How Much Sour Cream to Substitute for Yogurt
Works for baking, sauteing, and slow cook. Sour Cream keeps a similar flavor profile to Yogurt.
How much sour cream equals one cup of yogurt with almost no other changes needed?
Use 1 cup sour cream per 1 cup yogurt with almost no other changes needed.
Health notes
Compared with Yogurt, Sour Cream has: more calories (181 vs 61 per 100g in Yogurt), more fat (14.1g vs 3.3g per 100g in Yogurt), more saturated fat (8.7g vs 2.1g per 100g in Yogurt), more protein (7g vs 3.5g per 100g in Yogurt), and more carbs (7g vs 4.7g per 100g in Yogurt).
Using sour cream as a yogurt substitute in baking
Use 1 cup per 1 cup yogurt in cakes and muffins; crumb turns richer and slightly denser.
Other cooking methods
- Sauteing
1:1; stir in off heat at the very end to keep the sauce smooth and avoid splitting.
- Slow Cook
1:1; fold in near the end of cooking, not during the long simmer.
- Raw Cold
1:1 in dips, dressings, and toppings; closest match to yogurt's tang and body.
Methods to avoid (4)
- Frying
Not recommended: too thick and rich, it breaks and scorches under hot oil.
- Grilling
Not recommended: fine as a cold topping after grilling, not something to cook on the grill.
- Steaming
Not recommended: tends to split under steam heat, better added after cooking.
- Drinks
Not recommended: too thick and rich for smoothies or yogurt drinks.
FAQ
- How much sour cream equals one cup of yogurt with almost no other changes needed?
Use 1 cup sour cream per 1 cup yogurt with almost no other changes needed.
- Can I substitute sour cream for Yogurt in baking?
Yes. Use 1 cup per 1 cup yogurt in cakes and muffins; crumb turns richer and slightly denser. Not recommended: too thick and rich, it breaks and scorches under hot oil.
- How much sour cream to use as a yogurt substitute?
Very close in tang, just a touch richer and heavier.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Sour Cream for Yogurt?
Sour cream keeps a similar flavor profile to yogurt.
- How does texture change when substituting Sour Cream for Yogurt?
Sour cream denser and richer with the same thick cling; slightly heavier in baked crumb.
- What else should I know about substituting Sour Cream for Yogurt?
For dips, baked goods, and cold toppings. Expect a denser crumb and richer mouthfeel since it carries more fat. Skip frying, grilling, and steaming, where it splits or scorches under direct heat. Stir in off heat for sauces and braises to keep things smooth.
- What still works when substituting Sour Cream for Yogurt?
Sour cream still works as a fat, acid, and texture.
- How well does Sour Cream match Yogurt?
Sour cream is good on structure, okay on heat, and good on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Sour Cream for Yogurt?
Sour cream has about x3 more calories, x4 more fat and sat. fat, and x2 more protein.