Crème Fraîche Substitutes

Out of crème fraîche? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert crème fraîche between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the crème fraîche converter.

What to use instead of crème fraîche

  • Sour Cream

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup crème fraîche = 1 cup sour cream (1:1 by volume)

    Closest savoury swap. Sour cream is tangier and lower in fat (250 g vs 230 g per cup), so it can curdle if boiled hard. Stir into finished sauces and soups off the heat, or use it cold in dips and dressings.

    See sour cream substitutes →

  • Mascarpone

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup crème fraîche = 1 cup mascarpone (1:1 by volume)

    Best swap for desserts. Mascarpone is richer and sweeter with no tang (240 g vs 230 g per cup). Use it in tiramisu, cheesecakes, and dolloped on fruit; for savoury sauces it lacks crème fraîche's sharp bite.

    See mascarpone substitutes →

  • Greek Yoghurt

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup crème fraîche = 1 cup Greek yoghurt (1:1 by volume)

    Lighter, tangier, lower-fat swap (260 g vs 230 g per cup). Good cold in dips and dressings, but it splits when boiled, so add it to hot dishes off the heat. A leaner choice than crème fraîche.

    See greek yoghurt substitutes →

  • Heavy cream + buttermilk

    DIY mix

    1 cup crème fraîche = 1 cup heavy cream + 1 tbsp buttermilk

    DIY crème fraîche. Stir buttermilk into the cream, cover, and leave at room temperature 12 to 24 hours until thick, then chill. It cultures to the same tang and heat stability, so plan it a day ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for crème fraîche?
There are 4 workable substitutes for crème fraîche, depending on what you have on hand and which property of crème fraîche matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup crème fraîche = 1 cup sour cream (1:1 by volume). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting crème fraîche change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the crème fraîche converter
How do I measure crème fraîche accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The crème fraîche converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the crème fraîche converter

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