Known for its exceptionally velvety texture and spreadability, mascarpone cheese is a popular ingredient in many recipes. From sweet to savoury dishes, this full-fat cream cheese is as versatile as it is delicious. If you can't get hold of it, check out these mascarpone substitutes.
A fresh cheese, mascarpone may not be something you keep stocked in your fridge at all times. If you’re wondering if there are any substitutes worthy of stepping in in a pinch, worry not! Replace mascarpone cheese easily with alternative dairy and vegan mascarpone options.
Mascarpone cheese can be hard to find and also on the expensive side, so finding replacements will not only be healthier, but also help you to save a few pennies!
What is Mascarpone Cheese?
Dairy lovers rejoice! Mascarpone is a delicious fresh double or triple cream cheese that originated in northern Italy. With twice as much fat as regular cream cheese, this is a decadent treat enjoyed in dishes from the famous tiramisu to pasta and more.
While the exact way mascarpone was discovered is unknown, it is similar in process to ricotta, the well known ingredient in lasagna and baked ziti.
This Italian cheese is rich in calcium and helps keep you satiated because of its high fat- content, nearly double the amount of fat as American cream cheese. Luckily a little bit of this silky delight goes a long way!
How is Mascarpone used?
Mascarpone is a speciality in Italy and is used in many popular dishes. From risotto to pasta sauces, mascarpone is used as a thickener, popular for its creamy texture and mild flavour.
In America, mascarpone is best known as a staple ingredient in the dessert tiramisu. Layered with lady fingers, this espresso flavoured dessert is simple and tasty.
Mascarpone’s nutty flavour and creamy consistency make it spreadable and easily enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
What’s the Difference Between Mascarpone and Ricotta Cheese?
You may be thinking, what is so different about mascarpone cheese and ricotta cheese? While both fresh cheeses may appear to be similar, one is made with milk and the other with cream, creating a different consistency for each.
Ricotta cheese is traditionally made as a by-product of whey during the cheesemaking process. When heated to a certain temperature, the whey separate from the curds - which then go on to make the cheese - such as mozzarella cheese or parmesan.
The liquid leftover whey that is left has proteins in it that then are cooked to a high temperature a second time to create small grains that make up the consistency of ricotta.
Because ricotta cheese is generally made with low-fat milk it is a less creamy and lighter final product then mascarpone.
Mascarpone on the other hand is made by heating cream over a gentle flame, and then adding acid. Cream contains a high fat content and therefore creates a smooth and rich butter-like cream cheese.
Both fresh cream cheeses are put through a strainer to drain off the remaining liquid, leaving behind the final creamy goodness.
While both cheeses are fresh and can be used in sweet and savoury dishes, I do not recommend using one to replace the other. The very different consistency of the two could make for a very unpleasant ricotta tiramisu, or a runny mascarpone lasagna!
If you must use ricotta to substitute for mascarpone in a pinch, try to find a full fat ricotta with smaller grains to recreate the texture of mascarpone.
9 Best Mascarpone Substitutes
Looking to make a sweet or savoury dish but can’t find any mascarpone? Maybe you don’t want to buy a whole container to just use a small amount in a recipe. Or maybe you are just looking for a healthier alternative using only vegetarian ingredients. Here are nine alternatives that work as mascarpone cheese substitutes.
Crème fraîche is my number one mascarpone substitute. Often easier to find in the grocery store, it has a similar texture to mascarpone.
Like yogurt and sour cream, crème fraîche is cultured, which means it has been inoculated with the good active probiotics that help make your gut a happy camper.
With more acidity than mascarpone cheese, this alternative also has a tangier flavour and is slightly thinner in consistency, and lower in fat, at about 30%.
Mascarpone cheese contains around 45% to 50% milk fat. Use this less expensive stand-in in desserts such as tiramisu or creamy panna cotta.
Similar to creme fraiche, sour cream is a great stand in for mascarpone cheese. Although slightly tangier than mascarpone, sour cream is a great substitute, especially in savoury dishes.
Sour cream has an even lower milk fat than crème fraîche, at around 18% to 20%. The lower fat content makes sour cream looser and less spreadable than mascarpone cheese.
Sour cream is also cultured like crème fraîche, meaning it will be slightly sour and has a tangy punch, so keep this in mind when choosing what to use it in. Use sour cream to replace mascarpone in recipes such as tomato soup or a creamy casserole.
Another worthy replacement for mascarpone is clotted cream. Often referred to as english clotted cream, this stand in falls somewhere between whipped cream and butter in consistency.
Clotted cream is made by heating full-fat milk over indirect heat for several hours in a shallow pan until all the cream rises to the top, seperating from the liquid whey. This is a similar process to how mascarpone cheese is made.
Because it is so high in fat, around 65%, it is technically considered butter in the United States! The smooth and buttery texture makes a flavorful mascarpone cheese substitute.
Since it is mildly sweet, use clotted cream in dessert recipes where you may use mascarpone as a filling. Try topping shortbread with clotted cream and finishing with fresh fruit.
Full-fat greek yogurt is another great substitute for mascarpone cheese. Like sour cream and crème fraîche, greek yogurt is cultured, giving it a tangy flavour.
Keep in mind that yogurt tends to separate when heated to high temperatures, so I do not recommend using this in a recipe that will be cooked in the oven.
Instead use greek yogurt as an addition to soups, desserts, and dishes like mashed potatoes, where the creaminess of the yogurt will improve the consistency and benefit from the tanginess.
You may think this is an unusual replacement for mascarpone, given that cottage cheese is chunky in texture. But if you are looking for a healthy stand in, look no further than cottage cheese, which contains more protein and less calories.
To solve cottage cheese’s chunky texture dilemma, simply add it to a blender or food processor and pulse several times. You will end up with a smoother product that can be a simple stand in for recipes calling for mascarpone cheese.
Despite putting cottage cheese through a food processor I recommend using it in recipes where the texture is not paramount to the quality of the dish.
Try using cottage cheese instead of mascarpone in recipes that are savoury and thicker in consistency. Pasta, eggs, and dips will all benefit from this high protein substitute.
Since mascarpone cheese is a fresh cream cheese, it seems obvious that using cream cheese would yield similar results. Although mascarpone and cream cheese have a similar flavour, cream cheese has a slightly thicker texture.
By allowing the block of cream cheese to come to room temperature, and then adding some heavy whipping cream, you can create a very believable mascarpone-like texture.
Heavy whipping cream will add fat and unctuousness to the cream cheese, making it even more similar in flavour to mascarpone cheese. Use cream cheese exactly as you would mascarpone in desserts as it is the best mascarpone cheese substitute in this category.
If you are looking to create a vegan or vegetarian alternative to mascarpone, using store bought vegan cream cheese is a great option. Use vegan cream cheese the same way you would use regular cream cheese as a substitute.
Instead of adding heavy whipping cream to loosen the mixture, try coconut milk or any nut milk you may have on hand. This dairy-free alternative will not disappoint in any recipe where mascarpone cheese is necessary.
Called vegan mascarpone, the combination of coconut milk, cashew butter, lemon juice, and a small amount of maple syrup is one of the best vegan mascarpone cheese substitutes.
Simply blending these ingredients together creates a thickened cream mixture that will trick even the devout dairy lover. Use this recipe in sweet spreads and desserts like the famous tiramisu as a good substitute for mascarpone.
Finally, last on the list of mascarpone cheese substitutes is another vegan option. Coconut cream and lemon juice combine together to make a slightly acidic and dairy free alternative.
Coconut cream contains around 20% fat which makes it a lower fat option than classic mascarpone but is still thick in consistency. Add this vegan alternative into frosting for a decadent cake topper, rolled up in crepes, or spoon over dairy-free ice cream for a treat.
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Homemade Mascarpone
While there are many substitutions for mascarpone, nothing is like the real thing! In order to make your own mascarpone cheese at home, all you need is cream and lemon juice. Use a medium size pot to heat your cream and a rubber whisk to continuously move the cream in the pot to prevent burning.
Use a thermometer to check the temperature, removing from the heat at 185 F. Continue to stir off the heat until the temperature reaches 140 F. Place the pot back on the stove and bring the heat up to 185 F a second time continuously stirring. Add your lemon juice and keep at 185 F for three minutes.
Remove from the heat and bring back down to 140 F. Transfer into a clean bowl and allow to cool at room temperature covered for at least three hours. Using a cheese cloth folded over several times, strain the mixture and allow all the liquid to drain from the creamy mascarpone. Remove the mascarpone from the cheesecloth and store in the refrigerator. That’s it!
Recipes to Use Mascarpone In
Want to try mascarpone in a new recipe? Try the silky smooth cream cheese (or alternatives) in this recipe:
Have a look at another substitute post, 10 Velveeta substitutes.
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