EV’s Take on Kite Hill Sour Cream Alternative

Kite Hill describes their plant-based sour cream alternative as “the dairy-free dollop you’ve been waiting for.” And they’re pretty spot on. 

Because dairy-free milk has become increasingly popular, there’s less room for other plant-based “dairy” products in grocery store refrigerators. So finding stores that sell a variety of vegan sour creams, or any at all, can be challenging.

I’ve never been a huge sour cream girl, but in my foodie era I’ve awakened to the power of its cool tang. And as a newer vegan, I definitely noticed it missing on some of my favorite weeknight dishes: chili, tacos and baked potatoes. When I first started trying vegan sour cream replacements, I didn’t love the flavors or consistencies. 

But Kite Hill dairy-free sour cream has, in fact, swooped in to save some of my meals as a delicious alternative. Their sour cream is almond milk based, but its inclusion of coconut milk makes it truly creamy (without any coconut taste, which is a good thing). It may be slightly more runny than dairy sour cream, but it’s still the right consistency for dropping dollops that can initially hold their shape, and for taking a nice, hefty dip with your chip of choice.

I decided to pair Kite Hill sour cream with my Abbot’s Butcher chorizo tacos, and it was a great complement to a warm tortilla and spicy, crisped up plant meat. 

Can You Use Kite Hill Sour Cream for Baking?

As far as I can tell, yes. 

But as with any plant-based version of an animal-based ingredient, you may have to do some trial and error as you add it into your usual recipes. Kite Hill’s sour cream is not as dense as actual sour cream, so it may perform differently in baking recipes. 

The FAQ page on their website speaks to baking substitutes, but doesn’t directly call out the sour cream. However, I think their statement would still apply to the product:

“Just about any recipe that calls for dairy yogurts, cream cheeses, or ricotta can be made using our almond milk versions… You can substitute these ingredients 1:1 for their dairy counterparts.”

While they have a very appetizing collection of recipes using their sour cream, I put it to the test by using it in a random recipe calling for dairy sour cream. I threw together a chocolate quick bread, substituting 1/3 cup of dairy sour cream with 1/3 cup of Kite Hill’s version. I’m glad to say it turned out as hoped: rich, moist, dense—just what I’d expect from a baked good containing sour cream. 

It was my first time baking with Kite Hill sour cream and my first time trying this particular recipe. So there are some things I would tweak, and you’ll likely need to do the same when baking with new ingredients and new recipes.

Is Kite Hill Dairy-free Sour Cream Healthy?

Well, this depends on your personal definition of healthy. When I compared Kite Hill sour cream to Wegmans dairy sour cream, I saw there were miniscule differences between the two products’ nutrition facts. Both the dairy and dairy-free sour cream contain 5 grams of fat and 50-60 calories.

But what about other vegan sour cream brands? They are also mostly on par with Kite Hill and Wegmans sour cream. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, it looks like Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream has 35 more calories and more carbs per serving than Kite Hill. Follow Your Heart Dairy-free Sour Cream also has significantly more calories and fat per serving than Kite Hill. 

However, a noticeably healthier brand is Forager sour cream, with just 35 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per serving. But I’ll be honest, I didn’t like their version very much. 

Depending on your dietary goals, Kite Hill sour cream is a great option if you are avoiding cholesterol, have a dairy or soy allergy, or want to choose plant-sourced foods. I also think it’s one of the better-tasting vegan versions out there. So I wouldn’t worry too much about those numbers above; Kite Hill sour cream is a good choice.

Where to Buy Kite Hill Sour Cream

You can find Kite Hill products (which include cheeses, yogurts and dips) in many different grocery chains and small grocery stores across the United States. Some of their major retailers include Whole Foods, Target, Sprouts and Publix. To see where Kite Hill sour cream is sold near you, use their store locator.

What do you think of Kite Hill sour cream? Let us know in the comments!