Fromage Blanc is typically served as a dessert, like yogurt. You can use it as a base for mousse, cheesecake, and souffle recipes. You can also add it to salad dressings, dips, parfaits, smoothies, and quiches. The cheese is typically sold in supermarkets in the same aisle as yogurts.
If you’ve run out of Fromage blanc while whipping up something that calls for it, you need not fret. You have a variety of options when it comes to the best alternatives for this cheese.
Among the best Fromage blanc substitutes for baking include the following:
- Sour cream
- Quark cheese
- Cream cheese
- Greek yogurt
- Queso fresco
- Ricotta cheese
- Curd cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Creme Fraiche
If you are still feeling stressed out and unable to find anything suitable from the list above, read on as we share the full comprehensive list of the Best Fromage Blanc Substitute For Baking.
But first, let us learn a bit more about the history of this healthy ingredient.
16 Best Substitute For Fromage Blanc
Fromage blanc or maquée is a creamy fresh cheese made from cow’s milk originating from France. In French, its name means white cheese. It’s not to be confused with Fromage frais or fresh cheese, which contain live cultures. Fromage blanc is made available and ready to use once the fermentation is stopped.
The cheese is easy to make and can be mixed with spices and herbs to make a tasty and healthy cheese spread. You can also use it as a substitute for ricotta cheese or cream cheese in various recipes. It’s thicker than yogurt and has a texture close to sour cream when undrained.
When drained, its consistency is more comparable to cream cheese with a bit of cholesterol and caloric content. Its fat content varies depending on whether or not cream is added to it.
The cream adds around eight percent to its total weight, and also enhances its flavor. However, it’s virtually fat-free in its pure form.
Some of the best replacements for Fromage blanc include sour cream and quark cheese but their thickness may not be the same.
You may also consider testing out other alternatives mentioned below.
Sour Cream
It’s not as thick as Fromage blanc, but sour cream makes a good base for recipes with its tangy and mild taste. When using this as a substitute for Fromage blanc, get the type with a thicker consistency and higher fat concentration.
You may also want to add a sweetener to make the taste somewhat similar to Fromage blanc. For every cup of the latter, you can use a cup of sour cream when using it as a substitute for any recipe.
Quark Cheese
This cheese has a thickness that falls between yogurt and Fromage blanc. It makes a great substitute, especially in sweet and savory recipes. You can use this cheese as a substitute in making ice cream, quiche, cheesecake, and more.
Use the same amount of Quark cheese as the required amount of Fromage blanc in recipes.
Cream Cheese
While it is popularly used in making cheesecakes, this cheese with a mild tangy taste can be used in many recipes as a substitute for Fromage blanc.
Cream cheese is a good source of vitamin A,antioxidants, healthy probiotic effects and low lactose.[Source]
You can use a cup of cream cheese for every cup of Fromage blanc required in the recipe. The best thing about cream cheese is that you can easily find one in grocery stores.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has a neutral dairy taste, slightly sour flavor, and a similar texture as Fromage blanc, but is less thick. This is why you need to use more yogurt than the required amount of cheese for each recipe.
You can use regular or whipped yogurt to make the mousse, cheesecake, parfaits, smoothies, desserts, quiches, and more. If you want the taste to be slightly sweeter, you can opt to add maple syrup, sugar, or honey to the yogurt.
You can use greek yogurt in any recipe that requires Fromage blanc. Use 1 1/2 cups of Greek yogurt for every cup of Fromage blanc when making the substitution.
Queso Fresco
Quesco Fresco cheese has a mild and tangy flavor that you can use as a substitute for Fromage blanc in breakfast recipes, Mexican dishes, and quesadillas.
However, it may not work well when used in parfaits and smoothies. It’s chunkier, drier, and grainier in texture than Fromage blanc.
The flavor of this fresh cheese is a bit acidic, and it is made from a combination of cow and goat’s milk. When using as a substitute, you can use the same amount of Queso fresco as the required amount of Fromage blanc in the recipe.
Ricotta cheese
This cheese can be made from any type of milk, including sheep, cow, and goat’s milk. You can use the same amount of ricotta cheese as the required amount of Fromage blanc in the recipe.
However, you have to add a bit of milk or water to the cheese until it has a smooth texture.
You can also opt to blend the cheese without any addition until the consistency is similar to that of Fromage blanc. Its mild and creamy flavor makes it perfect for savory and pasta dishes.
You can also use it in desserts, but you may need to add sugar or honey. You can skip the sweetener if you’re mixing the cheese with fruits. You can opt to add creaminess if preferred by adding yogurt.
Cottage Cheese
You can use cottage cheese as a substitute for Fromage blanc, but you have to blend it first until it becomes smooth. It tastes well as is when eaten plain as snacks or with crackers or toasted bread.
It tastes neutral and sweet, but you may need to add a sweetener when using it as a substitute, depending on the recipe.
Curd Cheese
This cheese tastes like sweet milk that you can eat plain, but you can also use it as a substitute for Fromage blanc when baking desserts.
The cheese is soft, and you can blend it until creamy when using it as an alternative to Fromage blanc. You have to adjust the amount according to taste until it complements the flavor of the recipe.
Creme Fraiche
Creme Fraiche is a soured cream with bacterial culture. It’s a versatile cheese with a pH of 4.5. You can use it to substitute for Fromage blanc in making soups, salad dressings, and vegetable sauces.
It would also taste good when added to coffee.
Tofu
This is best suited for vegans and people allergic to dairy. It has a neutral taste, which makes it versatile and can be used as a substitute for many ingredients, including Fromage blanc.
You can get tofu in different textures, but choose the softer type if you are looking for an alternative to the cheese. If you only have a firm or extra firm tofu, you can still use them, but you must water them down and blend until soft.
Mascarpone Cheese
Mascarpone cheese is a form of cream cheese that is white and soft. The cheese originated from Italy and has a close resemblance to crème fraiche and cottage cheese.
It is made by heating cream over a steady flame while gradually adding the thickening agent in the form of an acid.
The mixture is then drained for several hours. The solids that remain comprise the cheese with a spreadable and soft texture. You can use mascarpone cheese as a substitute for Fromage blanc in recipes where its slightly tangy and sweet taste would fit.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese is pretty similar to Fromage blanc, making it a good substitute when needed.
Both kinds of cheese are spreadable and soft. It’s a versatile cheese that can be used in savory recipes and desserts.
Feta Cheese
Feta Cheese is a white cheese can be made from a combination of goat and sheep milk or solely sheep’s milk. It’s a Greek cheese that has been brined and curd.
The flavor is slightly tangy, making it a perfect substitute for Fromage blanc in savory dishes. If used in dessert recipes, try adding a sweetener of your choice to make the taste appropriate for the recipe.
Fruche cheese
Fruche cheese is a good substitute for fromage blanc. It is perfect for people who want a healthier option and is dairy-free with no sugar and oils added.
It’s loaded with healthy fats and protein and has a creamy and rich texture. It tastes sweeter than Fromage blanc, which you can whip in making appetizers, creams, and quiches.
Labneh
It is tangier than cream cheese but has a similar texture. This Mediterranean cheese is made from strained yogurt with the whey removed.
The texture is closer to a creamy cheese spread, but the taste resembles yogurt, although it is thicker than most yogurts. It’s a healthier substitute for Fromage blanc, which you can use in making spread recipes.
Homemade Fromage Blanc
You can also make your own if you don’t want to use substitutes or don’t have time to buy one from the nearest grocery store.
What You Need
The following ingredients will yield two cups of Fromage blanc:
- Heavy cream for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or according to taste)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (strained)
- 2 cups fresh buttermilk
- 1 cup heavy cream (optional)
- 2 quarts of fresh whole milk
Step By Step Guide
- First, combine lemon juice and buttermilk in a bowl.
- Transfer milk to a pan, add cream if you want a richer texture, and put the buttermilk and lemon mixture.
- Turn on the heat at low. Stir it only twice while heating. Monitor the temperature and remove from heat once it reaches 175 degrees F. Leave it for 10 minutes undisturbed.
- Put two layers of cheesecloth in a colander placed over a bowl.
- Ladle the whey and curds to the colander to drip and drain.
- After a couple of minutes, tie the cheesecloth’s corners to enclose the cheese and leave it hanging in the bowl. Leave it to drain until you get your preferred consistency for the homemade Fromage blanc.
You can serve it at once when done. You can also add fresh herbs, salt, fresh fruits, honey, or preserves, depending on how you want to serve it. You can add a little amount of heavy cream on top of the cheese if you want a richer texture. If you prefer a smooth cheese, mix briefly before serving.
It will last in the fridge for up to a week. If you want it to last up to a month, add fresh herbs and marinate cheese in oil, and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.