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If you’re looking for a Sour Cream Substitute due to dietary reasons, personal preferences or simply because you don’t have any on hand, here’s a list of some of the best substitutes for sour cream you can use.

Six baked potatoes topped with sour cream and chives on a baking sheet - for substitutes for sour cream.

If you’re making a recipe that calls for sour cream and you don’t have any on hand, there’s a few substitutes for sour cream that you can use to replace it, such as Crème fraîche, Greek yogurt, mascarpone cheese, cream cheese and more.

Six baked potatoes topped with sour cream and chives on a baking sheet.

What Is Sour Cream?

Sour cream is a dairy product made by culturing cream or milk with lactic acid bacteria which thickens and sours the cream.

Types Of Sour Cream

Sour cream has a creamy consistency similar to Greek yogurt. It comes in four different varieties such as full fat, reduced fat, light and fat free.

1. Full Fat Sour Cream

Full-fat sour cream must contain at least 18 percent milk fat by weight in order to be labeled as a full-fat sour cream.

2. Reduced Fat Sour Cream

Reduced fat sour cream must contain 1/3 less fat than full-fat sour cream in order to be labeled reduced-fat sour cream.

3. Light Sour Cream

 Light sour cream is made from cultured half-and-half and in contains 40 percent less fat than full-fat sour cream.

4. Fat-Free Sour Cream (non-fat)

Fat-free sour cream is made from cultured non-fat milk and contains less than 1 percent fat.

What Is Sour Cream Used For? 

Sour cream is often used as a condiment for topping baked potatoes, tacos, nachos and taquitos. It’s also used in baking cakes, muffins and breads, to thicken sauces, soups and stews, it’s added to casseroles and used as a base for dips and dressings.

Three open cartons of sour cream with spoons in them for sour cream substitute

Substitutes For Sour Cream

Some of these substitutes are better used as a condiment for topping savory dishes, while others are better used to add moisture and richness to cakes, muffins, cupcakes and breads, to thicken sauces, soups and stews, and to use as a base for dips and dressings.

1. Crème Fraîche

Crème fraîche (French for “fresh cream”) is a thick cultured cream that is slightly richer and thicker with less tang than sour cream. It makes an excellent substitute for sour cream. Use the same amount of Crème fraîche as you would use for sour cream in any recipe.

2. Greek Yogurt

Full fat plain unsweetened Greek yogurt and plain unsweetened regular yogurt both have a creamy consistency and tangy flavor similar to sour cream. Both are excellent substitutes for sour cream. Use the same amount of Greek yogurt or regular yogurt as you would use for sour cream in any recipe.

3. Mascarpone and Cream Cheese

Mascarpone cheese and cream cheese have a thick creamy consistency with a slightly sweet flavor. They both can also be used as a substitute for sour cream. Use the same amount of Mascarpone cheese or cream cheese  as you would use for sour cream in any recipe. Just add a splash of lemon juice and milk to achieve a thinner consistency similar to sour cream.

4. Crema Mexicana

Crema Mexicana has a thinner consistency and it’s not as sour and acidic as sour cream, but it can be used as a substitute for sour cream. Use the same amount of Crema Mexicana as you would use for sour cream to add to dressings and sauces. With its thinner consistency, it’s not a great substitute to use for baking or dips.

5. Mayonnaise

Real mayonnaise has a similar consistency as sour cream with a bit of tang. It makes a good substitute to use for dips, dressings and even in baking recipes. Use the same amount of mayonnaise as you would use for sour cream in recipes.

Non-Dairy Sour Cream Substitutes

These are vegan substitutes that can be used in any recipe that calls for sour cream. 

1. Cashew Cream

Cashew cream has a more mild flavor than sour cream, but it makes a good substitute for dips, dressings and some sauces. Use the same amount of cashew cream as you would use for sour cream. Just add a splash of lemon juice to add a little tang similar to sour cream.

2. Coconut Cream

Coconut cream has a similar consistency and fat content as sour cream. It makes a good substitute for sour cream in baking, but it does have a coconut flavor.Use the same amount of coconut cream as you would use for sour cream in any recipe. Just add a splash of lemon juice or white vinegar to add a little tang similar to sour cream. 

3. Vegan Yogurt 

Plain unsweetened vegan yogurt has a creamy consistency and tangy flavor similar to sour cream. It makes a good dairy-free substitute to use for baking, dressings and some sauces. Use the same amount of vegan yogurt as you would use for sour cream in baking recipes.

Sour Cream Substitute In Baking

Sour cream is used in baking to add moisture and richness to cakes, cupcakes, muffins and breads.

1. Milk 

Full fat milk can replace sour cream to add moisture to baked goods. Use the same amount of milk as you would use for sour cream.

2. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is thicker than regular milk and has a tangy flavor similar to sour cream. Use the same amount of buttermilk as you would use for sour cream in recipes where you’re wanting to add richness and moisture to baked goods like cakes, cupcakes, muffins and breads.

3. Whipping Cream

Heavy whipping cream can be used as a substitute for sour cream in recipes where you’re wanting to add richness and moisture to baked goods like cakes, cupcakes, muffins and breads.  Use the same amount of heavy whipping cream as you would use for sour cream.

Six baked potatoes topped with sour cream sits on a baking sheet (for sour cream substitute).

How Do You Store Sour Cream?

Fresh sour cream should promptly be refrigerated after bringing it home from the grocery store to prevent it from spoilage. 

Can You Freeze Sour Cream?

Sour cream can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. After it has thawed, the texture will be a little grainy rather than creamy like fresh sour cream, so it will be more suitable to use in baking rather than garnishing,

How To Freeze Sour Cream

  1. Place the container of sour cream directly into the freezer. Be sure to mark the date on the container.
  2. Fill an ice cube tray by the spoonfuls with sour cream and place in the freezer. After the cubes are frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag. Be sure to mark the date on the freezer bag.

How To Thaw Frozen Sour Cream

To thaw frozen sour cream, transfer the container of frozen sour cream directly to the refrigerator to allow to gradually thaw over several hours.

Three baked potatoes topped with sour cream. A aluminum measuring cup filled with sour cream with a spoon in it sits next to the baked potatoes.

More Resources

Six baked potatoes topped with sour cream and chives on a baking sheet.
Yield: 1 serving

Sour Cream Substitute

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

If you're looking for a Sour Cream Substitute due to dietary reasons, personal preferences or simply because you don't have any on hand, here's a list of some of the best substitutes for sour cream you can use.

Ingredients

Sour Cream Substitutes

  • Crème Fraîche
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Mascarpone and Cream Cheese
  • Crema Mexicana
  • Mayonnaise

Non-Dairy Sour Cream Substitutes

  • Cashew Cream
  • Coconut Cream
  • Vegan Yogurt 

Sour Cream Substitute In Baking

  • Full-fat milk 
  • Buttermilk
  • Whipped Cream

Instructions

Sour Cream Substitutes

  1. Crème Fraîche - Use the same amount of Crème Fraîche as you would use for sour cream in your recipe (1:1 ratio)
  2. Yogurt - Use the same amount of unflavored and unsweetened Greek yogurt or full fat yogurt as you would use for sour cream in your recipe (1:1 ratio)
  3. Mascarpone and Cream Cheese - Add a splash of lemon juice and milk to achieve a thinner consistency similar to sour cream and use the same amount of Mascarpone cheese or Cream cheese as you would use for sour cream in your recipe (1:1 ratio).
  4. Crema Mexicana - Use the same amount of Crema Mexicana as you would use for sour cream in your recipe (1:1 ratio). With its thinner consistency, it's not a great substitute to use for baking or dips.
  5. Mayonnaise - Use the same amount of real Mayonnaise as you would use for sour cream in your recipe (1:1 ratio)

Non-Dairy Sour Cream Substitutes

  1. Cashew Cream - Use the same amount of cashew cream as you would use for sour cream (1:1 ratio). Just add a splash of lemon juice to add a little tang similar to sour cream. It makes a good substitute for dips, dressings and some sauces
  2. Coconut Cream - Use the same amount of coconut cream as you would use for sour cream in any recipe (1:1 ratio). Just add a splash of lemon juice or white vinegar to add a little tang similar to sour cream. 
  3. Vegan Yogurt - Use the same amount of plain vegan unsweetened yogurt as you would use for sour cream in baking recipes (1:1 ratio). 

Sour Cream Substitute In Baking

  1. Full-fat milk - Use the same amount of milk as you would use for sour cream (1:1 ratio).
  2. Buttermilk - Use the same amount of buttermilk as you would use for sour cream (1:1 ratio).
  3. Whipped Cream - Use the same amount of heavy whipping cream as you would use for sour cream (1:1 ratio).

Notes

How To Freeze Sour Cream

  1. Place the container of sour cream directly into the freezer. Be sure to mark the date on the container.
  2. Fill an ice cube tray by the spoonfuls with sour cream and place in the freezer. After the cubes are frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag. Be sure to mark the date on the freezer bag.

How To Thaw Frozen Sour Cream

To thaw frozen sour cream, transfer the container of frozen sour cream directly to the refrigerator to allow to gradually thaw over several hours. Frozen (and thawed) sour cream won't have the same consistency as fresh sour cream, so its best used for baking.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 364Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 461mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 15gProtein: 14g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.

© The Harvest kitchen
Cuisine: American