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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
This Italian cheese is silky, smooth, thick, and creamy. It’s slightly sweet and tangy, buttery and rich.
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.
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
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
Mascarpone Cheese (Mascarpone Substitute)
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese 454 grams, room temperature (2 bricks)
- ⅓ cup sour cream 76 grams
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream 57 grams
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice 14 grams, freshly squeezed
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
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
- Blend all ingredients together until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Chill to firm up the cheese.
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
- You can also use cream of tartar or white vinegar in place of lemon juice.
Nutrition Information
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.
Blend teh Cheese: Blend all ingredients together until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
Chill the Cheese: Chill to firm up the cheese.
Can this be used to make chantilly frosting?
I would think so!
This recipe hack is great and tremendously useful considering how expensive mascarpone can be.
But this comment in your instructions intrigued me, “ His expertise and scholarship complements that of the existing India studies faculty.” Do they have a mascarpone equivalent in India?
Hi Becky; Can I use Half & Half instead of the Heavy Cream? Thanks for this recipe, this Cheese is very expensive in my store in N.J. 😊
It’s best if you can use heavy cream!
I’ve been looking for a Substitute for Mascarpone because it’s too expensive at my store! I’m going to try it 👍 Thanks
Easy great texture. I had made homemade sour cream or cream fraishe earlierr this week so I added that….I did make a decision to add 1 tsp off powdered sugar and not vanilla….I made this and served a fresh fruit parfait…Excellent…
Thank you for sharing!!
Will this work to make frosting?
You can give it a try, Brenda!
hi should i use Anchor Whipping Cream or Anchor Cooking cream for this recipe?
Use the whipping cream! :)
I haven’t made this yet but plan to soon. I had a dip at a wedding recently that is positively addictive! It tastes like Marscapone with a berry like currants or that size and macerated in some liquid (?). The taste is amazing! Any help would be a great help with Christmas rapidly approaching.
Yum that sounds amazing!
Was looking for a recipe for Mascarpone, can not wait to make cannolies!!
Enjoy, Teresa!
I tried your recipe yesterday and made a tiramisu and it was delicious and tasted exactly like the one we buy from the bakery! Mascarpone cheese is not easy to find here in the US, Thank you so much!