Homemade Sour Cream Recipe

Sour cream goes great on several cuisines ranging from Mexican to American and a few others as well ... just call it the jack of all trades! You can use it to slather on top of your potato skins or put it in a ramekin and dunk your quesadilla. Any way you enjoy it, the ingredient is a great way to add flavor and give your food a bit of extra pizzaz. Sour cream from the store is good, but using a homemade version can bring your meal to the next level. This homemade sour cream is incredibly fresh.

Recipe developer Susan Olayinka of The Flexible Fridge came up with this easy and delicious recipe that pairs well with anything from tacos to baked potatoes. "There are a few things I love about this recipe! First of all, it is so simple and only requires four ingredients," Olayinka raves. "Secondly, it is a great way to use up leftover heavy cream and milk. And finally, it tastes delicious!"

Gather the ingredients for this homemade sour cream recipe

Making homemade sour cream doesn't require many ingredients. You will just need heavy cream, whole milk, lemon, and salt.

Once you have those items, you can get started.

Add the ingredients to a mason jar

You must take out a mason jar with a lid for this step. Go ahead and add all the ingredients to the jar. This includes heavy cream, whole milk, lemon, and salt. "If you want thinner sour cream, you can add more milk to the recipe. If you want thicker sour cream, add less milk. It's that simple!" Olayinka shares.

"The only special ingredient in this recipe is heavy cream. You could also use whipping cream, but I find that heavy cream works best," Olayinka adds.

Shake the ingredients

Tighten the lid and begin shaking the mason jar until the cream thickens. This shouldn't take more than about two minutes or so. "The only thing to watch out for is making sure the mixture is well combined before letting it sit for 24 hours," Olayinka shares. "If not, the cream may not thicken correctly."

Add a cheesecloth and let the mason jar sit

Use either cheesecloth or kitchen paper and place it over the open mason jar. Make sure you find a cool, dark spot for it and let it sit for at least 24 hours. "I think the key step in this recipe is letting the mixture sit for 24 hours," Olayinka shares. "This allows the cream to thicken and develop a sour cream-like texture."

Remove the cheesecloth and serve

After 24 hours, remove the cheesecloth or paper towel from the top and stir the sour cream mixture. "The mixture is ready when it has thickened to a sour cream-like consistency," Olayinka notes.

You can use this sour cream in any recipe that you usually would. "My favorite way to use this is on top of tacos or enchiladas. It's also great for dipping chips in!" Olayinka raves. Anything left? "This recipe will last in the fridge for up to one week," Olayinka adds.

Homemade Sour Cream Recipe
4.9 (16 ratings)
Learn how to make this homemade sour cream that will come in handy as a topping for tacos, baked potatoes, and enchiladas or as a dip for chips.
Prep Time
2
minutes
Cook Time
0
minutes
Servings
2
cups
homemade sour cream in bowl
Total time: 2 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • ½ lemon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in an airtight mason jar with a lid.
  2. Secure the lid and begin shaking the mason jar until the cream thickens (about 2 minutes).
  3. Get a cheesecloth or kitchen paper and place it over the open mason jar.
  4. Leave for 24 hours in a cool, dark place.
  5. After 24 hours, remove the cheesecloth/kitchen paper and give the mixture a final stir. It would have thickened significantly to a sour cream texture.
  6. Secure the lid back on and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 219
Total Fat 22.7 g
Saturated Fat 14.1 g
Trans Fat 0.0
Cholesterol 83.5 mg
Total Carbohydrates 3.1 g
Dietary Fiber 0.1 g
Total Sugars 2.8 g
Sodium 196.9 mg
Protein 1.9 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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