How Much Sour Cream to Substitute for Cream Cheese
Works for baking, sauteing, and slow cook. Sour Cream keeps a similar flavor profile to Cream Cheese.
How much sour cream equals one cup of cream cheese?
Use 1 cup sour cream per 1 cup cream cheese.
Health notes
Compared with Cream Cheese, Sour Cream has: less calories (181 vs 295 per 100g in Cream Cheese), less fat (14.1g vs 28.6g per 100g in Cream Cheese), less saturated fat (8.7g vs 18g per 100g in Cream Cheese), and more carbs (7g vs 3.5g per 100g in Cream Cheese).
Using sour cream as a cream cheese substitute in baking
1:1 swap in cakes and muffins. Softer crumb, tangier taste, less firm structure overall.
Other cooking methods
- Sauteing
Stir in off heat at the end; boiling will split it into curds.
- Slow Cook
Add near the end of cooking to avoid curdling from prolonged heat.
- Raw Cold
1:1 in dips and spreads; thinner but very close in tang and richness.
Methods to avoid (4)
- Frying
Not recommended: too thin and watery to hold up under hot fat.
- Grilling
Not recommended: no way to use a soft dairy topping on the grate.
- Steaming
Not recommended: too thin to set or hold shape under steam.
- Drinks
Not recommended: too tangy and thick for most drink bases.
FAQ
- How much sour cream equals one cup of cream cheese?
Use 1 cup sour cream per 1 cup cream cheese.
- Can I substitute sour cream for Cream Cheese in baking?
Yes. 1:1 swap in cakes and muffins. Softer crumb, tangier taste, less firm structure overall. Not recommended: too thin and watery to hold up under hot fat.
- How much sour cream to use as a cream cheese substitute?
Tangier and looser; add flour or an egg to firm up baked results.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
Sour cream keeps a similar flavor profile to cream cheese.
- How does texture change when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
Sour cream softer, looser body than cream cheese; less structure in cheesecakes and frostings, more tang.
- What else should I know about substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
For cheesecakes, dips, and baked batters. Expect a softer, looser texture with sharper tang. Skip frying, grilling, and steaming where firmness matters. For cheesecake, add an egg or a bit of flour to help it set firm.
- What still works when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
Sour cream still works as a fat, texture, and flavor carrier.
- What won't work when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
Sour cream won't work as a binder.
- How well does Sour Cream match Cream Cheese?
Sour cream is okay on structure, okay on heat, and good on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
Sour cream has about x2 fewer calories, fat, and sat. fat. Overall, protein is similar.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Sour Cream for Cream Cheese?
The flavor shifts toward more acidic notes.