Skip the grocery run and get on to the good stuff—whatever it is you're cooking!
5 No-Fail Sour Cream Substitutes
Updated on Jul. 04, 2023
If you find yourself without sour cream, don’t worry. There are a number of sour cream substitutes you can use in a pinch. Here are some standbys.
Greek Yogurt
For each cup of sour cream needed, substitute an equal amount of Greek yogurt. It will give you the extra-creamy results you crave, with the bit of tang you’re looking for, too. Greek yogurt is an excellent sub for your nachos, baked potatoes and luscious dips. It works in baking, too.
Plain Yogurt
This runner-up yogurt subs in equally for sour cream, just like Greek. Because it’s a bit thinner, you’ll have the most success substituting plain yogurt, cup for cup, in waffles, baking recipes and the like—where its thinner consistency won’t be noticed.
Creme Fraiche
Having only creme fraiche in the house might sound like an unlikely problem. But if you find yourself there, you can indeed skip the grocery run. Dollop creme fraiche onto soups, enchiladas and other places you’d use sour cream (add some tang with lemon or lime). It’s richer than sour cream, so a little goes a long way.
Buttermilk
Here’s a baking rescue: For each cup of sour cream needed in muffins, cakes and the like, you can sub in 1-1/3 cups buttermilk while decreasing the liquid called for in the recipe (such as juice, milk or water) by 1/3 cup. For 1/2 cup of sour cream, use 2/3 cup buttermilk and cut the liquid by a scant 3 tablespoons.
DIY Buttermilk
If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, you can use one of these buttermilk substitutes and follow the instructions above to swap it in for sour cream. Our favorite way to make homemade buttermilk calls for milk and vinegar. Use 1 tablespoon white vinegar, plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand for 5 minutes.
Sour Cream Desserts We Crave
Sour Cream Pound Cake
Because I'm our town's postmaster, I can bake only in my spare time. When I do, I especially like this sour cream cake recipe. This one tastes great as is, or tucked under ice cream and chocolate syrup like a hot fudge sundae! —Karen Conrad, East Troy, Wisconsin
Peach Kuchen"KUCHEN IS a filling dessert for this German meal. It's not too sweet, and you can use virtually any of you favorite fruits. As a child, I took great pride in arranging the fruit in the pan. We always made this dessert on the same day of the meal so it would be warm and fresh. A dollop of whipped cream on top was an added treat!
Sour Cream DropsMy mother is an excellent baker, and this is her recipe. Whether Mom makes these cookies or I do, they always disappear quickly. Friends rave about them and often ask me to bring them to get-togethers. My young children enjoy all kinds of cookies, but these are their favorites. -Tracy Betzler, Reston, Virginia
Chocolate Comfort CakeThis moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for holiday dinners. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Summer Strawberry Shortcake SoupWhen folks are longing for something sweet and refreshing, this soup is sure to hit the spot. To serve it with dinner or as an appetizer, simply omit the shortcake. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Red Velvet Whoopie PiesThese red velvet whoopie pies are a delicious twist on the beloved classic, combining moist red velvet cookies with a smooth cream cheese filling. To keep things easy, the recipe calls for packaged cream cheese.
Sour Cream Raisin PieCreamy, custardy sour cream raisin pie is a nostalgic favorite. It always seems that the best desserts come from the yellowed and splotched recipe cards tucked away in Grandma’s recipe box. This recipe is certainly among the lineup.
Sour Cream BavarianAre you ‘sweet on’ someone who’s counting calories? Show them you care with this light and refreshing dessert. It’s sinfully creamy and so pretty with the tart raspberry sauce. No one would ever guess that it’s fat-free! —Judi Janczewski, Berwyn, Illinois
Sour Cream Rhubarb PieA hint of orange flavor and a nice blend of spices complement the tangy rhubarb. I like to serve the pie while it's still warm. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia
Pear CakeThis pretty pear cake is bursting with luscious pear flavor. It's made with a few simple ingredients, and the simplicity of the recipe defies how it looks—with the confectioners' sugar drizzle, it appears far fancier than it is.
Vanilla CheesecakeTo me, there is nothing better than a simple, elegant cheesecake where the vanilla takes center stage. And when I'm feeling decadent, I'll add the rich chocolate ganache topping. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Sour Cream Apple PieA cool, creamy version of the original, this delicious dessert is the perfect finish to a satisfying summer meal. Its crumbly topping and smooth apple filling are crowd-pleasers! Be prepared to serve seconds. —Sharon Bickett, Chester, South Carolina
Strawberry Cupcakes with Whipped Cream FrostingFresh strawberries are full of water, so they have a tendency to weigh down cake batters and make soggy cakes. That’s why these strawberry cupcakes rely on strawberry jam or preserves. The concentrated flavor is just right for light and tender cupcakes. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Pink Grapefruit CheesecakeCheesecake in a slow cooker? It's true! I experimented a few times to turn this iconic dessert into a slow-cooker classic. Give it a try. I promise you'll be absolutely amazed by the results! —Krista Lanphier Milwaukee, WI
Crunchy Chocolate ClustersThis easy candy has a south-of-the-border flavor with cinnamon, chocolate and coffee. Sweet, salty and crunchy, it's a great no-bake treat. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Jelly Donut CakeCake. Doughnuts. Now you don't have to choose between the two. Impress your family with this easy jelly-filled cake. Try your best to center the jelly in the middle of the half-filled Bundt pan so that it will not leak out the edges of the cake. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Banana Split Cake BarsSummer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor in potluck-perfect form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming
Red Velvet CheesecakeFans of cheesecake and red velvet cake will love this two-for-one red velvet cheesecake recipe! Whip it up the day before serving so the cheesecake has a chance to set overnight, and finish it with the dreamy cream cheese frosting right before cutting.
Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer CakeIf you want a dessert that will take the cake at a St. Patrick's Day celebration, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. —Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New Jersey
Coca-Cola CakeOur coca-cola cake recipe uses not one but two cans of everyone's favorite soda. Move over, mayonnaise! Cola is our new favorite ingredient for an irresistible chocolate cake with an amazing chocolaty glaze.
Cinnamon Twirl CookiesThese rolled cookies are tasty and fun to make with your family. The sugary mixture of walnuts and cinnamon is a light, sweet filling that will leave everyone wanting another bite. —Phyllis Cappuccio, Malden, Massachusetts
Guinness Chocolate CakeNeed a St. Patty’s Day dessert? Our Guinness chocolate cake is a fan-favorite Irish dessert.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake BarsThese irresistible chocolate chip cheesecake Bars are the perfect blend of chewy chocolate chip cookie and creamy cheesecake. They're the ideal treat for any occasion and easy to make and even easier to enjoy.
Heavenly Praline CakeA moist cake and generous frosting are filled with the fabulous flavor of caramel. The candied pecans are almost a dessert by themselves!—Jennifer Rodriguez, Midland, Texas
Coconut CloudsCoconut lovers will have extra reason to celebrate when they taste these cakelike drop cookies. The generous frosting and coconut topping make them a hit at holiday cookie swaps. —Donna Scofield, Yakima, Washington
Slow-Cooker Apple Pudding CakeA satisfying dessert like this is a superb treat on a chilly night. It has three layers—apples, cake and sauce—and I like to serve it in a bowl. It's comfort food for the soul. —Ellen Schroeder, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Pudding CakeGrowing up, I remember my grandfather cherishing the chocolate-covered cherries we’d bring him for Christmas. He passed away this past year, and I created this rich recipe in his honor. It’s delicious served with whipped topping. —Meredith Coe, Charlottesville, Virginia
Gluten-Free CheesecakeOnce gluten-free graham crackers were introduced to the market, a whole host of new recipe opportunities opened up for celiacs, including a gluten-free cheesecake recipe. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
Sour Cream and Cranberry BarsI turned sour cream raisin pie into a cookie bar with a crunchy oatmeal crust, custard-style filling and crisp topping. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
