The best vegan sour cream has one job: tasting like sour cream. We try (and love) a lot of vegan alternatives to non-vegan foods here at Sporked, and we’re always going to be honest with you about what products are worth buying. And the truth is, the best vegan sour cream substitute is still pretty hard to come by. Even after two separate taste tests, we have to admit that brands just haven’t yet cracked the code to making delicious dairy free sour cream.
If you are desperate for a vegan alternative to sour cream, these are six options we found that may work for you. There are lots of great uses for them and we think they would totally satisfy a vegan palate. We do, however, want to encourage plant-based brands to keep working on their sour cream alternatives because sour cream is so delicious—and we definitely think they can do better.
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- Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Sour Cream
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I love Follow Your Heart products in general. They make our favorite vegan mayo and our favorite vegan cheese.. While their sour cream isn’t the best vegan sour cream we tried, it’s still a great choice if you’re someone who exclusively uses plant-based products. It’s creamy, and the tang is strong. I found it a little overpowering, but I think others might find it interesting. However, if you don’t like it, don’t write off Follow Your Heart products forever. A lot of their products are top-tier. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Elmhurst Dairy-Free Sour Cream
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Elmhurst vegan sour cream substitute has a nicely whipped texture, light tang, and strong vanilla-like flavor that may actually appeal to some palates. Because of that unmistakable vanilla flavor (there isn’t actually vanilla in this stuff, but coconut oil might be the culprit), this would be the best vegan sour cream to use in dairy-free desserts like cheesecake or old-fashioned donuts. I could totally see this working well in sweet potato casserole and any other sweet-savory dishes that call for dairy-free sour cream. This does come at a higher price point than other options, though, which is why it’s lower on the list. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Violife Just Like Sour Cream Vegan Alternative
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Violife’s vegan sour cream definitely leans a little too close to cream cheese in texture and flavor. It’s quite tangy and salty—possibly too salty for some, but I really think this could do wonders topping a loaded baked potato. It does have that signature sour cream tartness, so if you can do without the classically whipped, airy consistency, Violife’s vegan alternative to sour cream is not a bad option! —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Only Plant Based! Vegan Sour Cream
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Like Violife, Trader Joe’s Vegan Sour Cream Alternative smells like sour cream, but has a texture more like cream cheese. It’s very thick. So while I don’t know if I’d put it on top of enchiladas, I do think that it could be excellent for cooking. Buffalo jackfruit dip, potato pancakes with apple-chive sour cream, mushroom stroganoff—the options are literally endless. Plus, it’s cheap, so it’s great if you’re feeding a dairy-free family. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Kite Hill Sour Cream Alternative
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Don’t let its slightly grayish color scare you! Kite Hill Sour Cream Alternative has the best vegan sour cream texture we’ve tried by a long shot. It’s made from almond and coconut and it has the slightest coconut-y finish. It’s tangy just like dairy-based sour cream. It’s on the pricier side but it gets pretty close to the real deal, and Kite Hill products are readily available nationwide. Now, all you need is some vegan cheddar and you’re set for the best plant-based baked potato of your life. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Only Plant Based! Vegan Sour Cream
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Thank you, vegan sour cream gods, for allowing me to stumble across Only Plant Based’s Vegan Sour Cream on Amazon. This stuff gets so close to the real deal. It’s creamy, light, and airy; a lovely consistency for sour cream. It’s not a perfect match, but there isn’t any weird, off-putting, too-sweet or too-salty flavor mishaps going on here. It’s the best vegan sour cream I’ve tasted to date. The only issue that relegates it to “runner up” status is the $15 Amazon price tag. You may be able to find this somewhere else for cheaper, though, so definitely keep your eyes peeled! And if you see it, buy it. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Sprouts Plant Based Sour Cream Alternative
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I was shocked that a store brand vegan sour cream took our top spot, but Sprouts knows what’s up. This vegan sour cream is as close to the real deal as we could find, and it’s super affordable compared to many pricey vegan brands. The taste is mild and the texture is nice and thick. Plus, there was no weird layer of water on top (a lot of vegan and non-vegan sour cream tends to develop a pool of liquid). This would be great for making creamy onion dip or topping crunchy soyrizo tacos. This is a very solid option, and it’s the best vegan sour cream we’ve tried so far. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Allergen-Free
Best for Desserts
Best for Salt Lovers
Best Budget
Best Splurge
Runner Up
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: Forager, Tofutti, Simple Truth
Plain unsweetened Forager or Kite Hill yogurt is just as good as their sour cream, there is little difference besides the size of the container and of course the price!