Sour Cream Noodle Bake Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is the use of sour cream in baking? ›

Sour cream is one of the fattiest dairy products; the extra fat content (for example, adding sour cream to a cake instead of milk) will make the cake moister and richer, says Wilk. "Fat, in any form (butter, lard, cream, etc.) shortens gluten strands, which essentially leads to the most tender baked goods," she adds.

The sour cream in this dough does a couple of good things – it makes the texture tender, a little flaky and a little cakey; and it also makes it just a touch tangy. The dough is very easy to roll and to work with, just be sure to chill it thoroughly after you make it.

Due to its creamy texture, sour cream can be added to a variety of baked goods and recipes in order to yield moister results. The same sour cream can be used as a substitution for certain ingredients so you aren't caught without the right materials to make your favorite baked goods.

Use full-fat sour cream for: baked goods (quick breads, cakes, muffins), creamy sauces, mashed potatoes, vegetable purées, cheesecakes, salad dressings, pasta salads, cold summer soups or dips. 14% cooking sour cream: a product that can take the heat!

Add chopped fresh cilantro leaves and lime juice to plain sour cream for a fresh zesty flavor.

Make a straight substitution — If you want to create healthier baked goods or just want a simple substitution, use an equal amount of yogurt in place of the sour cream. Whole milk yogurt works best and brings a big reduction in fat, plus more protein and calcium.

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

Opened or unopened sour cream – as long as it has been refrigerated at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit – is good for up to three weeks past the sell-by date. The USDA gives a 21 day window for food safety, assuming the sour cream has been continuously refrigerated.

The lesser fat content of sour cream makes it less versatile for cooking—while crème fraîche can be boiled, sour cream will curdle if heated too high or too quickly. It is best to add sour cream to a dish just before serving.

Sour cream instantly changes the direction of meat and gravy recipes, but one caution must be noted: If you boil it, the cream will separate and become visually unappetizing. The secret is to add the sour cream in the end, off heat, and whisk.

What pairs with sour cream? ›

Of course, sour cream works great in appetizers like dips and salads, too. It's creamy, tangy, and pairs perfectly with chips and veggies. As for cakes, pies, and breads, the extra fat content can make your baked goods moister and richer while the tart flavor offsets some of the sweetness.

Sour cream is commonly used as a condiment on foods, or combined with other ingredients to form a dipping sauce. It can be added to soups and sauces to help thicken and make them creamy, or in baking to help increase the moisture level over and above using milk.

More Moist and Flavorful Batters and Doughs

Of course, sour cream can be used to enhance more than texture. It adds body and fermented flavor to these extra-flaky buttermilk biscuits and all five of our cornbread variations. We even throw it into sweet potato pancakes to offset the sweetness with some sour tang.

How to use sour cream with boxed cake mix. The best way to use sour cream with a boxed cake mix is to use it to replace the other liquids in the recipe, like milk or water. You can add up to a cup, or essentially the same amount of liquid you were originally meant to add, per the manufacturer's instructions.

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.