Mascarpone Cheese Substitute (2024)

If you are looking for a mascarpone cheese substitute for tiramisu or any other dessert, consider this your ultimate guide. Whether you have simply run out or are working around a dietary preference, I've gathered all the information you need to choose a suitable alternative for mascarpone.

What is mascarpone cheese?

Mascarpone cheese is a velvety soft and smooth Italian cheese made from cow's milk cream that has been 'acid set' which means that it's curdled by souring. Mascarpone is soured either by naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria or by the addition of acid. Traditionally it was made in old wine barrels and soured from tartaric acid residue.

Mascarpone is a very delicious spreadable, pale cream-colored cheese with a rich, buttery, slightly sweet taste. It is considered a specialty in the Lombardy region of Italy where it is originally from, so if you ever visit, be sure to try it!

What is mascarpone used for?

Mascarpone cheese is used in both sweet and savory dishes. It is most famous for its role in the popular and delicious Italian dessert Tiramisu but is also used as an ingredient in cheesecake, and cake frostings, to thicken sauces or add richness to dishes like risotto. Or you can eat it by itself as a spread!

What is the difference between mascarpone and cream cheese?

Cream cheese originates in the US and is an unripened fresh cheese made by curdling milk and then adding cream. Cream cheese is less sweet, and has a tangier taste than mascarpone with a more savory flavor profile, but still has the smooth and rich properties that make it ideal for cream cheese frosting as well as savory items.

Considerations when replacing mascarpone

First, consider why you need a mascarpone cheese substitute - is it for dietary purposes to avoid dairy, to lower the fat content in your dish, or simply because you have run out?

Mascarpone has a rich, buttery, and mildly sweet taste with a slight tang to it. It is also high-density, with a thick and velvety texture, which is also a consideration when looking for mascarpone alternatives.

What can I use instead of mascarpone cheese?

Here are 13 tried and tested alternatives you can use as mascarpone substitutes for Tiramisu and other dishes if you don't have any or can't use them for dietary reasons.

What can you use as a substitute for mascarpone cheese: cream cheese, heavy cream, a mix of cream cheese and heavy cream, full-fat sour cream, crème fraîche, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, requeson cheese, full-fat greek yogurt, English clotted cream, vegan mascarpone, silken tofu and vegan cream cheese, coconut cream and lemon juice or perhaps try my easy homemade mascarpone recipe!

Each of these options is worth exploring and experimenting with since they do work wonders in many recipes!

1. Cream cheese

Using full-fat cream cheese as a mascarpone alternative is the obvious choice, although as I have explained above they are not exactly the same. Cream cheese has a much more tangy flavor and will therefore work well as a good mascarpone substitute for cheesecake. You will be compromising on some sweetness so may want to add a little extra sugar and there is slightly less butteriness in the texture, too.

2. Heavy cream

Mascarpone cheese is made from cream, so it makes sense that you can use heavy cream instead of mascarpone! It has a rich, smooth flavor however, it has a runnier texture so a few tweaks need to be made. For more info, check out my heavy cream substitute article.

How to use it:

Whip high-fat content heavy cream (36%+) until thickens and chill in the fridge for at least an hour to ensure it is very cold before using heavy cream as a substitute for mascarpone cheese in a 1:1 ratio.

3. Heavy cream and cream cheese together

If you're trying to achieve the same smooth and buttery flavor as well as the thick texture then mixing cream cheese with heavy cream might be one of the most suitable mascarpone cheese substitutes.

How to use it:

Whip heavy cream (or use heavy whipping cream with 36%+ fat) and mix with cream cheese in a 1-part cream to 3-part cream cheese ratio. Chill before using it to further thicken it. Use it in a 1:1 ratio.

4. Full-fat sour cream

Sour cream is made by fermenting cream and has a high-fat content so it is similarly rich and smooth but a lot stronger in taste so not as well suited to sweet dishes. Sour cream as a mascarpone substitute can be used mainly in savory dishes.

How to use it:

Sour cream can be used as a mascarpone replacement in equal quantities (1:1 ratio) in savory recipes, but be sure to use full-fat sour cream as low fat versions contain way too much water.

5. Crème Fraîche

Crème Fraîche is likened to a French mascarpone, in that it is made from soured heavy cream so has some similarities. However, it is lower in fat and as such does not have quite as thick a texture or as rich a taste as mascarpone cheese. Crème fraîche can work well stirred into pasta sauces as a healthy substitute for mascarpone cheese.

How to use it:

Use Crème Fraîche to sub for mascarpone in the same quantities, in 1:1 ratio.

6. Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese is a good mascarpone cheese substitute in cheesecakes for example. Ricotta is another delicious cheese often used in desserts like this ricotta pie and is lower in fat than mascarpone and cream cheese as it is made solely from milk, and no cream. Also from Italy, it is a byproduct made from the leftover whey in the cheesemaking process.

Ricotta is traditionally made from sheep's milk, and sometimes a goat's too so can be enjoyed by people with a cow's milk allergy (always check the label).

How to use it:

Blend the ricotta cheese with an immersion blender or electric whisk to get a smooth texture and then replace the mascarpone cheese with ricotta 1:1.

7. Cottage cheese

Smooth high fat content cottage cheese can be a great alternative for mascarpone. Cottage cheese is similar to ricotta in texture but has a less creamy taste. It is lighter and lower in fat though so makes a good low-calorie mascarpone cheese substitute. Some cottage cheese has more of a lumpy texture, which needs to be considered before making the swap and is generally better in savory recipes than sweet.

How to use it:

Like with ricotta, blend the cottage cheese first to remove any lumps and create a smoother texture. Then use it in a 1:1 ratio as a healthy substitute for mascarpone. If using cottage cheese in dessert recipes, you may need to add a little extra sugar.

8. Requeson cheese

Requeson cheese is a Mexican cheese similar to ricotta, but it contains both milk and whey, isn't lumpy and has a smooth, creamy and spreadable texture. It has a slightly sweet taste and slightly more moisture than ricotta too, making it ideal for desserts.

How to use it:

Make a 1:1 substitute when using Requeson as an alternative for mascarpone cheese.

9. Full-fat greek yogurt

If you're looking for a lighter mascarpone substitute, full fat greak yogurt can work well. You can use Greek yogurt as a substitute for mascarpone to achieve a creamy and silky texture in dishes but in a lighter way (like in this mango mousse cake). Greek yogurt is also high in protein so has other health benefits, and can add much-needed acidity to cut through intensely sweet dishes.

How to use it:

Substitute mascarpone for yogurt by using the same quantity of full-fat Greek yogurt. If your yogurt is too liquid, strain it through a double layer of cheesecloth to thicken it further.

10. English Clotted Cream

Ever had a traditional English cream tea? Then you will have tried clotted cream which is an incredibly rich, thick and decadent cream that the British spread onto their version of scones, with strawberry jam. It's made by heating whole milk in a water bath and cooling slowly so that it clots. Clotted cream makes a delicious alternative to mascarpone in desserts but does have a thicker and even denser texture.

How to use it:

Use clotted cream instead of mascarpone in equal amounts. You may need to skim off the clotted top as well, as this is hard to re-incorporate. Eat it by itself instead!

11. Vegan mascarpone

Many people choose to follow a plant-based diet, perhaps because they are vegan or for health reasons. They may suffer from an allergy or intolerance and need to go dairy-free, but the good news is that there are now plenty of vegan cheese substitutes available in stores or to buy online. You can buy vegan mascarpone cheese which is normally made from blended raw cashew nuts, so it is not suitable for those with a nut allergy.

How to use it:

Use vegan mascarpone cheese in a 1:1 ratio as an alternative for mascarpone cheese.

12. Silken tofu and vegan cream cheese

There are also vegan cream cheeses, but the flavor can be quite strong, so one option is to blend it with silken tofu to get the right texture as well as a softer, smoother taste. Again, this mascarpone cheese substitute is not usually suitable for nut allergy sufferers, check the label.

How to use it:

Blend 3-part vegan cheese to 1-part silken tofu to substitute tofu and vegan cream cheese for mascarpone.

13. Coconut cream and lemon juice

Coconut cream is thick, smooth and rich so can be a great plant-based alternative to mascarpone. The coconut flavor is strong, however, so only use this vegan substitute for mascarpone in dishes where this will be an asset and not detract from other ingredients. This is a great nut-free vegan alternative to mascarpone.

How to use it:

Blend coconut cream with a squeeze of lemon juice to reach a smooth consistency and make a direct 1:1 swap for the quantity of mascarpone cheese in the recipe.

It is important to remember that mascarpone cheese has a unique taste and texture and one cannot expect a substitute to ever be exactly the same in every way. Consider carefully which of mascarpone's properties are the most important in the recipe you're making, and choose your substitute accordingly. Alternatively, make your own!

Homemade mascarpone cheese recipe

If you're wondering how to make mascarpone cheese for tiramisu, I've got you. Making your own homemade mascarpone cheese is easy and you only need two ingredients and a bit of time. It's so worth making your own to get that incredibly buttery flavor and you can season it with salt or a touch of powdered sugar to use in either savory or sweet dishes. Use a thermometer for the most accurate results.

Ingredients for homemade mascarpone cheese

1. 2 cups or 480 grams of heavy cream (at least 40% fat content)
2. 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for the acid)

The recipe makes 300g mascarpone cheese which is 1 ¼ cups. You can easily double the recipe by doubling both ingredients.

How to make mascarpone from scratch

1. Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a temperature of 185-190 degrees F / 85-87 degrees C which is just below the point it will begin to simmer.
2. Turn the heat down to low and stir in the lemon juice.
3. Whisk gently for 3 minutes, keeping the temperature at 185-190 degrees F/85-87 degrees C. The mixture will thicken slightly and coat the back of a spoon.
4. Remove from the heat and allow the mascarpone cream mixture to cool down to room temperature for 2-3 hours.
5. Place a sieve over a bowl and lay a clean kitchen towel over the top. Pour the mascarpone cheese in
6. You will want to strain the water out of the mixture overnight
7. Cover the surface of the cream with plastic food wrap to prevent it from forming a skin and transfer the entire set to the fridge to chill overnight. Any excess water will drop into the bowl and the remaining cream will thicken.

Please note that the homemade mascarpone will have a slightly more sour flavor profile than store-bought simply because of the process of how it is being made however when you use it with powdered sugar for tiramisu, the flavor will be perfect and the texture is super silky.

Use homemade mascarpone cheese in the exact same way you would use store-bought! I love to spread mascarpone on banana bread or even red velvet brownies and of course, you can use this homemade mascarpone recipe for tiramisu.

So what is the best mascarpone substitute for tiramisu?

For me personally, making my own homemade mascarpone cheese from scratch is always going to be the best mascarpone substitute for tiramisu. But for a more readily available alternative, the best in my view is a mixture of cream cheese and heavy cream with added powdered sugar to sweeten it. The heavy cream and sugar will soften the savory taste of the cream cheese somewhat, and the texture is identical to mascarpone once it is whipped.

I have found that vegan mascarpone is the best plant-based alternative for mascarpone, and it works exactly the same way although the flavor is slightly different. However, it isn't too overpowering considering the deliciously strong flavors of coffee and cocoa in tiramisu that take center stage.

Whether you're looking for an alternative to mascarpone cheese simply because you have run out of it, or to find a non-dairy or plant-based option there are plenty of replacements to choose from and I hope this guide to mascarpone substitutes is helpful.

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