Best known as a topping on Mexican-American favorites like burritos and nachos, sour cream is a divisive condiment that diners either love or love to hate. With a high fat content and creamy texture, sour cream is an easy and indulgent way to add richness and acidity to just about any savory or sweet dish.

How to Make Sour Cream: Easy Homemade Sour Cream Recipe

Sour cream is a fermented dairy product that is created when lactic acid bacteria is introduced to cream, denaturing the whey proteins in the cream and thickening the liquid. While store-bought sour cream can be made with a variety of preservatives, flavors, [gelatin](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin), and other fillers, homemade sour cream typically consists only of heavy cream and added bacteria. In order to officially be designated as sour cream, the creamy ingredient must have a minimum of 18 percent butterfat, according to the FDA. In addition to its flavor benefits, sour cream is also a source of calcium and vitamin A. 

Sour cream makes a great addition to baked goods, thanks to its creamy mouthfeel and pleasant acidity. Adding this tangy ingredient to cakes, [muffins](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/one-easy-muffin-recipe-endless-muffin-variations), and bread loaves will result in moister baked goods than those made with milk. In a pinch, sour cream can also act as a replacement for other high-fat ingredients like heavy cream, yogurt, and even whole milk during the baking process. 

The bright, creamy, sour taste of sour cream can be replicated with other dairy-based ingredients including: 

1. Greek yogurt
2. Cottage cheese
3. Crème fraîche
4. Buttermilk
5. Plain yogurt
6. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-labneh' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-labneh","linkCopy":"Labneh","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Labneh</a> 
7. Kefir

Store-bought varieties of regular sour cream are also available in a “light” option, made with half-and-half, for those who want a low-fat option. Dairy-free and gluten free vegan sour creams can also be found at some specialty stores or made at home with cashews, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, nutritional yeast, water, and lemon juice. 

Best known as a topping on Mexican-American favorites like burritos and nachos, sour cream is a divisive condiment that diners either love or love to hate. With a high fat content and creamy texture, sour cream is an easy and indulgent way to add richness and acidity to just about any savory or sweet dish.

Sour cream is a fermented dairy product that is created when lactic acid bacteria is introduced to cream, denaturing the whey proteins in the cream and thickening the liquid. While store-bought sour cream can be made with a variety of preservatives, flavors, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-gelatin-how-to-cook-with-gelatin","linkCopy":"gelatin","category":null}'>gelatin</a>, and other fillers, homemade sour cream typically consists only of heavy cream and added bacteria. In order to officially be designated as sour cream, the creamy ingredient must have a minimum of 18 percent butterfat, according to the FDA. In addition to its flavor benefits, sour cream is also a source of calcium and vitamin A.

What Is Sour Cream?

Sour cream makes a great addition to baked goods, thanks to its creamy mouthfeel and pleasant acidity. Adding this tangy ingredient to cakes, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/one-easy-muffin-recipe-endless-muffin-variations' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/one-easy-muffin-recipe-endless-muffin-variations","linkCopy":"muffins","category":null}'>muffins</a>, and bread loaves will result in moister baked goods than those made with milk. In a pinch, sour cream can also act as a replacement for other high-fat ingredients like heavy cream, yogurt, and even whole milk during the baking process.

Why Bake With Sour Cream?

The bright, creamy, sour taste of sour cream can be replicated with other dairy-based ingredients including: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Greek yogurt </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Cottage cheese </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Crème fraîche </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Buttermilk </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Plain yogurt </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-labneh' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-labneh","linkCopy":"Labneh","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Labneh</a> </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Kefir </li></ol>Store-bought varieties of regular sour cream are also available in a “light” option, made with half-and-half, for those who want a low-fat option. Dairy-free and gluten free vegan sour creams can also be found at some specialty stores or made at home with cashews, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, nutritional yeast, water, and lemon juice.

How to Substitute Sour Cream

Homemade Sour Cream Recipe

Best known as a topping on Mexican-American favorites like burritos and nachos, sour cream is a divisive condiment that diners either love or love to hate. With a high fat content and creamy texture, sour cream is an easy and indulgent way to add richness and acidity to just about any savory or sweet dish.

Best known as a topping on Mexican-American favorites like burritos and nachos, sour cream is a divisive condiment that diners either love or love to hate. With a high fat content and creamy texture, sour cream is an easy and indulgent way to add richness and acidity to just about any savory or sweet dish.
