Do you need a vegan substitute for sour cream in baking? Perhaps you're serving someone with lactose intolerance, dairy allergies, or require a low-fat diet. Or maybe, you just ran out of the ingredient.
Don't worry; whatever your reason is, you'll find an ingredient that you can use to replace sour cream in your baking recipes.
Jump to:
The Role of Sour Cream in Baking
Before we head over to the list of great sour cream alternatives, let's understand the significant roles of sour cream in baking.
Adds Moisture
With sour cream in your recipe, you'll save yourself from serving chalky baked goods that aren't just messy but can sometimes cause choking. It provides the batter with the right amount of moisture without thinning it out.
Thus, you'll have tender baked goodies that will crumble finely.
Slows Down the Browning Process
I also love using sour cream in my baking recipes because it ensures the goodies are baked evenly inside and out. Its low acidity results in a slow browning process, so you don't risk burning some parts while waiting for the rest of the goodie to bake.
Activates Baking Soda
The acid content of sour cream activates the baking soda in your recipe. This process helps the baked goodie rise, even without baking powder. It means with sour cream, you don't end up with flat cakes, muffins, and other baked goodies.
8 Best Sour Cream Substitutes in Baking
If you're not serving vegans, vegetarians, or lactose-intolerant guests, the following are the best sour cream substitutes that I have tried and tested:
1. Plain Greek Yogurt
The easiest and quickest substitute for sour cream in baking is plain Greek yogurt. It has the same tangy flavor and consistency as sour cream, so all you have to do is add the same amount to your recipe.
Of course, it's best to use plain Greek yogurt to avoid adding unnecessary flavors to your baked goodies. Worst, the flavored variety can affect the overall balance of flavor.
However, this rule isn't written in stone. You can use the flavored ones as long as it has the same flavor as what you're baking.
I also recommend that you opt for the full fat Greek yogurt variety. Its high fat content will ensure you will have a baked goodie with the same moistness or texture. Your baked goodies will also rise as well as when you use regular sour cream.
If you're recipe calls for low fat sour cream or fat free sour cream, opt for low fat Greek yogurt or fat free Greek yogurt, respectively.
You can also use any of the two Greek yogurt varieties even if your recipe requires regular sour cream in particular situations. For instance, if you have a guest following a low-fat diet, or it's the only Greek yogurt available in your pantry.
Best for just about anything.
2. Plain Yogurt
Unlike Greek yogurt, unflavored regular yogurt is quite challenging to find. As embarrassing as it may be, I once bought yogurt, only to find it was actually sweetened or vanilla yogurt when I got home!
Also, regular yogurt has less fat than Greek yogurt and sour cream, which can affect your baked goodie's overall appearance, texture, and stability. It also has a thinner consistency than sour cream.
Still, if you have one at home or happen to come across it in your local grocery store, go ahead and replace sour cream with the same amount of plain yogurt. Just make sure you opt for the full-fat variety because low fat and fat free plain yogurt are too thin.
Like Greek yogurt, using flavored regular yogurt is okay as long as it has the same flavor as what you're baking. For instance, you can use blueberry yogurt if you're baking a blueberry cake.
Regular yogurt isn’t as thick, so you may want to strain it through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a paper towel to remove some of the liquid before using.
Best for bread, cookies, and cakes.
3. Crème Fraiche
What is the best way to replace sour cream in your recipe than with another type of sour cream, right? Also known as fresh cream, I can describe crème fraiche as an ingredient that is kind of a mix between sour cream and cream cheese.
With the same tangy flavor and consistency, this French sour cream is easy to use. All you have to do is add the same amount of crème fraiche as what the recipe calls for your typical sour cream.
While it's richer, less sour, and has about 1% less fat, you'll surely serve delicious baked goods with the same texture, taste, and moistness as when you use sour cream.
Best for just about anything.
4. Mexican Crema
Another excellent substitute for sour cream in baking is this fresh cream that's almost similar to crème fraiche. It's less sour and thinner than sour cream, but replacing sour cream with the same amount of Mexican crema will give your goodies their much-needed tanginess.
Mexican crema also has 10% more fat than sour cream, so you will be serving richer and tastier baked goods with a better mouthfeel.
Best for just about anything.
Related: Exploring Delicious Paneer Substitutes for Your Indian Dishes
5. Cream Cheese
As a home baker and/or cook, you surely have some leftover cream cheese you used for your blueberry cheesecake, frosting, pasta sauce, and other recipes. Maximize its versatility by replacing sour cream in your recipe with it.
I understand that some of you might be raising your eyebrows now because you're aware of how thick cream cheese is. It also doesn't have the same tangy flavor as sour cream.
But with a few simple tweaks using kitchen staples, you'll be surprised with how similar your baked goods will look and taste when you use cream cheese as a replacement for sour cream.
First, allow your cream cheese to sit at room temperature for two to three minutes. Next, measure ¾ cup of cream cheese to replace a cup of sour cream.
Then, thin it out with a tablespoon of buttermilk, regular milk, coconut milk (or any vegan milk), or water. Put the mixture in your blender and pulse until you have a thin, smooth cream.
If it isn't as thin as you want or need it to be, you can add another tablespoon of the same liquid ingredient you used. Then, blend.
Once done, add a splash or a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar, depending on how tangy you want your cream cheese mixture to be.
Best for just about anything.
6. Mascarpone Cheese
Another cheese commonly used in Italian desserts, mascarpone cheese is one of the best sour cream substitutes. It has a bit of a tangy taste and acidity, so you will need to combine it with milk or water and lemon juice or vinegar, like with cream cheese. This will also help tone down the sweetness of mascarpone cheese.
To use in your recipe, combine the ingredients following the same instructions when using cream cheese, and substitute sour cream with the same amount of the mascarpone cheese mixture.
Best for sweet baked goods.
7. Whole Buttermilk
If the role of sour cream in your recipe is to add moisture, you can go ahead and replace a cup of sour cream with ¾ cup of buttermilk.
Don't have one at home? Then follow this homemade buttermilk recipe:
- Pour one cup of whole milk or 2% regular whole milk, evaporated milk, or even diluted powdered milk into a cup or bowl.
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice or regular or apple cider vinegar.
- Stir and allow to stand for 10 minutes or until the milk curdles.
That's it! You now have homemade buttermilk that you can use in your recipes in place of sour cream.
Best for cakes and quick bread.
Related: 10 Best Whole Milk Substitutes
8. Kefir
A much better substitute for sour cream in baking than whole milk is kefir. While it's also cow's or goat's milk, it has been fermented. Thus, it combines some of the characteristics of buttermilk and yogurt.
It means that kefir will give your baked goods tanginess and moistness, even though it's thinner than sour cream and has a less fat content. Plus, kefir is rich in probiotics for better gut health.
To use in your baking recipe, add the same amount of kefir as what the recipe calls for sour cream.
Best for cakes, cookies, biscuits, and bread.
4 Best Vegan, Dairy Free Sour Cream Substitutes
If your main reason for looking for a sour cream alternative is you have one or more guests who follow a dairy-free, vegetarian, and/or vegan diet, don't worry. I have a good list of ingredients that I have been using in my recipes that call for sour cream.
1. Vegan Yogurt
If you can't find vegan sour cream in your local grocery or health store, grab that vegan yogurt instead! Make sure you grab one with a neutral flavor to avoid overpowering the ingredients in your recipe or affecting the balance of flavor.
You can also use vegan yogurt made from almonds or coconut, as long as they work well with the other ingredients, or you're baking a goodie with the same flavor base—for instance, an almond pound cake or coconut cookies.
Like with plain yogurt, I recommend straining your vegan yogurt through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a paper towel before measuring if you happen to purchase one with a very thin consistency. Doing so will help remove some of the liquid.
Best for just about anything.
2. Vegan Cream Cheese
If you can't find vegan yogurt, vegan cream cheese is another great sour cream substitute. Like with ordinary cream cheese, you will need to allow it to sit at room temperature until it softens a bit.
Then, thin it out by following the instructions listed for cream cheese. However, make sure you use plant-based milk products. I also highly advise using neutral-flavored milk, but almond and coconut milk are okay if the flavor won't affect your goodie's overall flavor.
Best for just about anything.
3. Coconut Cream
Thick coconut cream is another excellent vegan sour cream substitute you probably already have in your kitchen, as it's an ingredient commonly used in cooking sweet and savory dishes.
While it has a distinct coconut flavor, it wouldn't be noticeable when used with ingredients with strong flavors or those that mesh well with coconut—for instance, caramel and chocolate coffee cakes.
Of course, coconut cream is also a perfect choice for enhancing the flavor of your coconut-flavored baked goods.
So, how do you use canned coconut cream in your baking recipe? First, you will need to pour your coconut cream together with its juice into your blender. Gently pulse until you have coconut cream with a smooth consistency.
If you're replacing a cup of sour cream, measure one cup of your blended coconut cream and add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Then, mix until well blended.
Best for coconut-flavored and strong-flavored baked goodies.
Related: Coconut Cream Filled Baked Yeast Donuts Recipe
4. Cashew Cream
Are you baking brownies with lots of nuts? Perhaps a banana bread with nut toppings. Then consider replacing sour cream with cashew cream!
Not only will cashew cream enhance the nutty flavors in your recipe. It also has a good amount of fat to help your baked goods rise perfectly and add moisture.
You can also easily find this sour cream alternative in your health food stores. Even better, cashew cream is easy to make at home as long as you have the right ingredients.
Simply place one cup of raw cashew nuts in your bowl and cover it with water. Allow the nuts to soak for two hours or until they're soft.
Place a fine-mesh sieve over another clean bowl and pour the soaked cashews into it to drain the water. Place the soft cashew nuts in your blend and add ⅔ cup of the water where you soaked your cashews. Blend until you have a paste with an even, smooth consistency.
Your homemade cashew cream is now ready to use!
Whether you use commercially made or homemade cashew cream, combine one cup of the cream with a tablespoon of lemon juice or distilled or apple cider vinegar. Mix well until well blended. This will replace one cup of sour cream.
Best for nut-flavored baked goods.
Finding a Suitable Sour Cream Substitute for Baking
With my list of sour cream substitutes I have shared with you, you're sure to find an excellent substitute that will work well with the ingredients of the recipe you're following.
Some require tweaking, like adding lemon juice or regular (even apple cider vinegar), and additional steps. Still, it won't take most of your time and significantly affect the baking preparation time.
Like with other ingredient substitutes, make sure you consider why you're replacing sour cream in the first place. Doing so ensures you choose the best sour cream substitute for your baking recipe.
You Might Also Like:
What Is the Best Substitute for Vegetable Oil in Brownies?
Need an Applesauce Substitute in Baking? Here Are 10 Options!
What Is the Best Substitute for Honey in Baking?
Recipe
Homemade Substitute for Sour Cream in Baking
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Small glass container with a lid
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup regular milk
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar
Instructions
- Pour your heavy cream into a clean, large bowl.
- Add the regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
- Stir using your whisk until the mixture thickens and you see soft peaks.
- Cover your bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel.
- Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature until it thickens or turns sour. This will take around 12 to 24 hours.
- Once ready, you can transfer your homemade sour cream to a clean, small glass jar. Seal tightly and store it in your refrigeration when not in use.
Notes
- This homemade sour cream has a shelf life of two weeks when stored properly.
- For a homemade dairy-free, vegan sour cream, replace the heavy cream with cashew cream or any vegan heavy cream. You must also replace the regular milk with almond or full fat coconut milk.
You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.
Leave a Reply