How to Substitute Sour Cream for Milk When Making Frosting

Sour cream will give your recipe a creamy texture.

It happens. You're in the middle of baking up a big treat and you run out of one of the ingredients. Substituting similar ingredients is possible when it comes to making frosting. You can follow all of the same steps in making the frosting even if you are lacking milk but just happen to have sour cream in your fridge. You just need to add in the simple substitution process. The sour cream will blend into the flavor of the frosting without notice. Sour cream is an especially good substitute for buttermilk and whole milk.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cup
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Other ingredients required of your particular frosting recipe

Instructions

1. Measure and add the same amount of sour cream as you would milk. Use a measuring cup to add an accurate amount of sour cream to your recipe.

2. Adjust the amount of butter or shortening that may be in your recipe according to the texture or thickness of the sour cream. Lower the amount of butter or shortening by 1/3 if you are working with a light sour cream. Lower the amount of butter or shortening by 1/2 if you are working with a heavy sour cream.

3. Reduce baking soda, if any, by 1/2 teaspoon when substituting sour cream for milk. .

4. Mix together the sour cream, butter or shortening, baking soda and all other ingredients in your frosting recipe in a mixing bowl with a mixing spoon.

References

• Recipe Curio: Cook and Bake with Sour Cream -- Vintage Recipe Article
• Baking 911: The Pantry Dairy Products
• Recipe Goldmine: Kitchen Charts - Substitutes for Dairy Products