11 Best Plant Based Sour Creams [2024]

One of the exciting developments in the world of plant-based foods is the variety of delicious alternatives to dairy product. This is especially crucial for families with milk allergies, as well as those who follow a vegan or plant-based lifestyle.

In this blog, I’ll explore the cream of the crop and share with you the Best plant-based sour cream on the market today. These alternatives not only provide the creamy, tangy goodness that traditional sour cream offers, but they also cater to different dietary needs. This makes them ideal for those with milk allergies and vegan families alike.

Sour cream is a versatile and creamy addition to various dishes. It can be dolloped on some nachos, put inside a baked potato, or mixed into a dip with a squeeze of lemon juice. It’s the unique tangy flavor and smooth texture that many families love. So here is the 13 best vegan sour creams out there in both the UK & USA.

For practicality, it’s worth mentioning that a general serving size for an adult is 30g, which is approximately 2 tablespoons.

Violife Just Like Sour Cream

If you follow me on socials, you may already know that I chat a lot about Violife’s dairy-free lineup. Their sour cream is another product that you can find in stores in both the UK and USA. It’s creamy, cool, tangy and a 100% vegan alternative – it’s also free from nuts, soy, gluten, and preservatives! 

Ingredients: 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.

Kcals per serving 60kcals. 

Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Sour Cream

Follow Your Heart, is a brand committed to creating delicious plant-based alternatives, and they have come up with an excellent sour cream. Their product boasts a rich and tangy taste, and it’s also free from soy and gluten. They use a coconut base to make it thicker and lusciously creamy.  

Ingredients: Filtered Water, Coconut Cream, Expeller-Pressed High-Oleic Safflower Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin, Less than 2% of: Natural Flavors, Tapioca Starch, Pectin, Glucono Delta Lactone, Gellan Gum, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Calcium Phosphate, Locust Bean Gum, Lactic Acid, Calcium Lactate, Guar Gum, Sea Salt, Sodium Alginate. Contains: Coconut

Kcals per serving: 90kcals 

OMV! Deliciously Vegan No Sour Cream & Chive

If you fancy an alternative to regular sour cream then OMV has the answer. With a little extra kick of chives, this sour cream is amazing and a great and tasty option for the whole family. It’s quite thick, with a mayonnaise-like texture, making it perfect for dipping a carrot or cucumber stick for your little ones. You can purchase this sour cream in many UK supermarkets and online making it a quick go-to option. 

Ingredients: Water, Rapeseed Oil, Cornflour, White Onions (4%), Chives (3%), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Potato Starch, Pea Protein, Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Salt, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)

Kcals per serving 75kcals. 

Only! Plant Based Vegan Sour Cream

This cool new kid on the block is made in Northern Ireland! It’s luxuriously thick and creamy and provides a cooling freshness. It’s also free from Wheat, Gluten and Dairy and all Only! sauces are also non-GMO. Plus you can purchase Only! Plant Based sour cream in 325ml squeezy tubes or 1.14l screw top jar which means you never need to run out!  

Ingredients; Water, Rapeseed Oil (30%), Modified Waxy Maize Starch, White Wine Vinegar, Lemon Concentrate, Sugar, Stabiliser: Xanthan Gum, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate, Salt, Sour Cream Flavouring, Colour: Carotene, Antioxidant: Calcium Disodium EDTA . Allergens in Bold.

Kcals per serving: 87kcals

American Plant-Based Sour Creams

Let’s get onto the Vegan sour cream brands that we can find in the US. 

Tofutti – Better than Sour Cream

Tofutti’s ‘Better Than Sour Cream’ definitely lives up to its name in terms of taste and texture. This non-dairy sour cream is made from soya protein and you guessed it tofu, making it a little different. The downside? It doesn’t specify if the palm oil used is sustainable, so if that’s a deal-breaker for you, take note. This product is also Gluten Free, Halal & Vegan 

Ingredients: Water, Palm Oil, Maltodextrin, NON-GMO (Soy Protein, Tofu), Non-Dairy Lactic Acid, Sugar, Locust Bean, Guar and Xanthan Gums, Salt.

Kcals per serving – 70kcals

Forager Project – Dairy-Free Sour Cream

If you’re in the market for an organic, dairy-free alternative, Forager Project’s Sour Cream is your go-to. Crafted from a blend of coconut and cashew milk, this sour cream alternative offers a unique flavor that stands out. It contains organic ingredients and live active cultures, giving you some beneficial bacteria to your gut. The ingredients of organic corn and tapioca starches add to the smooth texture, plus it is soya and gluten free. 

Ingredients: Coconut & Cashewmilk (Filtered Water, Coconut Cream*, Cashews*), Starch Blend* (Corn* Tapioca*), Locust Bean Gum, Sea Salt, Distilled Vinegar*, Pectin, Lactic Acid, Agar, Live Active Cultures (S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Lactis, L. Plantarum).

Kcals per serving: 35kcals

Kite Hill Sour Cream

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Kite Hill takes the plant-based game to a whole new level with its vegan sour cream. Not only is it free from soy and gluten, but it also comes with the assurance of being non-GMO, free from artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors, and it’s kosher.  With a base of almond milk and coconut milk, this sour cream alternative offers a rich, creamy texture. Adding in chickpea protein also gives it that extra nutritional boost.

Ingredients: Almond Milk (Water, Almonds), Coconut Oil, Rice Starch, Coconut Milk, Maltodextrin, Chickpea Protein, Salt, Cultures.

Kcals per serving: 40kcals 

Trader Joe’s Sour Cream

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Trader Joe’s is a well-known grocery store that many of us turn to for quality, affordable options, and their Vegan Sour Cream is no exception. If you’re searching for a straightforward, no-fuss vegan substitute for your sour cream needs, this product checks all the boxes. Its coconut oil base offers a creamy, rich texture that we know of sour cream.

Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Modified Food Starch (Modified Corn Starch, Modified Potato Starch), Natural Flavors, Distilled White Vinegar, Salt, Carob Bean Gum, Lactic Acid, Beta Carotene (for color).

Kcals per serving: 60kcals

Plant Perks

Advertised as a super-clean plant-based sour cream i think this one is my favourite. This product comes from an all-female family-based brand that strives to work with companies that have the ‘best reputations!’. Their products use fairtrade cashews grown on family-run farms and their plant-based sour cream contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives!

This product is…wait for it; Certified Organic, Certified Non-GMO, and Certified-Kosher – as well as Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Keto, Paleo and Probiotic-Rich (deep breathe). Another key point I found that wasn’t always clear from other products was that their containers and shipping materials are fully recyclable! Five stars from me.

Ingredient: filtered water, cashews, sea salt, ascorbic acid, tocopherols (vitamin E) and cultures. 

Kcals per serving: 70kcals

Wild Creamery Sour Cream Alternative

Now this plant-based sour cream is an award-winner! It was crowned best plant-based condiment at the Nexty awards making it a great vegan sour cream alternative. Its base is coconut and cashew and it is delicious added to a baked potato.

Ingredients: Water, sunflower oil, coconut oil, cashews, tapioca flour; Contains 2% or less of: oats, chickpeas, sea salt, cabbage, lactobacillus cultures, cultured dextrose. 

Kcals per serving: 110kcals

WayFare plant-based sour cream

Navigating the world of dairy-free alternatives can be challenging when nut allergies are involved, which is why Wayfair’s Plant-Based Sour Cream is a great option.

It has a unique base of butter beans and oats which give it a distinct flavor and texture. It is also nut, gluten and soy free.

An added bonus? It contains added calcium, a rare find in dairy-free substitutes. This makes it a nutritionally sound choice for you and your family.

INGREDIENTS: WayFare Dairy Free Base (Water, Butter Beans, Oats), Coconut Oil, Natural Flavor, Gum Arabic, Konjac Root Powder, Calcium Citrate, Sea Salt, Lactic Acid Bacteria, Citric Acid.

Kcals per serving – 40kcals

*A general serving size for an adult is 30g, which is approximately 2 tablespoons*

Homemade Plant-based Sour Cream

If you enjoy a more hands-on approach in the kitchen, crafting your own plant-based sour cream is not only a rewarding experience, but it’s also surprisingly straightforward.

What makes it a great option is the use of simple ingredients, many of which you might already have in your pantry.

The foundation of most homemade vegan sour cream recipes consists of ingredients like cashews, silken tofu, or coconut cream. These serve as your creamy base. To this, you can add a tangy twist by incorporating lime or lemon juice. A dash of apple cider vinegar brings a bit of depth to the flavor and if you like you can add a little pinch of salt. 

What’s particularly nice about taking the DIY route is that it allows you complete control over the final product. Whether you prefer a thicker consistency or a zingier flavor, you can tweak the proportions to fit your preferences perfectly.

Personally, one of my go-to recipes for vegan sour cream comes from Veggies Don’t Bite. What sets this recipe apart for me is the flavor it bring. To whip up this dairy alternative all you need is a high-speed blender or food processor. In just a few simple steps, you’ll have a vegan sour cream substitute that tastes like the real thing. It will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days and still taste as fresh as when you made it. 

Here’s the link to guide you: Veggies Don’t Bite Vegan Sour Cream.

By making your own vegan sour cream, you’re not only treating yourself to a product that’s free from additives and preservatives, but you’re also creating a condiment that’s fully aligned with your specific dietary needs, free from animal products and also fits your taste preferences.

How to Enjoy Plant-based Sour Cream… 

Our family has enjoyed many of these plant-based sour cream substitutes with our meals and yes some taste better than others. 

Let’s be honest, chili, tacos, nachos, and baked potatoes just aren’t the same without a cool, creamy dollop of sour cream… but now, you can enjoy a dollop without the dairy! Your little one can also enjoy a dairy-free substitute to add to their milk free diet. Try using it as a dip, mixing it into mashed veggies or serving on the side with some pasta. 

Babies can start to try plant-based sour cream from 12 months. Just double-check the table above to make sure that it is free from any potential allergens you may be avoiding and also always read the labels as the manufacturers can change them on occasion. 

Dream of Sour Cream

The rising popularity of plant-based diets has led to a variety of high-quality vegan alternatives to traditional sour cream. Whether you opt for established brands or choose to make your own from simple ingredients, you’re covered. These tangy vegan options are perfect for adding that special touch to your favorite recipes.

For added convenience, I’ve included affiliate links to some of my top picks. So go ahead, and add a dollop of creamy, tangy goodness to your favorite dishes without any compromise.

Hannah Whittaker RD, PGDip

Expert Pregnancy & Paediatric Dietitian at Bump2baby Nutrition LTD | info@bump2babynutrition.com | Website | + posts

Hannah is an Expert Registered Dietitian specialising in Vegan Family Nutrition and Cows Milk Protein Allergy. 

She is a respected figure in the field of nutrition and a captivating speaker and sought after media spokesperson being featured in esteemed publications including the Sunday Times, Independent and Huffington Post.

Credentials

• Registered Dietitian
• First Class Degree in Nutrition

Experience

• Over 15 years experience working in the field of nutrition
• Respected Media Spokesperson both in the UK & USA; quoted online, TV and in local and international news
• Writer & Researcher, supporting the BDA and PEN Nutrition

 

 

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