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

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

By: Becky Hardin

This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.

Mascarpone Cheese is a rich and creamy Italian cream cheese used in recipes like Tiramisu. I love to keep it around the house for making desserts and as a fruit dip. Learning how to make it from scratch was a game changer for me. Easy, cost effective, and even more delicious than store bought.

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

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Homemade Mascarpone Cheese Recipe

It started when I needed Mascarpone for making Tiramisu, and the store was completely out. I learned how to make this homemade version, and I’ve never looked back. I was instantly hooked. It’s super simple and easy to make, and packs a delicious and creamy flavor punch that store-bought just can’t capture. It’s the perfect substitute for both texture and taste, and I bet you already have the ingredients in your pantry.

  • 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 I mastered this recipe, I’ve been able to use it in tons of sweet and savory dishes. It’s a great ingredient to keep on hand.
Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

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

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.

I find that 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!

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

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 Recipe (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)

Serves21

Print Rate

Save Shop our store

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)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

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!

Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

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

Upload A PhotoTag on
Insta
Leave A Rating

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)

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.

More Homemade Cheese Recipes To Try

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

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

Claim your free ebook!

Subscribe to have posts delivered straight to your inbox!! PLUS get our FREE ebook!

Sign Me Up

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

FAQs

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

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.

What is the American version of mascarpone cheese? ›

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 mascarpone made of? ›

It is a fresh cheese that is most commonly made with pasteurized cow's milk. Unlike some cheeses, which have animal-derived rennet added, mascarpone is vegetarian. It's made by heating heavy cream and adding an acid like tartaric acid (aka cream of tartar), citric acid, or lemon juice to solidify and thicken the cream.

Is ricotta cheese the same as mascarpone? ›

Ricotta cheese and mascarpone cheese are both made from fresh milk, but these Italian cheeses differ in texture, taste, and content. Texture: Ricotta has a grainy texture, like cottage cheese, and mascarpone has a smooth, creamy texture, similar to heavy whipping cream.

Can I substitute mascarpone for cream cheese in cookies? ›

Try mascarpone, which some people describe as "Italian cream cheese." Although that's not completely accurate, they do perform similarly in recipes. Mascarpone is richer and creamier than cream cheese, but works well in recipes like cake frosting.

Can you substitute mascarpone for Philadelphia cream cheese? ›

It had 1) a lower fat content, and 2) a tangy flavor that tastes cheesier. Mascarpone and Cream cheese can be interchangeable in some recipes, including cheesecake. If you want a tangy flavored cheesecake, you should use Cream cheese, but if that flavor isn't necessary, either cheese can be used.

Is Philadelphia cream cheese the same as mascarpone? ›

Mascarpone is an Italian soft cheese made from cream with no added ingredients. It has 1) a higher fat content, and 2) a sweeter, creamy flavor. Cream cheese is an American soft cheese that uses added ingredients to make the cream a cheese. It had 1) a lower fat content, and 2) a tangy flavor that tastes cheesier.

What can I use instead of mascarpone cheese in tiramisu? ›

However you could try beating together 225g (8 ounces) full fat cream cheese with 60ml (4 tablespoons/1/4 cup) double or whipping cream and 30g (1 ounce/2 tablespoons) softened unsalted butter until just blended. This will give the equivalent of around 300g (10 ounces/1 1/4 cups) mascarpone.

Can you swap mascarpone with ricotta? ›

Mascarpone: Another Italian cheese, mascarpone makes a great ricotta substitute. However, since mascarpone is more tart and flavorful, you should only use it in dishes with other strong flavors. It may overpower milder ingredients.

How long does mascarpone last once opened? ›

A closed package of mascarpone will last in the fridge until its best-by date. If you've already opened it, the clock starts ticking, and you have around 1 week to use it all up.

Does mascarpone go bad? ›

Check the "use by" date on the package for storage time, but it's generally a week. Mascarpone tends to go bad quickly, so use an open container within a few days; return any unused portion to the fridge with the lid tightly sealed. If it develops mold or if its aroma or color is off, discard the entire package.

Is mascarpone same as whipping cream? ›

Is mascarpone the same as whipping cream? No. Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese made with heavy cream, and whipping cream is made with heavy cream that didn't go through the process of cheese making.

Does Aldi sell mascarpone cheese? ›

ALDI BelGioioso Fresh Mascarpone Cheese, Cup Same-Day Delivery or Pickup | Instacart.

Can I substitute mascarpone for sour cream? ›

Cream cheese or mascarpone cheese – Cream cheese and mascarpone cheese are a bit thicker than sour cream. Thin them by whisking in a splash of milk and a bit of lemon juice (for acidity). You should be able to get it fairly close to the same consistency of sour cream.

Is mascarpone similar to brie? ›

Mascarpone, therefore, achieves a rich, smooth, hom*ogenous texture that is closer to freshly churned butter or a soft brie than the fluffy curds of its cousin ricotta. Likewise, mascarpone differs from often-substituted cream cheese in both matters of fat content and acid.

What is mascarpone compared to? ›

Cream Cheese. Mascarpone is made from heavy cream, while cream cheese is made from whole milk. This gives mascarpone its high fat content and richer, creamier texture. The fat content of cream cheese is 30 to 40 percent, compared to mascarpone's whopping 60 to 75 percent fat content.

Which is better for cheesecake cream cheese or mascarpone? ›

Upgrade Your Cheesecake With Mascarpone Cheese

Because mascarpone is made from heavy cream, it has a higher fat content than cream cheese which is made from whole milk. We're talking 60 to 75 percent vs. 30 to 50 percent, respectively.

What is mascarpone cheese most like? ›

Mascarpone cheese is a soft, slightly sweet and a tad bit tart, spreadable cheese often described as an Italian sweet cream cheese. Mascarpone is probably most well-known as the key ingredient in Italian desserts like tiramisu and cannoli.

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mr. See Jast

Last Updated:

Views: 6594

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mr. See Jast

Birthday: 1999-07-30

Address: 8409 Megan Mountain, New Mathew, MT 44997-8193

Phone: +5023589614038

Job: Chief Executive

Hobby: Leather crafting, Flag Football, Candle making, Flying, Poi, Gunsmithing, Swimming

Introduction: My name is Mr. See Jast, I am a open, jolly, gorgeous, courageous, inexpensive, friendly, homely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.