Substitutes for Mascarpone

Discovering delicious substitutes for mascarpone is essential in a world where healthy food choices are pivotal to our well-being. Whether you’re a health-conscious foodie looking for healthier options or need to swap mascarpone to create new dishes, we provide the scoop on the best substitutes for mascarpone. 

What Is Mascarpone?

Mascarpone is a creamy cheese originating from Italy, Mascarpone is made from the butterfat of cow’s milk by heating the cream and adding a citric or tartaric acid to thicken it. The result is a velvety, thick, and creamy cheese with a slight tanginess and a note of sweetness that makes desserts like tiramisu and cannoli shine.

It is definitely not a cheese you would use in a calorie restriction diet as the fat content is generally high at about 75% fat, which is why it is perfect for savory and sweet dishes.

The Best Mascarpone Substitutes 

In the culinary world, innovation often begins with experimentation, which is true for finding the perfect mascarpone substitute. Let’s explore these versatile alternatives, each with its own distinct qualities, and how to incorporate them into your recipes seamlessly.

Cream Cheese

Made from milk and cream, it’s widely available and a common choice as a mascarpone alternative.

Cream cheese is a soft, creamy dairy product with a dense texture and a mildly tangy flavor with a lower milk fat content of 33%, which makes it ideal when you need to lower your fat intake.

While cream cheese is usually a dairy product, but there is a plant-based alternative that you can buy if you need a vegan-friendly option.

You can substitute cream cheese at a 1:1 ratio, still remember it can have more tanginess. Adjusting the other ingredients in the recipe can help balance the flavors. You might also wonder how long can cream cheese be left out.

Cream cheese is my go-to for a quick no-fuss substitute for mascarpone; I can make a quick replica straight from the package with a few tweaks to other ingredients. When a recipe calls for a smoother consistency or a thinner texture, I blend a small amount of cream or milk into the cream cheese until it reaches the desired consistency.

Crème Fraîche 

Crème fraîche provides a similar creamy texture and a pleasant tanginess to your recipes when used instead of mascarpone. It is a French cultured cream product with a rich, creamy texture and slightly nutty flavor, soured by adding bacterial cultures. 

Its lower fat content of about 30% to 45% butterfat is a healthier option that can be used in an equal ratio of 1:1 amounts of crème fraîche in recipes asking for mascarpone.

Ricotta Cheese

A healthier substitute would be ricotta cheese, a soft, grainy Italian cheese made from the leftover byproduct of cheese making, called whey. 

Italian versions of ricotta cheese can be made from cows, sheep, and goats of Italian water buffalos. It has a naturally sweet profile with a hint of nuttiness; compared to its American variant, it is lower in salt. 

For every cup of mascarpone, you can blend 1 cup of ricotta cheese with ¼ cup of heavy cream to reduce the graininess and achieve the same creamy texture of mascarpone.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a thick, creamy dairy product made from cultured milk where the excess water is removed from the regular yogurt. It’s a healthier and versatile alternative to mascarpone, with a distinctive sour taste and many health benefits:

• Rich in probiotics
• Suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals
• It’s an excellent source of protein
• It’s also a rich source of vitamins and dietary minerals

You can substitute Greek yogurt at a 1:1 ratio for mascarpone. Although it is worth noting that Greek yogurt has more of a tangy flavor, other flavors should be adjusted to compensate for the extra sourness.

While I tend to use Greek yogurt straight from the container, when I have time and feel innovative, it helps improve the texture of certain recipes by draining excess liquid. By lining a fine-mesh strainer with a coffee filter or cheesecloth, I let the Greek yogurt drain over a bowl in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight until it reaches the desired thickness for my paleo meal prep recipes.

Coconut Cream

Coconut cream is a pleasant dairy-free alternative to mascarpone. The cream is skimmed off the top of chilled coconut milk. It is unsweetened, not to be mixed up with cream of coconut. 

Although this is a dairy-free alternative to mascarpone, it’s worth noting that it can infuse a tropical twist to your dishes. It’s ideal for crockpot soups, smoothies, and desserts and has a high influence on southeastern Asian meal prep dishes, which uplifts the texture and flavors of recipes.

While you can find coconut cream in cans or cartons, but sometimes I find that the coconut cream has separated or solidified; in that instance, I gently warm it or whisk it to restore its creamy consistency and use it as a straight swap in a 1:1 ratio instead of mascarpone.

Benefits 

• Low in carbs
• Dairy-free
• Keto friendly

Drawback

• High in calories
• Can cause nut allergies
• High in saturated fats

Understanding Mascarpone

Mascarpone is a rich, calorie-dense cheese, so portion control is crucial if you watch your calorie intake. While it isn’t a significant source of protein, it offers small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including calcium and phosphorus. However, it’s not typically consumed for its nutritional value  but for its exquisite taste and texture.

This rich cheese is special in Italian cuisine, particularly in the northern regions. It’s a key ingredient in many beloved Italian dishes, including the world-famous dessert tiramisu. This creamy cheese has also found its way into savory recipes, adding richness to pasta meal prep dishes and risotto.

Reasons To Substitute Mascarpone

There are numerous valid reasons for substituting mascarpone in recipes, ranging from dietary restrictions and allergies to personal preferences and culinary experimentation.

• Having lactose intolerance
• Needing to get a lower fat content
• Having a vegan lifestyle
• Having dairy allergies
• Experimentation with flavors and textures
• Mascarpone is not always readily available in all regions
• Finding a cheaper alternative 
• Specific dietary needs

It’s amazing what you can do with a suitable substitute. When I have a recipe that calls for mascarpone, I always consider my family’s dairy allergies and needs by using coconut cream, which is a safe and satisfying substitute.

Related Questions

There is so much to be said about mascarpone that I could create a series on this subject. However, for those who need the info now, here are a few more frequently asked questions about mascarpone.

Conclusion

Substitutes are sometimes necessary; whether it’s for dietary restrictions, looking for a vegan alternative, or simply trying something different, there’s a world of options available for substitutes for mascarpone. Remember that the beauty of cooking lies in the ability to adapt and innovate. Don’t be afraid to swap ingredients that align with your unique requirements and desires.