Sour Cream:
Grams to Cups
By Stefan Ulrich · Last updated
Sour cream weighs 230 grams per cup — slightly less than Greek yogurt because its higher fat content makes it marginally less dense. It's a critical ingredient in coffee cakes, pound cakes, and cheesecakes, where its acidity activates baking soda and its fat produces exceptional tenderness.
How much Sour Cream weighs at each cup measure.
Convert Sour Cream
1 cup = 230 grams
= — grams
= — cups
Quick reference
Measurement Table
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 5 g | 0.18 oz |
| 1 tbsp | 14 g | 0.49 oz |
| ⅛ cup | 29 g | 1.02 oz |
| ¼ cup | 58 g | 2.05 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 77 g | 2.72 oz |
| ½ cup | 115 g | 4.06 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 153 g | 5.40 oz |
| ¾ cup | 173 g | 6.10 oz |
| 1 cup | 230 g | 8.11 oz |
| 1¼ cups | 288 g | 10.16 oz |
| 1½ cups | 345 g | 12.17 oz |
| 2 cups | 460 g | 16.23 oz |
| 3 cups | 690 g | 24.34 oz |
About Sour Cream
Full-fat sour cream (the standard baking variety) runs 230 g/cup. Reduced-fat and light versions weigh approximately the same — the water content increases as fat decreases, keeping density roughly constant.
In baking, sour cream serves multiple functions: it tenderizes gluten (making softer cakes), adds moisture without making batter thin, provides acidity to activate baking soda, and contributes fat for a rich mouthfeel. It's the reason sour cream coffee cake has a uniquely moist, fine crumb.
Crème fraîche, the French equivalent, weighs approximately 230–235 g/cup and can substitute 1:1 for sour cream in most recipes. The flavor is slightly less tangy and slightly richer. For a lighter option, full-fat Greek yogurt (245 g/cup) works well — add 1 tablespoon cream per cup of yogurt to approximate sour cream's fat content.
Measure sour cream by spooning it into a dry measuring cup and leveling with a straight edge. Don't shake or tap the cup — this compresses the sour cream and overmeasures.
Tips for measuring Sour Cream
- Full-fat, low-fat, and nonfat all weigh approximately the same per cup.
- Crème fraîche substitutes 1:1 for sour cream by weight.
- Greek yogurt substitute: add 1 tbsp heavy cream per cup of yogurt.
- Bring to room temperature before mixing into batter for best results.
Common mistakes
- Tapping or shaking the cup when measuring — compresses and overmeasures by ~10%
- Using cold sour cream in warm batter — can cause curdling
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many grams in a cup of Sour Cream?
- 1 cup of Sour Cream weighs 230 grams — the standard used in most American recipes. Use the converter above for any other amount.
- How many grams is 1 tablespoon of Sour Cream?
- 1 tablespoon of Sour Cream weighs about 14 grams. The full table above lists every common cup fraction.
- What's the most common mistake when measuring Sour Cream?
- Tapping or shaking the cup when measuring — compresses and overmeasures by ~10%. Weighing on a kitchen scale avoids it entirely.
- Should Sour Cream be measured cold or at room temperature?
- Temperature barely changes the weight of sour Cream, but a liquid measuring cup read at eye level gives the most accurate result.