Cooking Substitutions, Recalculated
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What can I use instead of mascarpone?

Best substitute for 1 cup mascarpone
1 cup cream cheese
Cream cheese — Slightly tangier; 1:1.
cups
Amounts below are for 1 cup mascarpone

4 substitutes for mascarpone

SubstituteUse this muchNotes
Cream cheese1 cup cream cheeseSlightly tangier; 1:1.
Cream cheese + cream3/4 cup cream cheese + 1/4 cup heavy creamCloser richness; whisk smooth.
Ricotta (blended)1 cup blended ricottaLighter; blend until smooth.
Greek yogurt + cream1/2 cup Greek yogurt + 1/2 cup heavy creamFor lighter desserts.

Mascarpone is an ultra-rich Italian cream cheese used in tiramisu and desserts. A few tweaks to cream cheese get you very close.

Tips

  • For tiramisu, cream cheese plus a splash of cream is the best swap.
  • Avoid overmixing or the mixture can split.

FAQ

What can I substitute for mascarpone in tiramisu?
Cream cheese, or cream cheese blended with a little heavy cream.
Is mascarpone the same as cream cheese?
Similar but richer and less tangy; they swap 1:1.