What Can You Use as a Substitute for Sour Cream?

Depending on the recipe, crème fraîche and sour cream are particularly suitable as an alternative to sour cream when baking or as a substitute when cooking, and in some cases whipped cream. The main difference between sour cream, crème fraîche, and sour cream is the fat content:

• Crème fraîche has the highest fat content of the three at 30 to 40% fat and tastes a little sourer than sour cream.
• Sour cream usually contains between 20 and 24% fat and is just as firm as crème fraîche.
• Sour cream is more liquid than sour cream and crème fraîche and has a fat content of at least 10%, so you can use it instead of sour cream if you want to prepare a recipe with a little less fat.

The sour milk products mentioned are suitable as a substitute for sour cream when cooking or baking, depending on the recipe:

• In soups and sauces, crème fraîche tastes particularly good as a substitute for sour cream.
• Because sour cream flocculates when heated, don’t use it as a substitute for sour cream if the recipe calls for heating—it’s best for dressings and dips. If you want to use sour cream with hot dishes, it is best to add it just before serving or whisk it with a little starch or flour beforehand.
• When baking, it is best to mix equal parts sour cream and crème fraîche if you are using this to replace sour cream.

Extra tip: Sweet cream, which has a fat content of around 30%, can also be a good substitute for sour cream when baking or in sauces. Then notice that it is more liquid in consistency and brings more sweetness to your dish. In combination with ingredients with a high acid content – for example, lemon juice – the cream can also curdle and flake.

Substitute for sour cream – vegan and lactose-free

If you eat vegan or are currently changing your diet, you are not only faced with the question of delicious cheese substitutes for enjoying and cooking or egg substitutes for vegan baking. Substitutes must also be found for ingredients such as cream, crème fraîche, or sour cream if you want to implement a conventional cooking recipe without animal ingredients. If you are looking for a vegan substitute for sour cream, some food manufacturers offer you substitute products for sour cream, for example, plant-based cream based on soy, oats, rice, or cashews. Yogurt substitutes made from soy and other plants or vegan cream cheese are also good substitutes for sour cream. All of these products are also suitable if you are looking for a lactose-free substitute for sour cream due to an intolerance.