7 Ways with Sour Cream

If you've been limiting your use of sour cream to topping a baked potato or a plate of nachos, you're missing out. Its creamy tanginess adds to the flavor and smooth texture of appetizers, breads and desserts. And if you're watching fat and calories, it's available in both reduced-fat and nonfat versions.

Crisp little potato nests hold a dollop of sour cream and a tiny strip of smoked salmon in these tasty bite-size appetizers.

Recipe: Potato Nests with Sour Cream and Smoked Salmon

Adding a sweetened sour cream mixture to the flour results in a sweet and tender yeast bread that's filled with fruited cream cheese and topped with a sugary glaze.

Recipe: Apricot-Cream Cheese Bread

Blend sour cream with mayonnaise, fennel fronds, chives and lemon juice to make a tangy dressing for this hearty salmon salad.

Recipe: Salmon, Fennel, and Potato Salad with Sour-Cream Dressing

If you love super-creamy mashed potatoes, add sour cream along with milk and butter to the cooked potato.

Recipe: Mashed Sour Cream and Scallion Potatoes

Online reviewers give this tender pound cake a resounding 5-star rating with one fan claiming that it's "by far the best pound cake I have ever made. It is very moist and has a good but not overpowering flavor. I would cut it in half and stick the other half in the freezer because this cake is gone in seconds at my house."

Recipe: Sour Cream-Lemon Pound Cake

Keep it easy with this 3-ingredient dessert. Simply top fresh berries with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with brown sugar.

Recipe: Blueberries with Brown Sugar Cream

A traditional Italian panna cotta is a light, eggless custard that's served cold, often with fruit. This top-rated light version is made with reduced-fat sour cream, evaporated milk and gelatin. It's an easy dessert that's also very impressive.

Recipe: Sour Cream Panna Cotta with Blackberry-Zinfandel Compote