These Mascarpone Cheese Substitutes Are Actually Legit

Mascarpone cheese is a silky, spreadable Italian cheese that is a main ingredient in tiramisu and other sweet and savory dishes. While it's available in nearly all commercial and specialty grocery stores, it's relatively pricey (approximately $8 for a 16-oz. package). Whether you don't have time to run out to the store, can't find it in your neighborhood market, or want to save a few dollars, we've got you covered. Below are the best and easiest mascarpone cheese substitutes.

The Best Mascarpone Cheese Substitute

You can mimic the silky, decadent consistency of mascarpone with an easy DIY recipe. To make this mascarpone substitute, mix together 12 ounces of room temperature cream cheese (1 ½ blocks) with ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream and ¼ cup of sour cream until combined. The whipping cream will cut some of the tanginess of cream cheese while mimicking mascarpone's smooth, velvety texture.

How to Make Mascarpone Cheese

You can make mascarpone cheese at home without too much fuss (though it takes a little time, and won't be ready for a last-minute tiramisu fix). Here's how to make 16 ounces of the good stuff:

1. Fit a small saucepan with a candy or deep-fry thermometer.
2. Add 2 cups heavy cream to a saucepan and warm over low heat.
3. Once the cream reaches 185°F, turn down the heat and add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.
4. Let the mixture cook at 185°F, watching carefully and adjusting the heat to keep it as close to 185°F as possible, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Set aside for 1 hour, and the mixture will slowly thicken.
6. Line a fine-mesh strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth and set over a large bowl and pour the thickened cream mixture through the cheesecloth.
7. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Discard any liquid in the bowl and transfer mascarpone in a strainer to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to three days.

Other Mascarpone Cheese Substitutes

While the cream cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream mixture we mention above is the best mascarpone alternative, there are some other alternatives you can try that may not be quite as successful as that combo.

Crème Fraîche

You can turn crème fraîche into mascarpone by mixing an 8-oz. package of crème fraîche and ¼ cup of granulated sugar. The added sweetness makes the flavor of this substitute taste like the real deal.

Greek Yogurt

This mascarpone substitute will be tangier than the real thing, and also have a looser texture. You can drain it in cheesecloth, and add a pinch of salt. It's better suited to situations where you're making something savory with your mascarpone, such as a creamy pasta sauce.

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese has a bit more graininess to it, but whipping it in a food processor could help it be a decent stand-in. (Adding in some whipped heavy cream can also help with the creaminess.) You may want to drain the ricotta first to help thicken it.

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese has the same issues as ricotta cheese. But if you drain it, blend it thoroughly (and ideally, whip it with some heavy cream), you can end up with something that approximates that mascarpone cheese creaminess.