Creme fraiche is a French dairy product with a tangy, nutty and sour flavour. The cream used has been soured by using a small amount of lactic acid bacteria which is then left at room temperature.
It is perfect to use as a thickener for soups, as a dip, served with eggs, cake frosting or even in a salad dressing. However, unfortunately, it is produced using animal-derived products. So what vegan substitutes for creme fraiche are there?
Our 5 Vegan Substitutes for Creme Fraiche
The following ingredients are ideal to use as a vegan alternative to creme fraiche. Each of these substitutes has the same taste profile and texture:
1) Full Fat Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is a great vegan substitute for creme fraiche, and it has a similar fat content to creme fraiche and, therefore, will provide you with comparable consistency.
Coconut cream is quite a potent flavour, so do not use too much or overpower the recipe.
Slightly Different Flavour
For obvious reasons, coconut cream will have a coconut flavour. Therefore, consider this when using it as a creme fraiche substitute. If you’re happy with a hint of coconut then crack on!
2) Homemade Vegan Creme Fraiche
It is straightforward to whip up a batch of your own vegan substitute recipe of creme fraiche.
All you need is a vegan cream cheese substitute, ½ a teaspoon of lemon juice and 1½ tablespoons of almond milk. Blend all the ingredients together until you achieve the correct consistency. You can add a dash of sweetener if you desire a sweeter flavour.
This is a Direct Swap
This vegan creme fraiche can be used directly in place of creme fraiche in any recipe using the exact same quantities.
3) Cashews, Coconut Yoghurt and Vinegar
It may sound odd, even disgusting, but these three ingredients mixed together will give you the same consistency and similar taste as creme fraiche. It is really easy to make by following these easy steps:
- Soak Cashews
Soak 100g cashew nuts overnight and then drain. - Blend
Blend the cashew nuts, 80g coconut milk yoghurt, 3 tablespoons apple cider or white wine vinegar with a pinch of salt - Stop at Desired Consistency
Blend for a maximum of two minutes until you achieve the required consistency - Chill
Place in the refrigerator for one hour to allow to thicken - Sweeten
Optionally, use agave to sweeten to desired taste
This alternative will go well poured over tacos, nachos, jacket potatoes and buddha bowls. The great thing is it is so much healthier than the traditional dairy version.
You would never guess it is vegan as it tastes just like the real deal!
If you have a nut allergy, you can replace cashew nuts with hemp or sunflower seeds.
Use to Make Vegan Cheesecake
This delicious vegan substitute for creme fraiche works wonders as a cheesecake topping. Feel free to add flavourings to the mix too such as lime zest, maple syrup or grated nutmeg.
4) Silken Tofu
Silken tofu can be used to substitute creme fraiche when mixed with soy yoghurt, and it will give you the same consistency and flavour. Add 1 cup of silken tofu to 1 cup of soy yoghurt and place into a food processor and blend until you have achieved the desired consistency.
Spike with Flavourings
Don’t limit yourself to plain creme fraiche sauce. Spike it with flavours such as dried chilli, ground coriander, paprika, crushed caraway seeds or sumac.
5) Soy-Based Sour Cream
Soy-based creams are another great vegan substitute for creme fraiche. The consistency of soy-based sour cream will be very similar to creme fraiche.
Beware of the Risk of Splitting
It would be best used as a topping and not as an ingredient in soup due to the risk of the cream separating or curdling when heated.
Other Vegan Substitutes for Creme Fraiche
The above 5 vegan substitutes for creme fraiche work the best. However, that isn’t an exhaustive list. At a pinch, you could also try using the following:
- Oatly! Creamy Oat Fraiche – This is a substitute for creme fraiche that you can easily purchase from any supermarket or health food store. This is a Swedish product made from oats. It is rich and creamy and ideal for recipes that require creme fraiche. It won’t curdle or break when heated, and you won’t be able to taste the difference.
- Almonds – Soak 1 cup of almonds in water overnight and ensure the skins have been removed. Drain the almonds and place them into the blender along with one tablespoon of lime juice, 1/4 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and voila vegan creme fraiche. Store in the refrigerator for seven days.
Summary
There are so many substitutes that a vegan can use to still enjoy the rich, creamy wholesome goodness of creme fraiche. Your body will thank you for substituting traditional creme fraiche as the alternatives above are healthier and lower in fat.
When considering the range of vegan substitutes for creme fraiche, we would opt for full fat coconut cream or homemade vegan creme fraiche above all else.