You’ll often hear mascarpone referred to as ‘Italian-style cream cheese’, which is a little reductive. Like cream cheese, it’s a soft cheese that isn’t aged, but the comparisons should really end there. Flavor wise it’s much sweeter and less tangy than cream cheese. It tastes richer, too (its fat content ranges between 60% and 75%). If you’ve ever enjoyed tiramisu, you’ve likely enjoyed mascarpone, which is a traditional component of the coffee-flavored cake.
Mascarpone is also fairly easy to make. It’s made from cream that is cooked with an acidifying agent (like lemon juice or cream of tartar), which is then strained through cheesecloth to remove excess liquid, yielding a silky and spreadable cheese. Although native to Northern Italy, mascarpone is available in most U.S. grocery stores (you’ll often find it by the speciality cheeses in the deli section). And just to set the record straight, it’s mas-car-pone, *not* mars-car-pone. (Some English speakers slip an extra r in there.) Spelling aside, we’ve gathered some of our favorite ways to put this soft cheese to good use, from fun twists on tiramisu to savory frittatas made with mascarpone.
Contents
- 1 Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
- 2 Mascarpone Cheesecake
- 3 Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream
- 4 Berry Tiramisu Icebox Cake
- 5 Tiramisu
- 6 Hallmark’s Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Creme Fraiche
- 7 Asparagus Frittata
- 8 Berry Tiramisu
- 9 Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake
- 10 Lemon Tiramisu
- 11 Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
- 12 Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake
- 13 Mini Red Velvet Cakes
- 14 Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle
- 15 Peach Shortcake Trifle
- 16 Berry Chantilly Cake
- 17 Strawberry Dream Cake
- 18 Blueberry Chiffon Mini Pies
- 19 Watermelon Pie
- 20 Baklava Cheesecake
- 21 Coconut Chiffon Cake
- 22 Turtle Trifle
- 23 Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée
- 24 Nehi Orange Poke Cake
- 25 Zucchini Bread Pancakes
- 26 Caramel Pecan Icebox Cake
- 27 Peach Cobbler Cake
Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Dollops of fresh mascarpone bring creamy brightness to this fresh tomato pasta perfect for an easy summer supper.
Mascarpone Cheesecake
Alright, we said cream cheese and mascarpone are not they same (and that’s true), but using the latter in this cheesecake recipe shows how they can be used similarly.
Buttermilk-Lime Mini Cakes with Vanilla-Mascarpone Buttercream
You’ll often see mascarpone used in buttercreams and other frostings to add a subtle creamy, tang. These mini cakes infused with buttermilk and lime, are perfectly complemented by a elegant mascarpone icing.
Berry Tiramisu Icebox Cake
This icebox version of the classic Italian dessert makes quite a few changes to the classic recipe, but one thing it still includes is mascarpone.
Tiramisu
If the last recipe was a little too untraditional, then let us offer our take on the classic Italian Tiramisu. Not only does it use mascarpone, but it also includes plenty of coffee flavor infused into the ladyfinger cookies.
Hallmark’s Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Creme Fraiche
We were lucky enough to snag this cake recipe from Hallmark, which is featured in The Secret Ingredient, the first-ever movie adaptation of a Hallmark Publishing original novel.
Asparagus Frittata
This spring-y breakfast is exactly the kind of food we want to wake up to. Flecked with bits of creamy mascarpone, we can’t think of a better way to enjoy eating our veggies like asparagus.
Berry Tiramisu
If you’re looking for new but festive way to celebrate the Fourth of July (or are just in search of a new refreshing summer dessert recipe), look no further. Using in season berries and rich mascarpone cheese make this cake a sweet dream.
Apple-Pecan Carrot Cake
You’ve probably made countless cakes with a cream cheese frosting. We suggest trying something new with this warm-spiced carrot cake that has apples and pecans folded into the mix. It opts for a super silky mascarpone frosting that perfectly balances the sweetness of the cake layers.
Lemon Tiramisu
“Some mothers are tough to shop for. Not mine—she loves a good dessert and I can always make her something special for Mother’s Day. (And there’s no gift receipt required!) One recipe that has been a big hit with Mom is also one of my favorites to make: Lemon Tiramisu. This no-bake dessert tastes like a combination of tiramisu and lemon cheesecake. Bright and sunny citrus stands in for the usual coffee and chocolate, making the dish feel just right for spring,” says Deputy Editor, Lisa Cericola of this lemon twist on the classic Italian cake.
Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake
The whipped cream on this Strawberry Shortcake Sheet Cake gets an easy upgrade with the addition of lightly tangy mascarpone. It lends the creamy topping a hint of tartness to balance the sweet, macerated strawberries on top.
Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake
Mascarpone cheese transforms a fairly standard whipped cream on this festive poke cake into a more complex topping that feels richer and balances out the sweetness of the cake.
Mini Red Velvet Cakes
Everything is just a little cuter when mini, including red velvet cake. Sure, cream cheese is traditional but mascarpone gives these baby cakes a slightly subtler tangy icing.
Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle
A dramatic bright red trifle like this red velvet-flavored showstopper is exactly what the holiday table calls for.
Peach Shortcake Trifle
Stunning layers of cake, mascarpone cream, and fresh peaches make this trifle an impressive but easy to pull off dessert.
Berry Chantilly Cake
Inspired by the classic pairing of berries and cream, we developed this stunning layer cake made with a luscious mascarpone frosting.
Strawberry Dream Cake
A neat row of bright red strawberries line each slice of this impressive summer layer cake.
Blueberry Chiffon Mini Pies
Made with store-bought pie dough, these mini pies couldn’t be easier to make. They’re perfect for serving at showers, brunches, or even as a sweet finish to a backyard barbecue party.
Watermelon Pie
We updated this retro pie by infusing fresh watermelon flavor into the filling instead of using watermelon-flavored gelatin. The mascarpone is incorporated into the whipped topping that lends the refreshing pie a creamy, fluffy top.
Baklava Cheesecake
Inspired by the Mediterranean phyllo pastry treat, we created a cheesecake with a crispy, flaky crust, and creamy honey-drizzled mascarpone filling.
Coconut Chiffon Cake
We sandwich a dreamy mascarpone filling made with frozen grated coconut between delicate layers of chiffon cake for the ultimate coconut layer cake.
Turtle Trifle
We turned the flavor of classic turtle candies into a beautifully layered trifle, which thanks to store-bought shortcuts like jarred caramel and chocolate sauce, comes together quickly and easily.
Orange Chess Pie With Cranberry Gelée
You can tell just by looking at the photo that this is not your average chess pie. We gussied up the rustic pie by adding a cranberry gelée layer (think fancy Jell-O ), and topping it with a mascarpone whipped cream.
Nehi Orange Poke Cake
This cake is filled with a tangy citrus curd made with Nehi orange-flavored soda, inspired by a recipe from Mildred “Mama Dip” Council’s cookbook entitled, Mama Dip’s Family Cookbook. It’s topped with silky mascarpone layer, too.
Zucchini Bread Pancakes
These ultra moist pancakes are a wonderful way to wake up, especially when topped with the real star of this recipe: the maple mascarpone.
Caramel Pecan Icebox Cake
No-bake icebox cakes have stood the test of time, and for good reason. They couldn’t be easier to assemble, no matter the flavor, and in this version of the classic dessert, we folded mascarpone into the mix.
Peach Cobbler Cake
The cloud-like whipped cream on this peach cake gets its silky texture from the mascarpone cheese whipped into the cream.