Sour Cream Substitutes

Out of sour cream? 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 sour cream between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the sour cream converter.

What to use instead of sour cream

  • Greek Yoghurt

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup sour cream = 1 cup Greek yoghurt (1:1 by volume)

    Closest swap by texture. Greek yoghurt is strained thick like sour cream (260 g vs 250 g per cup) and brings a sharper tang with less fat. Works in cakes, dips, and dressings without adjustment.

  • Crème Fraîche

    Ingredient swap

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

    Crème fraîche is richer and more stable under heat with a milder tang. Best swap in cooked sauces, where sour cream tends to split.

  • Plain Yoghurt

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup sour cream = 1 cup plain yoghurt (1:1 by volume)

    Plain yoghurt is thinner (258 g vs 250 g per cup) but tangs the same. Fine in cakes and dressings; not ideal for thick dips where sour cream holds its shape better.

  • Heavy cream + lemon juice

    DIY mix

    1 cup sour cream = 1 cup heavy cream + 1 tsp lemon juice

    Stir lemon juice into the cream and let stand 5 minutes to thicken. Mimics the tang of sour cream; best for dressings and dips rather than baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for sour cream?
There are 4 workable substitutes for sour cream, depending on what you have on hand and which property of sour cream matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup sour cream = 1 cup Greek yoghurt (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 sour cream 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 sour cream converter
How do I measure sour cream accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The sour cream 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 sour cream converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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