can i use cream cheese instead of sour cream

Yes, cream cheese can be used instead of sour cream in many recipes, especially in cooked or baked dishes. To substitute cream cheese for sour cream, it is recommended to thin the cream cheese by mixing in a tablespoon of milk or water per cup of cream cheese. Adding a bit of lemon or lime juice can help replicate the tangy flavor of sour cream. This substitution works well in pancakes, soups, casseroles, cakes, and dips, though the texture and flavor will be a bit richer and denser due to cream cheese's thickness. However, cream cheese is not as common in baking as sour cream and may not be ideal in some baked goods that rely on the texture sour cream provides. In summary, cream cheese is a good substitute for sour cream when thinned and slightly acidified, especially in savory dishes and cooked recipes, but it differs in texture and tanginess from sour cream.