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Crème fraîche can make your dip recipes delectable and your creamy soup recipes impossibly rich. But what happens if a recipe calls for crème fraîche and you don't have any? No worries! Though crème fraîche has a unique flavor of its own, it can be easily replicated with a few other dairy products—so read on for the best crème fraîche substitutes!
Crème fraîche, a thick cultured cream, is of French origin and means “fresh cream” in French. You can usually find it in small tubs in the dairy aisle of the grocery store, close to where you would find sour cream and cream cheese. It tastes a lot like sour cream, but it's usually sold in much smaller tubs. Crème fraîche is extra creamy and rich and has a lower water content and a higher fat content than sour cream. Crème fraîche is most commonly added to soups and sauces to make them thick and creamy, spread on scones or biscuits, stirred into scrambled eggs to make them extra rich, or whipped with sugar as a dessert topping. It's worth adding to your grocery list, but if you need a good crème fraîche swap in a pinch, check out these simple replacements.
1
Crème Fraîche Substitute: Sour Cream
Sour cream is the most common substitute for crème fraîche, since both have a slightly sour taste and are cultured. You can substitute an equal amount of sour cream for crème fraîche in just about any type of recipe.
2
Crème Fraîche Substitute: Mexican Crema
Mexican crema has a similar tangy taste to crème fraîche, but has a much thinner consistency and a slightly sweeter flavor. It works best when you need a small amount of crème fraîche, like a dollop in eggs or a drizzle over a soup.
3
Crème Fraîche Substitute: Full-Fat Greek Yogurt
Tangy full-fat Greek yogurt is a great substitute for crème fraîche in a pinch. Though it isn't as high in fat, it will provide a similar creamy texture and can be subbed at a 1:1 ratio. It works in both sweet and savory recipes.
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4
Crème Fraîche Substitute: Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is tangy and creamy like crème fraîche, but it's much denser. If you're using it in a dip, you'll need to thin it out with milk or another creamy dairy product. Cream cheese can't be drizzled or dolloped either, so it won't work well as a topping. You can use it in small amounts in sauces or soups though—just be sure to mix it in well so it melts.
5
Crème Fraîche Substitute: DIY Crème Fraîche (Buttermilk + Heavy Cream)
If you're out of crème fraîche and you're feeling extra ambitious, try making your own! It's actually super easy—it just takes a little extra time for the final result.
To make: Combine 2 cups of heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of buttermilk in a large glass jar. Partially cover the container and let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 24 hours until it reaches your desired thickness. The longer it sits, the thicker it will get (just don't let it sit out longer than 24 hours or it'll spoil!). Use right away or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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