn't a problem with sour cream substitutes like yogurt, mayonnaise, and buttermilk since they don't add anything else aside from sourness and richness.

However, for substitutes like coconut cream, cashew cream, and cheese-based alternatives, you want to ensure that their additional flavors blend well and will not alter your recipe.

Sour Cream Substitute FAQs

Keeping Your Food Delicious with Sour Cream

These are all the best substitutes for sour cream I found. Others didn't make it to the list, like silken tofu and kefir, but these are more challenging to find and use as substitutes.

Nonetheless, the list above should be enough to provide several options when replacing sour cream. Remember to consult your recipe to determine which alternative is the best.

Don't forget to visit Also The Crumbs, Please for more tips, tricks, substitutions, recipes, and culinary hacks. I'll make sure you won't run out of ingredients for your next recipe.

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Recipe