Make Your Own Crème Fraîche

Crème Fraîche  is a velvet-textured cream with a tarty and nutty flavor. A staple of French Cuisine, Crème Fraîche can be used as an ingredient for sauces, pastry, custard, or as a topping on pie, fruits and soups. 

There are time when your recipe calls for Crème Fraîche and you don't have any in your pantry, or they don't sell it in your local supermarket.  Crème Fraîche is not easily available everywhere and can cost a little too much. Why go over your budget or spoil a nice dessert or dinner, when you can make your own Crème Fraîche in advance.  The thing about making a good tasting Crème Fraîche is always use the thickest, best-quality cream. 


Crème Fraîche Substitute Recipe1

Use 2 cups heavy cream and whisk in 2 tablespoons sour cream. Keep in a glass bowl or jar on the countertop overnight. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before using. Use pasteurized cream, not ultra-pasteurized, if possible. You can also use buttermilk instead of the sour cream. Keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge. 

Crème Fraîche Subsitute Recipe2


You will need 1 cup heavy cream, ¼ cup buttermilk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. If possible, allow the cream and buttermilk to sit out at room temp for an hour or two to take the chill off. Whisk everything together in a glass or ceramic bowl or a mason jar. Cover with plastic wrap, a tea towel, or a lid and let sit about 8 hours in a warm spot. It should look like the consistency of pancake batter and smell fresh and a little sour (like buttermilk). Refrigerate before using to let it finish thickening up. Use within two weeks.