27 Creamy And Dreamy Mascarpone Recipes

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.

Dollops of fresh mascarpone bring creamy brightness to this fresh tomato pasta perfect for an easy summer supper.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A dramatic bright red trifle like this red velvet-flavored showstopper is exactly what the holiday table calls for.

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Stunning layers of cake, mascarpone cream, and fresh peaches make this trifle an impressive but easy to pull off dessert.

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Inspired by the classic pairing of berries and cream, we developed this stunning layer cake made with a luscious mascarpone frosting.

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A neat row of bright red strawberries line each slice of this impressive summer layer cake.

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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.

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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.

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Inspired by the Mediterranean phyllo pastry treat, we created a cheesecake with a crispy, flaky crust, and creamy honey-drizzled mascarpone filling.

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We sandwich a dreamy mascarpone filling made with frozen grated coconut between delicate layers of chiffon cake for the ultimate coconut layer cake.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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These ultra moist pancakes are a wonderful way to wake up, especially when topped with the real star of this recipe: the maple mascarpone.

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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.

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The cloud-like whipped cream on this peach cake gets its silky texture from the mascarpone cheese whipped into the cream.

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