Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Mascarpone Cheese is a rich and creamy Italian cream cheese used in recipes like Tiramisu. Learn how to make this mascarpone substitute at home, so that you always have it when you need it. This recipe is easy, cost-effective, and so delicious!

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Mascarpone Cheese Recipe

If you can’t find mascarpone cheese at the store, you can make this homemade version with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! It’s the perfect substitute for both texture and taste.

  • Easy. This recipe uses just 4 ingredients– cream cheese, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, and lemon juice– and takes only 5 minutes to throw together!
  • Flavorful. The cream cheese and sour cream add a tangy flavor, while the whipping cream creates a rich texture and the lemon juice balances the flavor.
  • Versatile. Once you’ve mastered this recipe, you can use it in tons of sweet and savory dishes.
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Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to Store

Store mascarpone cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you need it for a recipe, it’s best to let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before using it.

I don’t recommend freezing it because it will separate when thawed, but you can re-whip it to freshen it up if needed.

How to Use Mascarpone

This mascarpone cheese can be used as a substitute in any recipe that calls for it, like tiramisu (or these tiramisu cups), cheesecakes, and other desserts. It can also be used in place of whipped cream in many recipes for a thicker and richer option. And it’s a tasty dip or spread all on its own, with fruit, sweet breads, bagels, and more.

It is delicious with savory dishes as well, and can be used as a topping for pizza and pastas, to make rich au gratin potatoes, or to thicken sauces in recipes like this chicken marsala. It’s also a star ingredient of this creamed corn with bacon!

What is mascarpone?

Mascarpone is a fresh, soft, spreadable cream cheese from Italy. It’s extra thick and velvety, made with about twice as much fat as typical American cream cheese. That additional fat is what makes it so smooth and luscious. Since my recipe uses ingredients that aren’t in the standard Italian recipe, it is technically a “mascarpone substitute”, but the taste and texture are right on the mark!

What’s the difference between mascarpone and cream cheese?

Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that’s richer and more “buttery” than American cream cheese, with a slightly sweeter flavor. As mentioned above, it has a higher fat content, leading to a different texture.

What does mascarpone taste like?

This Italian cheese is silky, smooth, thick, and creamy. It’s slightly sweet and tangy, buttery and rich.

Can I eat mascarpone while pregnant?

Yes! As always, check with your doctor for what is safe to consume while pregnant, but all of the ingredients in this recipe are pasteurized, and none are ripened by mold.

Why is my mascarpone substitute grainy?

If you overmix the ingredients, it might come out slightly grainy. To fix this, simply fold in another splash of heavy cream.

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

More Homemade Cheese Recipes To Try

  • Boursin Cheese
  • Homemade Ricotta
  • Homemade Cottage Cheese
  • Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
  • Pimento Cheese
  • Herb Coeur a la Creme

5-Star Review

“Thank you for posting this!! It is so hard to find mascarpone cheese around here, but I can find all the ingredients needed to make it. Now I can finally make things that call for this cheese!!” -Upsidedownpear

Recipe

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute)

4.60 from 75 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

Make your own mascarpone cheese substitute just by mixing a few ingredients together!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

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Ingredients

  • 16 ounces cream cheese 454 grams, room temperature (2 bricks)
  • cup sour cream 76 grams
  • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream 57 grams
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice 14 grams, freshly squeezed

Instructions

  • Measure all ingredients and add them into a blender or small food processor.

    16 ounces cream cheese, ⅓ cup sour cream, ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

  • Blend all ingredients together until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.

    Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

  • Chill to firm up the cheese.

    Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

Yield:This recipe makes approx. 1⅓ cups of mascarpone. A serving is 1 tablespoon.

  • You can also use cream of tartar or white vinegar in place of lemon juice.

Storage: Store mascarpone cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1tablespoon Calories: 93kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 1g Protein: 2g (4%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 27mg (9%) Sodium: 70mg (3%) Potassium: 37mg (1%) Fiber: 0.002g Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 355IU (7%) Vitamin C: 0.3mg Calcium: 27mg (3%) Iron: 0.03mg

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (12)

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How to Make Mascarpone Cheese Step by Step

Measure the Ingredients: Add 16 ounces (2 bricks) of cream cheese, ⅓ cup of sour cream, ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into a blender or small food processor.

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (13)

Blend teh Cheese: Blend all ingredients together until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Chill the Cheese: Chill to firm up the cheese.

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (15)

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

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Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for mascarpone cheese in baking? ›

Crème Fraîche and sour cream bring unique tastes and handle heat like pros. Then there's ricotta, Mascarpone's flavor buddy, perfect for cheesecakes and spreads. Cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese are also the go-to for rich textures.

Can you use Philadelphia cream cheese instead of mascarpone? ›

Yes, cream cheese makes a great substitute for mascarpone. There are two methods to substitute mascarpone: Substitute 1 cup of mascarpone with 1 cup of a cream cheese and whipping cream mixture. To make this mixture, use 1/4 cup of cream for every 8 oz.

What is the difference between mascarpone and mascarpone cheese? ›

You might have heard mascarpone referred to as mascarpone cream. The difference between mascarpone cheese and cream is mascarpone cream is made from mascarpone cheese, eggs, and sugar that are whipped together. The result is the whipped topping that's used to make tiramisu.

Does Aldi sell mascarpone cheese? ›

Our classic version is a naturally sweet, yet surprisingly light cheese (1/2 the calories of butter.) produced from only the freshest cream, its soft, creamy texture spreads with ease and blends well with other ingredients.

Are ricotta and mascarpone interchangeable? ›

Whereas Mascarpone is very high-fat product, it is used in mainly Italian baking, such as Tiramisu cake, and this cheese is made with milk fortified with cream, Replacing Ricotta with Mascarpone is not a good idea, because of moisture (water ) content and fat content are totally different.

Is mascarpone cheese good for baking? ›

This decadent cheese is a favorite among bakers, but it's not only for baking. Once you know all the ways you can use Mascarpone cheese and learn about the depth of its flavor and versatility, you'll always want to keep a cup in your refrigerator.

What is the American version of mascarpone cheese? ›

To make this mascarpone substitute, mix together 12 ounces of room temperature cream cheese (1 ½ blocks) with ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup of sour cream until combined. The whipping cream will cut some of the tanginess of cream cheese while mimicking mascarpone's smooth, velvety texture.

Is there mascarpone at Costco? ›

Bella Casara Mascarpone Cheese, 2 kg | Costco.

What flavor does mascarpone cheese have? ›

What Does Mascarpone Taste Like? Mascarpone cheese is often compared to cream cheese, ricotta cheese, crème fraiche, and clotted cream; however, mascarpone is a sweeter and less tangy product than its peers. Mascarpone is slightly sweet with a hint of acidity.

What section of the grocery store is mascarpone cheese? ›

Mascarpone costs more than domestic cream cheese, although products from U.S. brands producing it in the Italian style are less expensive than imported ones. You can find both in many large grocery stores in the dairy or cheese section or at specialty cheese shops.

Does mascarpone taste like sour cream? ›

Mascarpone is a sweet Italian cream cheese that is versatile and delicious. At a quick glance, it seems similar to sour cream and crème fraîche, but it's a departure from its cultured lookalikes. While sour cream and crème fraîche are thick, tangy cultured dairy products, mascarpone is not cultured.

Can you just eat mascarpone? ›

Mascarpone cheese isn't very good to eat by itself (imagine eating a spoonful of butter), but it is perfect to use as an ingredient for savory and dessert recipes alike. Next time you want to try out a recipe calling for mascarpone cheese, give this recipe a try!

Which is better for you cream cheese or mascarpone? ›

No, mascarpone cheese is not healthier than cream cheese as it contains 25% more fat than cream cheese. Yet mascarpone cheese is only preferred for its extra smooth texture. You can use cream cheese and mascarpone cheese for salty and sweet dishes.

How do I substitute mascarpone for heavy cream? ›

Mascarpone is one of the best substitutes for heavy cream because it's so easy to use — you just have to use it in a 1:1 ratio. Simple! Now you just have to think about the consistency you want as your end goal because mascarpone can be quite stiff and thick.

What does mascarpone taste like? ›

What Does Mascarpone Taste Like? Mascarpone cheese is often compared to cream cheese, ricotta cheese, crème fraiche, and clotted cream; however, mascarpone is a sweeter and less tangy product than its peers. Mascarpone is slightly sweet with a hint of acidity.

What does mascarpone mean in baking? ›

Mascarpone is a soft cheese of Italian origin best known as the star ingredient in tiramisu. It's also great as frosting or filling in cakes, in trifles and parfaits, in cheesecakes, sometimes to make panna cotta.

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