Creme Fraiche Substitute

If you're in need of the best crème fraîche substitute, this will be your go-to guide. Here you'll learn the most effective substitutes for creme fraiche, how to use them, and what recipes each replacement works best in.

Jump to:

• What is crème fraîche?
• What is creme fraiche made out of?
• What is creme fraiche used for?
• What tastes like creme fraiche?
• Creme fraiche vs Sour cream
• Reasons you may need to substitute creme fraiche
• Considerations when replacing creme fraiche
• What is the best creme fraiche substitute?
• 1. Sour Cream
• 2. Full Fat Greek Yogurt
• 3. Buttermilk
• 4. Cottage Cheese
• 5. Cream Cheese
• 6. Ricotta Cheese
• How to use it:
• 7. Mascarpone Cheese
• 8. Mexican Crema
• 9. Coconut Cream
• 10. Vegan Yogurt + Silken Tofu
• Homemade creme fraiche recipe
• Best creme fraiche substitute for baking
• Creme Fraiche Substitute FAQs
• More Substitute Guides
• The BEST Creme Fraiche Substitute

What is crème fraîche?

Crème fraîche, French for "fresh cream," is a type of cultured cream that is common in French cooking. It is often compared to sour cream with its tangy, slightly sour taste and thick, creamy texture. Creme fraiche is commonly used as a topping for savory dishes, but it can also be added to baking recipes. It has a rich texture with around 30% fat content.

What is creme fraiche made out of?

Creme fraiche is made by adding a bacterial culture to heavy cream and allowing it to ferment for several hours. The bacteria thicken the cream and give it a tangy, slightly nutty flavor. The final product is a thick and creamy dairy product that has a fat content of around 30%.

What is creme fraiche used for?

Creme fraiche is a versatile ingredient that has many practical uses in both sweet and savory dishes. In cooking, it can be used for anything from thickening soups to making scrambled eggs taste richer to garnishing savory meals.

For desserts, creme fraiche can be used as a substitute for whipped cream or as a topping for fresh fruit. In baking, creme fraiche elevates the richness and moisture of baked goods like cakes, muffins, and scones. It can also be used as a heavy cream substitute and a mascarpone cheese substitute.

What tastes like creme fraiche?

Sour cream is the closest-tasting sub for creme fraiche. It has a similar, silky consistency and tangy flavor, but sour cream is less rich and more acidic. Plain Greek yogurt is also similar in taste but has a more pronounced tanginess.

Creme fraiche vs Sour cream

If you're wondering can I substitute sour cream for creme fraiche, you might be surprised to learn how similar the two really are. Creme fraiche and sour cream are both cultured dairy products that are made from soured cream. However, creme fraiche is less tangy and has a higher fat content than sour cream. This makes it richer and more indulgent, but also more expensive.

Because of its higher fat content, creme fraiche also has the ability to withstand high temperatures without curdling or separating, making it ideal for stirring into a hot soup or cream-based dinners like stroganoff.

Reasons you may need to substitute creme fraiche

There are several reasons why you may need to substitute creme fraiche. You may run out of it or simply not have access to it in your local grocery stores. You may also need to swap creme fraiche for something else because of dietary restrictions. Creme fraiche is a dairy product made with a good amount of fat, so it may not be suitable for dairy-free, vegan, or low-fat diets.

Considerations when replacing creme fraiche

When replacing creme fraiche, it is important to consider the taste, texture, and fat content of the substitute. You may also need to adjust the amount of the substitute used, as some replacements are either thicker or thinner than creme fraiche. Keep in mind that the flavor of your creme fraiche replacement may also be slightly different, so you may need to adjust seasonings or other ingredients accordingly.

Additionally, remember that if your recipe calls for you to cook the creme fraiche, you may need to adjust the order in which you add your substitute. This is because lower-fat creme fraiche substitutes, like sour cream and Greek yogurt, will curdle when brought to a boil.

If the recipe asks you to stir the creme fraiche into something hot, like a soup, it's best to add the alternate ingredient at the very end of cooking to maintain the texture of your final dish.

What is the best creme fraiche substitute?

The best creme fraiche substitute depends on the recipe you're using as well as your personal preferences. Sour cream and Greek yogurt are the most common substitutes, but there are many other options to choose from.

If you want a higher fat content and a richer taste but don't have creme fraiche substitute mascarpone cheese or cream cheese. If you are looking for a vegan-friendly substitute, coconut cream can work in some recipes. In general, you want to look for a substitute that has a similar thick texture and rich, tangy flavor.

These are the alternatives;

1. Sour cream
2. Full-fat Greek Yogurt
3. Buttermilk
4. Cottage Cheese
5. Cream Cheese
6. Ricotta Cheese
7. Mascarpone Cheese
8. Mexican Crema
9. Coconut Cream
10. Vegan Yogurt + Silken Tofu
11. Homemade Creme Fraiche

1. Sour Cream

Full-fat sour cream is an excellent creme fraiche alternative. Sour cream is the closest substitute in terms of taste and texture, and it's a staple ingredient that you likely already have in your fridge. Sour cream can stand in for creme fraiche in both sweet and savory dishes, but because of its strong sour flavor, you will likely want to tone it down with powdered sugar or another sweetener in dessert recipes.

Avoid low-fat sour cream unless your dietary restrictions call for it, as this variety will be even thinner and contain more water.

How to use it:

Use a 1:1 ratio when using sour cream as an alternative to creme fraiche. This applies to baking recipes as well as garnishes and toppings.

2. Full Fat Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has a tangier flavor than creme fraiche, but it also has a similarly thick texture. At 5%, even full-fat Greek yogurt has a much lower fat content than creme fraiche, so it can be considered a healthy substitute for crème fraiche in both sweet and savory recipes.

How to use it:

Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of creme fraiche. Keep in mind, Greek yogurt is thinner and has much less fat, so the substitution can affect your recipe's final texture.

3. Buttermilk

You can use buttermilk as a substitute for creme fraiche, particularly in baking recipes, e.g., biscuits and breads. It has a similar tangy flavor, and although it isn't very thick, buttermilk does have a creamy texture. Buttermilk is also one of the two ingredients in many diy crème fraiche recipes, including the one at the bottom of this post.

How to use it:

Use ¾ cup of buttermilk in place of 1 cup of creme fraiche. Buttermilk is much thinner than creme fraiche, and using too much can easily alter the texture of your recipe.

4. Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese makes for a good substitute for creme fraiche in some savory dishes. It has a mild taste and needs to be blended to give it the right creamy texture.

This is not an ideal substitute for all dishes because it lacks the richness of creme fraiche, but in a pinch, cottage cheese can work in recipes where creme fraiche is not the star of the dish. Some examples include egg casseroles and baked pasta recipes.

How to use it:

Use an equal amount of cottage cheese in place of creme fraiche and puree it until smooth, using a blender or food processor, before adding it to your recipe.

5. Cream Cheese

When looking to replace creme fraiche cream cheese can be used as a substitute in baking recipes and some savory dishes. It has a fat percentage of at least 33%, which can be higher than creme fraiche. Because of this, cream cheese will also not curdle when cooked at high temperatures.

It has a less tangy flavor, but cream cheese will add a great thickness to your dishes. You should use it in recipes that add creme fraiche as an incorporated ingredient rather than just a topping.

How to use it:

Leave cream cheese out at room temperature until it softens so you can measure and stir it more easily. Because it has a very dense texture, you will have to mix it very well to make sure it fully incorporates into the recipe you're using it in. Use an equal amount of cream cheese in place of creme fraiche.

6. Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese and creme fraiche both have a tangy taste, but creme fraiche wins out on smoothness and richness. Because of its lumpy and slightly grainy texture, ricotta works better as a substitute for creme fraiche in pasta dishes rather than in a silky and creamy sauce. However, you can blend or whip ricotta to better match the texture of creme fraiche.

How to use it:

Puree the ricotta cheese in a food processor or blender until smooth, and use an equal amount in place of creme fraiche.

7. Mascarpone Cheese

Mascarpone is a slightly sweet Italian cheese with a soft and velvety texture. It's the base of popular Italian recipes, e.g., authentic tiramisu. Mascarpone serves as a great creme fraiche substitute in cheesecake and other desserts and has a rich, indulgent flavor. It is also very high in fat, so perfect to provide richness and creaminess.

How to use it:

Use an equal amount of mascarpone cheese in place of creme fraiche, but keep in mind you may end up with a sweeter result than the original recipe intended. You may need to make adjustments to the savory elements of your recipe in order to account for this added sweetness.

8. Mexican Crema

Mexican crema has a silky texture and tangy flavor similar to creme fraiche. However, it is not nearly as thick and should therefore be substituted only in recipes that don't rely on creme fraiche for its thickness. Good examples are soups that use creme fraiche as a topping or drizzle.

How to use it:

You can substitute Mexican crema for creme fraiche at a 1 to 1 ratio. Just remember to only use it in recipes that call on small amounts of creme fraiche as a topping.

9. Coconut Cream

Coconut cream is an easy vegan substitute for creme fraiche. This is a widely available dairy-free option that can be a great replacement for creme fraiche if you're following a plant-based diet. Because of its high-fat content, coconut cream is thick and creamy, but it's important to remember that it carries a unique flavor and should be avoided if you don't like the taste of coconut.

In cooking, you can view coconut cream as an excellent, rich addition to soups and stews. In baking, coconut cream works best in sweeter dessert recipes that might be complemented by the coconut flavor.

How to use it:

To use coconut cream as a substitute, replace creme fraiche at a 1:1 ratio. Be sure to stir the contents of the can together thoroughly before pouring it into your measuring cup. Also, be sure that you are using coconut cream, not coconut milk.

10. Vegan Yogurt + Silken Tofu

Vegan Yogurts, including vegan Greek yogurts, often have a creamy texture and tangy taste, similar to Greek yogurt made with cow's milk. Their bases are made from everything from full-fat coconut milk to soy milk to raw cashews.

This yogurt is another way to make a creme fraiche substitute vegan, particularly if your recipe calls for a dollop or topping of creme fraiche at the end. Vegan yogurts alone can be used as a topping, but when thickening sauces, you'll want to mix them with silken tofu for a rich and thick dairy-free substitute for crème fraîche.

How to use it:

To use vegan yogurt in place of creme fraiche in dips or as a topping, simply swap it in at a 1:1 ratio.

When substituting creme fraiche in a sauce, blend ½ cup of silken tofu and 1-2 tablespoons of vegan Greek yogurt until creamy, scaling as needed. Use this mixture to replace creme fraiche at a 1:1 ratio.

Homemade creme fraiche recipe

If instead of a substitute, you'd like to make your own creme fraiche, you'll be happy to learn that it's very easy to do. All you need are two ingredients and about one day of resting time. This will result in a very affordable, wonderfully silky, and rich-tasting homemade creme fraiche that you can use for your recipes exactly as you would use the store-bought variety.

Ingredients for homemade creme fraiche

1. 1 cup (or 250 grams) of heavy cream
   
2. 2 tablespoons of cultured buttermilk

How to make creme fraiche from scratch

1. Pour the heavy cream and buttermilk into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine.
   
2. Leave the mixture to sit at room temperature for 24 hours to ferment and thicken. Leaving it out past this point will cause your creme fraiche to spoil.
   
3. Store your creme fraiche in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Best creme fraiche substitute for baking

Baking with creme fraiche can add moisture, creaminess, and a subtle tang to your recipes. Making my own homemade creme fraiche is the best substitute for baking because it is simple, convenient, and perfectly rich and creamy.

However, if you're short on time, the easiest substitute for creme fraiche in baking is sour cream. Sour cream has a slightly tangier taste than creme fraiche itself, but it still has a creamy, smooth texture that works well in baking recipes.

For a vegan option, the best creme fraiche substitute in baking recipes is coconut cream. Because of its high fat content, it delivers a similar richness to creme fraiche that can benefit the taste and texture of your plant-based recipes.

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