9 Sour Cream Substitutes and 3 Tips

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

Sour cream is another one of those historic foods that were very likely created by accident. In this article we’ll explore the best substitutes for sour cream, from vegan and dairy free varieties, to homemade alternatives, and more.

Yet in many modern cultures, sour cream is an invaluable ingredient. People in the US, Poland, Germany, France, and Russia all use sour cream as a kind of staple for refining sauces, soups, and stews.

But what do you do if you’re fresh out of sour cream and your recipe calls for it? Are there any suitable substitutes you can use, perhaps even alternatives that are, dare we say, better? 

Facts about Sour Cream

Facts about Sour Cream

Sour cream is a versatile ingredient that’s used in lots of different dishes, including cakes.

In the latter it can create a beautiful, cheesecake-like dessert that’s simply delightful and far less fatty than its cream cheese-based counterpart.

Early sour cream was probably an accidental invention (more on this in the next section), but it’s been a popular ingredient since at least the first half of the 20th century.

Nowadays, people associate sour cream particularly with Eastern European cooking, though it’s popular in American dishes including baked potatoes, dips, and tacos as well.

Fun fact: the countries which enjoy the most sour cream are Germany, Poland, Russia, France, and the US.

What Sour Cream Is

What Sour Cream Is

Sour cream is a dairy product that’s made by fermenting cream with lactic acid bacterial cultures. These turn the cream ‘sour’ and give it its recognizable, tangy flavor.

In the early days, sour cream was probably ‘invented’ when fresh dairy milk was left to sit at room temperature.

The cream, as one might expect, rose to the top, and then fermented with bacteria that naturally occurred around it.

What Sour Cream Is Good For

What Sour Cream Is Good For

Sour cream is a versatile addition to a range of dishes. It’s great for enriching soups or stews, adding a tart edge to baking where cream is usually required, giving lightness to sponge cakes, and even just spooning liberally over baked potatoes.

Is Sour Cream Healthy?

Is Sour Cream Healthy?

Sour cream is high in saturated fats, so it’s certainly not the healthiest. It’s also not good for anyone with a dairy or lactose intolerance.

With that said, some sour cream brands now add bacteria cultures into their products post-pasteurization. These can be good for your gut, though they’re less common than regular sour cream.

Standard sour cream doesn’t tend to have the same levels of beneficial bacteria as, for example, yogurt.

Reasons for Substituting Sour Cream

Reasons for Substituting Sour Cream

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to substitute sour cream for something else in a recipe. Here we highlight some of the most common ones.

Remember that you can substitute sour cream for any reason at all – even if you just don’t like it. We’ll delve into some delicious alternatives in the next section.

Dietary Restrictions

Dietary Restrictions

Whether you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, or allergic to dairy products, you may simply not be able to have regular sour cream.

Certain dietary restrictions don’t allow for dairy of any kind, and alternatives that are made with plant or non-dairy creams are therefore important.

Health Considerations

Health Considerations

Regular sour cream is fairly high in fat, particularly saturated fats, giving some people concern for their health.

Having a little bit of regular sour cream as part of a special meal or adding it to a sauce or stew is unlikely to have any sort of adverse effect.

However, you may wish to opt for lower fat or lower calorie substitutes. Non-dairy alternatives such as coconut milk also contain no cholesterol, making them heart-friendlier options.

Availability Issues

Availability Issues

Sometimes, you just might not have access to sour cream.

It may be out of stock in your local supermarket, you may have just run out at home and need it for a recipe, or you’re in a region where sour cream isn’t a common ingredient.

All of these are good reasons to find suitable alternatives that offer the same or similar texture and flavors.

Culinary Preferences

Culinary Preferences

Different substitutes can offer varied textures and flavors to suit specific recipes.

Some cuisines traditionally use alternatives such as yogurt or crème fraîche, too, which are subtly different.

Whatever the case, you may just not love sour cream in general or in a specific recipe, in which case certain alternatives are better.

Best Substitutes for Sour Cream

Best Substitutes for Sour Cream

Whatever your reason for choosing to substitute sour cream in your recipes, there are plenty of great alternatives available.

Here we list some of our favorite ingredients you can use to re-create the flavor and texture of sour cream in your dishes, without actually having to use sour cream.

Crème Fraîche

Crème Fraîche

Sour cream contains less fat than crème fraîche (about 20% vs the latter’s 30% fat) but might include additives such as vegetable enzymes, gelatin, or rennin to thicken it.

Crême fraîche gets all of its thickness from its natural fermentation process, has a richer, more creamy flavor, and is less tangy than regular sour cream.

Crème fraîche is a simple substitute in sauces, soups, stews, and even simply added to baked potatoes.

It is, however, richer, and would likely lend itself less well to baking. It also lacks the tanginess of sour cream, so if that particular flavor is what you’re after, keep reading.

Yogurt

Yogurt

Yogurt offers much of the same satisfying tang and creaminess that sour cream has, but with less calories and fat. It’s a heart-healthier choice and better for those watching their weight.

With that said, sour cream tends to be thicker than yogurt. If you need the same sort of thick creaminess, you’ll want to opt for a Greek yogurt.

Yogurts also frequently contain probiotics, which are good for your gut. All in all, this makes yogurt a really good substitute for sour cream.

Cream Cheese

Cream Cheese

The difference between sour cream and cream cheese lies in their production. Sour cream is made by fermenting dairy cream, while cream cheese is made from drained, curdled milk.

Some say that cream cheese tastes less sour as a result, but we think it actually has quite a similar tanginess.

Cream cheese, once processed, does tend to be more solid than sour cream, so it lends itself less to simple potato topping on its own.

It is, however, an excellent substitute when added to sauces, stews, and anywhere else creaminess and a touch of tangy, milky flavor is required.

Kefir

Kefir

Kefir is actually fairly similar to sour cream. Both are made from dairy that has been pasteurized and then fermented with lactic acid bacteria, using kefir grains in the case of kefir.

Sour cream, however, is made using cream, and kefir is made using milk. This makes the flavors very close, though kefir is a much thinner product.

You can add kefir to sauces, stews, and anywhere else you require the flavor of sour cream. It also makes an excellent addition to your baking.

It does not, however, work that well in dips unless you mix it with plenty of bulking ingredients to thicken it.

Mexican Crema

Mexican Crema

Mexican crema is readily made at home by mixing heavy cream, soured cream, some fresh lime juice, and a bit of salt.

With that said, it’s of course not a substitute if you’re needing to use sour cream to make it — and you don’t, it’s readily available in Mexican food shops.

Mexican crema is very close to sour cream in both flavor and consistency. It’s described as being richer and creamier than standard sour cream, but less thick than crème fraîche.

If you can’t get your hands on Mexican crema, and just want to try it for its slightly different flavors, use the guidance above to whip up some of your own. If you’re wanting to use it as a substitute for sour cream, use store bought Mexican crema at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Mascarpone

Mascarpone

This is probably the most different substitute, but well worth the mention for its delicious flavor and creamy texture.

Mascarpone is technically a cheese, rather than a type of cream, and doesn’t have any real acidity to it. It’s creamier than regular sour cream and doesn’t have any kind of tang to it.

With that said, it’s delicious when added to sauces, soups, and stews, and you can re-introduce tanginess by adding other ingredients such as a few drops of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Dairy Free Substitutes for Sour Cream

Dairy Free Substitutes for Sour Cream

If you’re lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy products, or vegan, you’re in luck as you no longer need to miss out on the taste of sour cream. There are now plenty of alternatives to regular sour cream which you can enjoy instead. Below are some of our favorite options.

Coconut Milk

Coconut Milk

If you’re looking for a dairy free sour cream alternative, coconut milk may just be the way to go. The creaminess of full fat coconut milk or even coconut cream works well to add richness to your favorite sauces, soups, and stews.

If you also want some of the distinct tart, tangy flavor of sour cream, you’ll want to add a bit of lemon juice as well.

You’ll still taste some of the coconut flavor, but besides that, it’s a pretty close alternative that’s healthy to boot.

Vegan Mayonnaise

Vegan Mayonnaise

Vegan mayonnaise makes for a great alternative to sour cream, if you’re looking for a tangy, creamy substitute that’s dairy and egg-free.

Veganaise works well on its own or paired with some lime juice and dried herbs if you’re looking for a tasty substitute on top of baked potatoes.

If you’re just looking for a dairy free alternative to sour cream, but don’t mind eggs, regular mayonnaise also works well.

Vegan Sour Cream Made from Blended Cashews and/or Blended Tofu

Vegan Sour Cream Made from Blended Cashews and/or Blended Tofu

There are plenty of vegan sour cream recipes available that use either soaked raw cashews or silken tofu, paired with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and some salt.

Either way, the ingredients are blended until super smooth. These would work best for dips or recipes where ‘raw’ sour cream is required.

Add some garlic and herbs to make a delicious topping for roast veggies, too.

Substitutes for Sour Cream in Baking

Substitutes for Sour Cream in Baking

When it comes to baking, the ideal substitute for sour cream is yogurt. That’s because the consistency is similar and it adds a lovely richness to your bakes, similar to sour cream.

If you’re crafting a vegan cake or loaf, full-fat coconut milk is also a good alternative, and adds a lovely, nutty, somewhat tropical flavor.

You can add a little bit of lemon juice to mimic the tangy flavors of the sour cream.

Tips for Substituting Sour Cream

Tips for Substituting Sour Cream

Whether you have a dietary restriction towards dairy, can’t find it in shops, or just don’t like sour cream, you’ll have noticed that there are loads of alternatives available.

Try and experiment with different substitutes to find out which you like best.

If you’re unsure what to try with first, we have some tips for you here.

Compare the Nutritional Profiles of the Substitutes

Compare the Nutritional Profiles of the Substitutes

Not all sour cream substitutes are made equal. Some are most certainly healthier than others, and dairy alternatives all have different fat contents.

If you’re watching your diet, you may wish to opt for a less fatty substitute or even a vegan alternative.

Coconut milk in particular is a healthy alternative that may even provide some health benefits.

Regularly consuming some coconut milk may even promote weight loss and help lower your cholesterol levels.

Make Your Own DIY Sour Cream at Home

Make Your Own DIY Sour Cream at Home

You can easily make your own sour cream at home. All you need is cream, some lemon juice or distilled white vinegar, and whole milk.

Combine the first two ingredients, then let the mixture sit for around 10 minutes before adding the whole milk. Mix well, then cover with a lid and allow it to sit for around 24-48 hours.

After this, you can chill your freshly made sour cream before serving or using in your favorite recipes.

Experiment with Different Fat Contents

Experiment with Different Fat Contents

When it comes to baking in particular, different fat contents play a big role.

Butter contains around 83% fat, for example, and whipping cream has 35%. Sour cream contains around 20% of fat, and coconut milk or cream can contain anywhere between 5% and 50% fat.

Experiment with what works best to achieve both consistencies and flavors you like.

Some bakers argue that using less fat or unsaturated fats in your baking produces lighter bakes, while others swear by using all butter or oil as it gives extra moisture and better texture.

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