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Try this simple homemade sour cream recipe! With just 2 ingredients, you can create rich, tangy sour cream that’s better than anything you’ll find at the grocery store. It’s kitchen magic!
Did you know you can make DIY sour cream at home with just 2 ingredients? Experience the magic of fermentation right in your own kitchen! It’s a bit of a kitchen experiment that results in extremely delicious sour cream: much tastier than store bought.
Whether you’re out of sour cream or just want to try a fun experiment, it’s 100% worth making! Why make it at home?
- Creates richer, fresher flavor than store-bought versions
- Uses only natural ingredients with no preservatives
- Perfect way to use leftover heavy cream or buttermilk
- Fun kitchen science experiment!
The science behind homemade sour cream
The transformation from liquid cream to thick, tangy sour cream happens through the process of fermentation. When buttermilk’s natural lactic acid bacteria comes in contact with heavy cream at room temperature, it starts a controlled fermentation process. This natural reaction thickens the cream while developing that signature tangy flavor we love in sour cream.
Key tips for success
It’s like magic to watch sour cream thicken right before your eyes! Of course, you won’t need to watch it for the entire time. All you need is 24 hours and a warm place, and you can make your own. Go to the recipe for detailed instructions. Here are a few tips:
- Use heavy cream with 18-20% fat content for optimal results
- Choose fresh buttermilk containing active cultures
- Keep your container clean to ensure proper fermentation
- Store in a warm, draft-free spot during the fermentation period
- Refrigerate after thickening to maintain freshness
Ways to use sour cream
There are many ways to use it once you’ve made it! Here are a few of our favorite sour cream recipes and ways to use this tasty cream:
- Use it to dollop vegetarian chili, healthy chili or Instant Pot chili.
- Add to a baked potato or baked sweet potato
- Stir it into cucumber salad with sour cream.
- Dollop soup recipes like lentil soup, tortilla soup, or loaded potato soup
- Use it in sour cream pancakes
- Stir it into dill pickle dip or vegetarian buffalo dip
- Use it on chicken tacos or as a filling for wild rice casserole
Dietary notes
This homemade sour cream recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Some sources claim that you can make homemade sour cream with milk mixed with lemon juice, instead of buttermilk. Milk mixed with lemon juice is a common substitute for buttermilk in recipes.
But when we tested this method, it didn’t work! The milk didn’t thicken the cream at all. Buttermilk is important because it has the bacteria you need and it works every time!
When properly refrigerated, homemade sour cream stays fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Yes! Just maintain the same ratio of ingredients for consistent results.
Yes, when following this specific recipe. The fermentation process creates an environment that prevents harmful bacteria growth.
Give it an additional 12-24 hours in a slightly warmer location, ensuring the temperature stays between 70-75°F.
Homemade Sour Cream Recipe
Here’s how to make sour cream at home! All you need is 2 ingredients and 24 hours to wait for the cream to thicken. It’s kitchen magic!
- Prep Time: 24 hour
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in a covered container, and let them sit in a warm area for 24 hours. The lactic acid bacteria in the buttermilk ferments the cream, causing it to thicken.
- Uncover and stir. Place the mixture in the refrigerator; it stores for up to 2 weeks.
More kitchen DIYs!
Love making things yourself in the kitchen? Here are some more fun kitchen experiments:
- Easy Homemade Bread Make your own bread: our easiest bread recipe!
- Sourdough Bread Ferment your own sourdough starter and use it to make the best bread.
- Homemade Nut Butter Make nut butter using any kind of nuts.
- Quick Refrigerator Dill Pickles Make your own pickles!
- How to Make Sauerkraut Here’s how to ferment your own sauerkraut!
I bought a quart of heavy whipping cream and left it in my car before Christmas 21. It is still unopened but the expiration date was December 21. Can I make sourcream out of it with kefir?
I’m sorry, I’m not sure on this one!
Hi,
Do I need to seal the jar with a closed lid when I’m fermenting or should I put a breathable cloth over it?
Both will work!
Can you use this sour cream in a recipe that needs to be baked?
I don’t think we’ve tested it, but it should work as a full sub for any recipe that calls for sour cream.