CRÈME FRAÎCHE vs YOGURT -- #Cremefast Smoothie Showdown

The Subtle Queen of Cultured Dairy

This week, we thought we’d let you in on some of the behind-the-scenes action of our crème fraîche breakfast challenge. Many of the recipes we’ve compiled originally had yogurt as the main dairy ingredient, and we took the liberty of switching that out for our own crème fraîche. Since we had several recipes in our 30—day challenge that happened to be smoothies, we wanted to know just how well our crème fraîche variations performed versus ones made with plain yogurt. 

First, let’s lay out the difference between yogurt and crème fraîche... 

Especially since distinctions between cultured dairy foods are subtle, compared to the more obvious lines between items like liquid milk and solid cheese:

• The most important difference you should know between yogurt and crème fraîche is that yogurt is made from milk while crème fraîche is made from heavy cream; and this initial difference of starting ingredients affects the culturing process and ultimately the flavor and texture of the final product.

 

• Both yogurt and creme fraiche are cultured, and therefor rich in active probiotics. They are inoculated with good bacteria that convert lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid. This lactic acid thickens the cream or milk by breaking down bundled proteins called casein, and reorganizing them into a “pocketed” structure that makes the dairy thicker. 

 

• The culture added to yogurt typically consists of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. These are heat-loving bacteria, which is why they are added to heated milk and then incubated at a specific temperature to turn the milk into yogurt. These specific cultures are what gives yogurt its tangy flavor. 

 

• Creme Fraiche requires a unique culture cocktail to suit its heavy cream (rather than milk) origin. These include L. cremoris, L. lactis, and L. biovar diacetylactis, and often others. It is L. biovar diacetylactis, specifically, that produces the buttery flavor you know to be distinctive of crème fraîche.

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• More ingredients must be added to make yogurt, with some brands containing thickeners and stabilizers. These stabilizers, such as modified food starch, guar gum, and carrageenan are added by design to provide an engineered smoothness and texture in the end product. (They are even more likely to be added to sour cream, and in larger quantities, but thats a story for another blog post.) The consistency of crème fraîche occurs naturally through the unique culturing process, so no additional ingredients are needed. 

Now that we know the nitty gritty, let’s see how crème fraîche and yogurt compete as the main component of a delicious dairy smoothie. Using the mixed berry with lemongrass smoothie, our home cook and team member, Heidi, blended up both a yogurt and crème fraîche version. Can you guess which uses our Crème Fraîche?

​If you guessed the left, you’re right. Considering crème fraîche is born from heavy cream, it’s not too shocking that it affects the color of the smoothie much like cream would affect coffee. But, how much creamier is it than the yogurt smoothie? We had to know. So, we spilled it. Literally.

​Although, visually, both smoothies seem — for lack of a better word — smooth, the crème fraîche version proved its top-notch creaminess with superior viscosity, pouring out of the glass in a single, connected stream while the yogurt smoothie was prone to slushy clumps and disconnected droplets. To your palate, the crème fraîche version definitely presents with a thicker, richer body. ​

So, what does this mean for your breakfast?

Of course personal preferences come into play, but if you yearn for a richer, creamier smoothie with gut-healthy probiotics, crème fraîche is the best dairy ingredient for your smoothy. Also, let’s not forget that morning is a better time to consume higher-fat foods (with a clean conscience) for sustained energy throughout the rest of the day. This one-two punch of flavor and fullness makes crème fraîche smoothies a healthy knockout for your next grab-and-go breakfast!