Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (2024)

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This Vegan Sour Cream Recipe requires just 5 ingredients and it turns out rich, tangy and creamy!

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (1)

I'm so excited to share this Vegan Sour Cream Recipe with you guys! It's heavenly! Plus, it's so darn easy to make and it should be in everyone's fridge.

Along with Vegan Cheddar Cheese and Almond Cream Cheese. All non-dairy, all delicious!

I started making my own sour cream because the store-bought varieties are lacking tang that the dairy variety has. The consistency is great for most of them, but they need to work on the flavor part.

I have a feeling that we'll see better versions in the near future though. The vegan community is growing fast and many companies are paying attention. It's a great time to be vegan!!

Table of Contents

WHAT IS VEGAN SOUR CREAM MADE OF?

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (2)

Believe it or not, it takes just 5 ingredients to make the creamiest and tangiest sour cream. Here's what you'll need: (*full amounts in recipe card below)

Raw Cashews
Unsweetened Non-Dairy Yogurt
Lemon Juice
Apple Cider Vinegar
Salt

ADD-INS AND SUBSTITUTES:

If you have lactic acid, you can use that in replace of the lemon juice. It adds a similar tangy flavor that cultured cheese has. I usually add 1 ¼ teaspoons. You may need to add a few teaspoons of water or non-dairy milk to make up the liquid portion of the lemon juice. Blend first and then decide.

If you'd like to add an extra hint of flavor to your vegan sour cream, adding granulated onion will do the trick. You only need a pinch.

WHICH BRAND OF NON-DAIRY YOGURT SHOULD YOU USE?

I prefer unsweetened So Delicious yogurt for its color, flavor, and thickness, but there are many brands that will work well too. Kite Hill is another nice option.

If you can't find unsweetened non-dairy yogurt, you can use plain. Look for one that has the least amount of sugar to avoid a slightly sweet taste. Some non-dairy yogurt brands have an off-white color, which will make your sour cream slightly off-white. It won't affect the tastiness though.

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (3)

HOW DO YOU MAKE VEGAN SOUR CREAM?

The method is SO easy, just add all the ingredients to your high-powered blender. Then blend on high until creamy and smooth.

Now taste to see if it needs more lemon, salt or vinegar and add if needed. The consistency will be soft, butit will significantly firm up in the fridge.

Pour into an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 hours to firm it up. Give it a good stir after chilling.

Tips:

1 - If you're unsure how salty or tangy you want the sour cream to be, it's best to use less lemon, vinegar and salt to start. You can always taste and add more after blending.

2 - I get a perfect consistency every time with the listed ingredient amounts. However, If you feel your sour cream is too thick, you can add a few teaspoons of unsweetened non-dairy milk, yogurt or water to thin it out. Add more as needed but only a small amount at a time to avoid a runny consistency.

3 - The cashews must soak for a minimum of 6 hours or they will produce gritty results

4 - If you don't have a high-speed blender, the consistency may not get smooth enough. You can try soaking longer to make the cashews really soft.

5 - I like to use Whole Cashews rather than pieces. The whole pieces are usually the best quality and fresh tasting. If the cashews are lower quality, they tend to leave an aftertaste in the sour cream. It shouldn't taste heavily like cashews.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

It stays fresh for about 4-5 days in the fridge, but I never make it that long. It disappears fast!

CAN I FREEZE IT?

Yes, it freezes well for 4-5 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight. You may need to stir in a little water, non-dairy yogurt or milk to thin it out.

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (4)

WHAT CAN I USE VEGAN SOUR CREAM FOR?

You can use it to amp up:
- Dressings
- Sauces
- Dips
- Soups
- Baked goods
- Ice cream
- Pancakes

Dollop it onVegan Quesadillas, Baked Potatoes, Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos, Rice, Tomato Spinach Pasta, casseroles, Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili, and so much more!

Enjoy!

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (5)

I’d love to hear from you

If you make this Vegan Sour Cream Recipe, let me know what you think by★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me onInstagramand share your creation with me. Just tag me@veganhuggsand hashtag#veganhuggsso I don’t miss it.

📖 Recipe

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5 from 91 votes

5-Ingredient Vegan Sour Cream

This Vegan Sour Cream Recipe requires just 5 ingredients and it turns out rich, tangy and creamy!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Condiment, Spread

Cuisine: Oil-free, Vegan

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 76kcal

Author: Melissa Huggins

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup raw cashews , soaked in water for 6 hours
  • ½ cup non-dairy yogurt unsweetened (sub plain)
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (I usually add 2)
  • ¾ teaspoon apple cider vinegar , more to taste
  • ½- ¾ teaspoon sea salt , more to taste (I usually add ¾ tsp)

Instructions

  • Drain and rinse the cashews. Discard soaking water.

  • Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender (starting with the yogurt and lemon juice). Blend on high until creamy and smooth. This could take a few minutes. Scrape down sides as needed. Taste to see if it needs more lemon, salt or vinegar.

  • Pour into an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 hours to firm it up. It will keep about 4-5 days.

Notes

  • If you're unsure how salty or tangy you want the sour cream to be, it's best to use less lemon, vinegar and salt to start. You can always taste and add more after blending.
  • I get a perfect consistency every time with the listed ingredient amounts. However, If you feel your sour cream is too thick, you can add a few teaspoons of unsweetened non-dairy milk, yogurt or water to thin it out. Add more as needed but only a small amount at a time to avoid a runny consistency.
  • If you don't have a high-speed blender, the sour cream may not get smooth enough.
  • I prefer to use my high-powered blender over a food processor for this recipe because It yields smoother results.
  • Some non-dairy yogurt brands have an off-white color, which will make your sour cream slightly off-white. It won't affect the tastiness though. I prefer So Delicious for its color and thickness.* If you can't find unsweetened non-dairy yogurt, you can use plain. Look for one that has the least amount of sugar to avoid a slight sweet taste.
  • I leave the cashews in the fridge while they are soaking.
  • Prep time doesn't include soaking time.
  • Yields about 1 cup.
  • If you have lactic acid, you can use that in replace of the lemon juice. It adds a similar tangy flavor that cultured cheese has. I usually add 1 ¼ teaspoons. You may need to add a few teaspoons of water or non-dairy milk to make up the liquid portion of the lemon juice. Blend first and then decide.
  • The cashews must soak for a minimum of 6 hours or they will produce gritty results.
  • For an extra hint of flavor, add ⅛ teaspoon granulated onion.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 79mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegan alternative to sour cream? ›

Cashews — You didn't read that wrong: Cashews — specifically cashew cream — make a great substitute for sour cream. Cashews are very mild in flavor and also have a higher fat content, making them a great non-dairy alternative.

What is vegan sour cream made of? ›

Vegan Sour Cream Tips

This dairy-free sauce is made with rich and creamy raw cashews, water, tangy lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, salt, and a dab of Dijon mustard for additional complexity and intrigue. This sour cream is easy to make in a blender.

How long is vegan sour cream good for? ›

This tangy vegan sour cream is perfect for spooning onto chili, baked potatoes, nachos, and so much more! Made with only 4 ingredients and ready to go in 5 minutes. This dairy-free sour cream substitute keeps in the fridge for up to a week.

How to make sour cream at home in 5 minutes? ›

Instructions. Place 1 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or distilled white vinegar in a clean 1 pint glass jar and stir with a clean spoon until combined. Cover with a paper towel or cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band.

How do you mimic sour cream? ›

Cottage Cheese

It's also perfect as a sour cream substitute with quite a bit less fat than the original. To get a similar consistency and taste to sour cream, add ¼ cup milk and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to 1 cup of small curd cottage cheese.

Can you buy vegan sour cream? ›

GreenVie's Sour Cream is a delicious vegan alternative that is free from the 14 main allergens. With its creamy texture and ideal thickness, it makes a wonderful addition to many recipes. This sour cream substitute is made from coconut oil and is free from palm oil and preservatives.

What is a dairy-free version of sour cream? ›

Sour cream is a dairy product made from cream fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Alternatives may include plain yogurt or cottage cheese, and dairy-free alternatives can include soya cream or soaked, blended cashews. Some people may want to substitute sour cream for an alternative.

Is Worcestershire vegan? ›

The only issue is that regular Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies or fish sauce, so it's not vegan. And while you can buy ready made vegan Worcestershire sauce, it's not necessarily all that widely available across the world. Which is why making your own is a great idea.

What's natural sour cream? ›

Smith's All Natural Sour Cream is made from fresh wholesome milk, without added flavors or preservatives, to be purely delicious on any dish. CULTURED MILK AND CREAM.

What are the ingredients in Violife sour cream? ›

Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Food Starch-Modified (Potato, Tapioca), Salt (Sea Salt), Citrus Fibers, Glucono Delta-Lactone, Lactic Acid, Dextrose, Dried Banana Powder, Flavor (vegan sources), Olive Extract, Beta Carotene (color), Vitamin B12.

Is Greek yogurt vegan? ›

Greek yogurt is an animal-derived food. While it's perfectly acceptable on a vegetarian diet, dairy is definitely not part of a vegan diet. Luckily, there are dairy-free alternatives to Greek yogurt, including store-bought and homemade varieties like almond milk yogurt, cashew yogurt, and coconut yogurt.

How to make your own sour cream? ›

Whisk together one cup of cream and one teaspoon of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice in a clean mason jar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then add ¼ cup of whole milk. Stir well to combine. Cover the jar with a lid or cheesecloth secured with a rubber band, and let it sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours.

Can you freeze sour cream? ›

You absolutely can freeze sour cream. As with any food, freezing will stop the growth of microorganisms indefinitely, keeping it safe until you thaw it for reuse. The caveat is that like other dairy products, sour cream will lose some of its thickness and smooth, creamy texture once it's frozen and thawed.

What do vegans use instead of cream? ›

Soy milk and olive oil

For a vegan dairy-free alternative to heavy cream, try mixing soy milk with olive oil. Much like the pairing of milk and butter, olive oil adds fat to the soy milk for a flavor and function comparable to heavy cream.

What can I substitute for yogurt sour cream? ›

In most cases, plain yogurt or Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream—and vice versa. Sour cream will give you a similar texture and tanginess, and swapping sour cream for yogurt is a simple 1-to-1 ratio.

What is a non-dairy substitute for cream cheese? ›

Blend together one cup of thick coconut cream and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Next, add a pinch of salt and two teaspoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy tang. Chill the mixture to firm it up, and you'll have a terrific dairy-free cream cheese substitute.

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