15 Best Substitutes Of Yogurt That Goes Well For You

Yogurt is used in a wide variety of different recipes, making it popular when you’re trying to get more dairy and probiotics into your diet. However, Best Yogurt Alternatives are also healthier in smoothies, recipes and more! It tastes yummy, so it’s not difficult to see why it’s a staple in the refrigerators of many people.

It’s super healthy and you can get it from almost any grocery store. It’s good for breakfasts, baked things and you can even put things like greek yogurt in savory things.

Of course, not everyone enjoys yogurt. Some people may be lactose intolerant or may have some other reason why dairy is a big no no. That’s okay! If that’s the case for you, here are just a few things that you can use instead of yogurt.

Best Alternatives To Yogurt

Here are just a few different yogurt alternatives that you can use, and when you can use them in different recipes.

Mayonnaise

Yogurt has a lot of different uses but one thing in particular that it’s used for is as a dressing for things like fruit and veg. You don’t usually need to do much to it since the flavor is great without much tweaking.

You can get the same kind of effect when you are using mayonnaise instead. It’s a fantastic choice for sandwich spreads and salad dressings alike.

So, if you don’t want to use standard yogurt then you can grab some mayonnaise instead to get that wonderful creamy texture for a variety of different recipes.

It contains a lot of protein too because it’s made out of fresh whole eggs and this is good for the strength of your muscles. There are a lot of different kinds of mayonnaise on the market too, including flavored versions.

How To Substitute

Mayonnaise is short on acidity and is a perfect creamy and fabulous option to substitute with yogurt. It’s a creamy, savory, flavorful, and slightly tangy filling. It has a wide variety of possible variations for recipes.

Cottage Cheese

This is yet another fantastic choice if you are looking for a substitute to use for your salads – cottage cheese.

Cottage cheese is very similar to yogurts in the sense that it’s full of lots of nutrients and calcium, though the texture and taste is very different. The cheesy taste can be great with a lot of different meals.

Cottage cheese usually tends to have little curdles in it as a result of the milk used, and there’s a little bit of a salty, savory taste. It’s a good thing to put in salad, pasta, sandwiches, bread, and certain desserts.

If you have a shortage of yogurt one day and you’re itching for an alternative, cottage cheese may be a good choice.

How To Substitute

Cottage cheese is a low-fat dairy product that is made from curdled milk. It has a soft, crumbly texture, and a mild flavor that varies depending on the variety of milk used. It is commonly eaten in recipes or in a side dish.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a wonderful dairy product to use in a lot of different contexts. It can be used for marinating, baking and it’s great for drinks.

Sure, you could use yogurt for making your desserts and pastries, but you can add a little bit more of a kick to the taste by putting some buttermilk in the recipe instead.

It’s a fantastic choice for things like muffins, cakes, pancakes and brownies. In short, it’s an A tier substitute for yogurt!

A couple of potential uses for buttermilk include making batters and marinade for chicken. It’s great for crispy fried chicken recipes and it is more than suitable instead of yogurt.

How To Substitute

The smooth and creamy buttermilk is the perfect starter and a substitute for yogurt. The buttermilk substitute recipe is simple and a delicious way to enjoy a tangy, creamy texture without the hassle of making buttermilk. The recipe calls for sour cream, but can also be made with yogurt, or with a combination of both.

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is absolutely delicious, much like yogurt. It has that same wonderful creamy texture and it can be used for so many recipes. It can be especially good for savory dishes.

It can sometimes be suitable for sauces and dips, especially when spices and herbs are put into the mix. It’s even used as frosting for some desserts, like carrot cake and cupcakes.

Cream cheese doesn’t just come in one variety either. You can get a lot of different versions with different tastes. You don’t need to prepare it either – it usually comes in tubs so you can just add it to the top of things.

It lasts a long time on the shelf too, so you can always use it later down the line. Just don’t use it beyond the expiry date and you’re good to go!

How To Substitute

Cream cheese is a healthy and delicious substitute for yogurt that you can use in a variety of dishes. The cream cheese-based is simple, savory, and has a rich, buttery flavor that’s almost like a cross between a savory sauce and a mayonnaise often used as a condiment for vegetables, meat, and breads.

RELATED: 6 Excellent Substitutes For Half And Half Milk

Sour Cream

If you’re making something like chicken or beef curry, it’s often necessary to add something thick and creamy to the sauce in order for it to taste good. Yogurt is usually the number one contender, but sour cream tends to be just as good.

If you don’t have any yogurt on hand then this will be more than suitable, and the sour cream also adds a different flavor that’s quite unique.

You can add it in the same way that you would add regular yogurt to a recipe, since they are exactly the same in terms of texture. You can also use sour cream for recipes such as stews, soups, baked goods, and desserts.

If you need a good dip or salad dressing then sour cream is also a good choice for that.

How To Substitute

Sour cream can be a substitute for yogurt. It is a dairy product that is typically obtained by curdling milk with bacteria. It has a slightly acidic taste and is typically used as a spread or in sauces, desserts, and salad dressings.

Plant Based Yogurt

The world of the culinary arts is changing by the second, meaning you can recreate flavors and textures of things like yogurts without even needing dairy.

Vegan substitutes are becoming more and more popular, and plant based yogurt is just one example of a vegan alternative that works well if you don’t have dairy for some reason.

If you go to the store, you can easily find a whole bunch of great yogurts that are plant based, and there aren’t any animal products anywhere to be seen in them. This is quite the contrast to the past, when yogurt has to be made out of cow’s milk.

These days the plant based alternatives mean that yogurt is more accessible to people with specific dietary requirements.

How To Substitute

Get the creamy, cultured and oat-ike delicious plant based yogurt as a substitute with yogurt. It is a yogurt made from soy milk, oats, and natural fruit flavors. You can also make it on your own.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is a classic for baking and cooking in general, unless you’re allergic to it! Coconut has a wonderful smell, creamy texture and taste when it’s put into a dish.

It’s good for making cookies, cakes and pretty much any other dessert that you can think of. It’s not just good for desserts either, since it can be added to things like soups and smoothies too.

When using this ingredient, it’s best to just add a 1:1 ratio in. In a curry, you will get a creamy texture and a lot of wonderful flavor.

How To Substitute

Coconut milk can be a great alternative to yogurt as it is made from the meat of a coconut, which is shredded and then mixed with water, usually using a blender or a food processor. Coconut milk can be found in cans or cartons, or in a liquid form.

Heavy Cream

Heavy cream is another fantastic choice when you want something to use instead of yogurt. It works well for making desserts and fruit salads. It does contain a lot of fat and calories, of course, but it’s great for a treat every once in a while.

This ingredient works really well for things like desserts, and you can also use it for stews, curries and naan dips.

Some people will avoid it because of the additional calories that come with it, but it’s possible to get low calorie versions on the market if you look for them.

How To Substitute

Heavy cream is a great substitute for yogurt. It is a dairy product that is the main ingredient in many different desserts and sauces. It is made by separating the cream from milk, which is then boiled until it is thick and rich.

RELATED: 6 Substitutes For Sweetened Condensed Milk For Your Sweet Recipes

Sour Milk

Now, it’s important to note straight away that sour milk and sour cream are not the same thing! Yes, they are both derived from dairy, but there are a lot of differences between the two.

With sour cream you’ll get more thickness and it’s pretty solid in its structure. Much like yogurt, it is incredibly creamy and will operate similarly in a recipe. Sour milk is different though, since it’s basically sour cream but liquified.

It tastes the same but the liquid content is more intensified.

If you want to put some extra creaminess into your recipe, for instance if you are making a curry or a stew, then you should definitely use some sour milk for the job.

It’s also perfect for things like baking, since you’ll get a strong and creamy taste. It’s especially good for baking thanks to the way that it influences the dough as it bakes.

How To Substitute

Sour milk comes as a great option for substitution. It is a milk that has a sour flavor. The milk that is sour may have a slightly sweet flavor and be considered by some to be better for consumption.

Almond Milk

Last but not least is almond milk. This is another fantastic vegan option with nutty accents. It’s good for making things like curry, bread, baked goods, and for stew and soup. It will make the dish very creamy.

In fact, it’s becoming more and more popular in different recipes as time goes on.

If you do have a little bit of time to kill then it’s possible to make almond milk at home just with a food processor or a blender. Grab your almonds and put it in the food processor with some water.

You can add a little spice too, such as cinnamon, to give it extra flavor.

How To Substitute

Almond milk has a mild, nutty flavor and a creamy texture that is higher in protein than dairy milk. It can be substituted with yogurt that results in mild, sweet flavor to the recipe or side dish.

Crème Fraiche

Creme fraiche is a cultured cream thicker than yogurt and cream, with a higher fat content. You may use it to substitute yogurt, but it will require creativity.

Creme fraiche is a thick, rich, tangy cultured cream known as crème fraîche. It is similar to yogurt but is made with cream instead of milk.

To substitute the yogurt, you need to use the equivalent amount of creme fraiche to make the same amount of yogurt. 

How To Substitute

To substitute 1 cup of yogurt, you need to use 2/3 cup of crème fraîche.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has a thicker consistency than yogurt and is higher in protein. It also has more probiotics and fewer carbs.

The good news is that it’s a lot easier to substitute Greek yogurt for regular yogurt than to find a substitute for sour cream or cream cheese.

It is an excellent alternative to traditional yogurt because it contains a more significant amount of protein, calcium, and probiotics. Greek yogurt is often mixed with fruit, honey, and granola for breakfast or as a snack.

How To Substitute

Use Greek yogurt in the same quantity your recipe calls for regular yogurt. However, you may change the amount per your taste preference if you want.

Avocado

There are many reasons you should substitute yogurt with avocado. You may be trying to eat more healthy fats or dairy-free. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to do!

To substitute yogurt with avocado, mash up an avocado and use it in place of yogurt in any recipe. For example, for every 1 cup of yogurt, use 1 cup of mashed avocado. You can use this substitution in sweet or savory recipes.

If you’re using avocado in a savory recipe, adding a slight acidity is best to balance out the flavors. You can do this by adding a squeeze of lemon juice or vinegar. In a sweet recipe, acidity is not as important, but you can still add it if you like.

Give this substitution a try the next time you’re in the kitchen!

How To Substitute

To substitute one cup of avocado, you may use one cup of mashed avocado.

Pureed Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is an alternative to yogurt, and it is easy to substitute in recipes. Silken tofu is a creamy, soft, and mild white tofu. The texture of the tofu is smooth and has a subtle sweet flavor. 

Silken tofu is made by curdling regular tofu with a mixture of water and vinegar, which causes the proteins in the tofu to form a softer, less dense texture. 

Silken tofu is not typically found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores, but you will find it in many health food stores. You may also make it at home by using a tofu press.

How To Substitute

To substitute yogurt with pureed silken tofu, you can use one piece of tofu for one yogurt cream.

Agar-Agar Powder

If you are looking for a vegan or dairy-free option for yogurt, agar-agar powder is a great choice. This powder is made from seaweed and is commonly used as a thickening agent in recipes.

Mix the powder with water and your desired flavorings to use it as a yogurt substitute. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes to thicken, then enjoy!

Agar-agar powder is an excellent substitute for yogurt in recipes. It has a similar consistency and can be used in sweet and savory dishes. 

How To Substitute

To substitute yogurt with agar-agar powder, mix the powder with water in a 1:1 ratio. Then, add the mixture to your recipe in place of the yogurt.

Conclusion

It’s always beneficial to know what alternatives you can use to common ingredients when you are cooking. Spend some time experimenting – you may find that you like the substitute a lot more than the original recipe.

It’ll also save you having to go to the store. You no longer need to panic about running low on yogurt!

Frequently Asked Question

Can I Use Yogurt Instead Of Milk When Baking?

Yes – in most cases you can use yogurt instead of milk. Just make sure that you add some water to greek yogurt to make it a little thinner.

What Can I Use Instead Of Yogurt In A Smoothie?

There are a number of choices – you can use almond milk yogurt, protein powder, chia seeds, coconut cream or anything else that you can think of. It ultimately depends on the taste and texture that you want in the smoothie.

What Can I Use Instead Of Greek Yogurt In A Muffin?

Whole-fat plain yogurt, buttermilk and cottage cheese are usually the best choices to use instead of greek yogurt when you are making muffins.

15 Perfect Alternatives To Yogurt To Use In Your Next Recipe!

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Total time

20

minutes

Looking to cut down on your dairy intake? Here are some fantastic yogurt alternatives which you must try in your next recipe.

Ingredients

• Mayonnaise

• Cottage Cheese

• Buttermilk

• Cream Cheese

• Sour Cream

• Plant Based Yogurt

• Coconut Milk

• Heavy Cream

• Sour Milk

• Almond Milk

• Crème Fraiche

• Greek Yogurt

• Avocado

• Pureed Silken Tofu

• Agar-Agar Powder

Directions

• Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
• Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio

Recipe Video

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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