What can I use instead of cream cheese?
Best substitute for 1 cup cream cheese
1 cup mascarpone
Mascarpone — Richer, less tangy; 1:1.
cups
Amounts below are for 1 cup cream cheese
5 substitutes for cream cheese
| Substitute | Use this much | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mascarpone | 1 cup mascarpone | Richer, less tangy; 1:1. |
| Neufchatel | 1 cup Neufchatel cheese | Lower-fat, near-identical swap. |
| Greek yogurt | 1 cup strained Greek yogurt | Tangier and lighter; strain thick. |
| Cottage cheese | 1 cup cottage cheese | Blend until completely smooth. |
| Ricotta | 1 cup ricotta | Blend for spreads and baking. |
Cream cheese is rich, smooth and mildly tangy. For frosting, cheesecake and dips, these soft-cheese swaps come closest.
Tips
- Mascarpone is the richest 1:1 swap for cheesecakes.
- For frosting, strained Greek yogurt holds up better when cold.
FAQ
- What is the closest cream cheese substitute?
- Mascarpone or Neufchatel are the closest 1:1 options.
- Dairy-free cream cheese swap?
- Use a vegan cream cheese, or blended soaked cashews, 1:1.