The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

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Mascarpone Frosting made with mascarpone, heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, and almond and vanilla extracts is a lusciously smooth creamy frosting.

It is stable and holds its shape at room temperature and remains soft when refrigerated. Similar in look but very different in taste when compared toCream Cheese Frosting orItalian Buttercream Frosting.

The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (1)

Table of Contents

  • What is mascarpone?
  • Is there a substitute?
  • Join today and start saving your favorite recipes
  • Mascarpone Frosting Recipe

Mascarpone frosting is my new favorite frosting. This heavenly frosting has changed me forever.

You see, this frosting is light and fluffy and smooth. It’s everything you want a frosting to be. This frosting can be shaped and spread however you like and will, too, hold it’s shape.

I thought it would harden or change when refrigerated. Nope! We had extra after frosting our lemon cupcakes so I stored the leftover frosting in the refrigerator. I ended up eating it on a graham cracker and it was downright heavenly. Don’t judge me! In fact, I might just make an ice box cake out of it this coming summer!

This frosting would go perfectly with any cake or cupcake. I can’t wait to top my heavenly homemade chocolate cupcakes with it!

The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2)

Table of Contents

  • What is mascarpone?
  • Is there a substitute?
  • Join today and start saving your favorite recipes
  • Mascarpone Frosting Recipe

What is mascarpone?

I have a friend who helps me cook. When I told her we were making mascarpone frosting, she asked “what’s that?”.

Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese. This is definitely not to be mistaken by our American cream cheese. They are quite different.

Mascarpone cheese is made from cow’s milk. It is off-white in color and is spreadable. If you’ve ever enjoyed tiramisu, it was most likely made with it. I also use it in my cannoli filling. I love spreading it on raisin toast. It melts like a cross between whipped cream and butter, but isn’t exactly like either.

Mascarpone can be used in a wide variety of ways including desserts like cheesecake or adding richness to a risotto.

Now that I’ve used it in frosting, I swear it will be my favorite frosting recipe to make from here on out.

The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (3)

Is there a substitute?

In my opinion, no. Nothing is quite like rich and creamy mascarpone. If a recipe calls for mascarpone, I won’t try to substitute.

That’s not to say it’s not possible.

If you’re really in a pickle and are right in the middle of making a recipe that calls for mascarpone, and you just realized you either ran out or it went bad, there is a way to cheat.

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The work around is to combine a brick, or eight ounces, of softened cream cheese with a quarter cup heavy cream and two tablespoons sour cream. The cream cheese and sour cream must be full fat. Actually, don’t break my heart and use low or nonfat anything. Gross.

Does it taste just like mascarpone? Not exactly, but it’s close enough if you need a quick substitute.

The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (4)

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Mascarpone Frosting

Prep5 minutes mins

Total10 minutes mins

Servings 12 servings

Author Krissy Allori

Mascarpone Frosting is simply the very best tasting, easy to make, and perfectly sweet frosting. Just a few simple ingredients whipped together create a lusciously smooth creamy frosting that is so easy to work with. It is stable and holds its shape at room temperature and remains soft when refrigerated.

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese chilled, I used Trader Joe's brand, results may vary with other brands
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream chilled
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place the mascarpone in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment and start beating on medium speed. While beating, add the almond extract and vanilla followed by the confectioners sugar. Scrape sides and continue beating until light and fluffy.DO NOT OVERMIX as it will cause the frosting to curdle.

  • With the mixer running on high speed, slowly add the whipping cream until the frosting becomes light and fluffy, about 1-3 minutes. DO NOT OVERMIX as it will cause the frosting to curdle.

  • Spread onto cake or cupcakes. This frosting also holds its shape incredibly well, so it’s easy to pipe on using a decorating set. Makes enough to frost 24 cupcakes or two 9-inch rounds.

Notes

Makes about 3 cups.

For longer term storage, keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Frosting will remain soft even after refrigerating, but you can always allow for it to come to room temperature before using if previously refrigerated or frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 46mg, Sodium: 18mg, Potassium: 14mg, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 555IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 39mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me acomment below

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The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe | Self Proclaimed Foodie (2024)

FAQs

What is mascarpone frosting made of? ›

Ingredients for Mascarpone Frosting

Mascarpone cheese: A creamy Italian cheese that adds a rich texture and buttery flavor to this whipped frosting. Powdered sugar: Helps thicken and sweeten the frosting. Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor. Whipping cream: Whipped cream lightens the frosting for an airy finish.

What's the difference between mascarpone and cream cheese frosting? ›

Cream cheese contains at least 33% milk fat, and mascarpone may contain 60-75% milk fat. Mascarpone has a buttery flavor that makes it particularly suitable for desserts. It adds richness and a creamy texture, while cream cheese brings a creamy consistency and slightly tangy taste to dishes.

How long can mascarpone frosting sit out? ›

How long can mascarpone frosting sit out at room temperature? Depending on the temperature of the room, any baked good with mascarpone cheese should sit out at room temperature for no longer than 2 - 4 hours.

How do you troubleshoot mascarpone frosting? ›

You can salvage it by putting in the fridge (which solidifies the fat and pulls the mixture together), then add some more icing sugar (which absorbs the remaining liquid) and give it a good mix and it should come back together. Hope this helps!

Why is my mascarpone frosting runny? ›

Why is my mascarpone frosting runny? A runny frosting can be caused by overmixing or too much ingredient liquid. To avoid this, stop the process immediately when stiff peaks form. For the ingredients, it's important to use only high-fat mascarpone and heavy cream that is not just high fat but cold as well.

How do you thicken mascarpone frosting? ›

If your mascarpone frosting is runny, there's a chance that you either over or under-mixed the mascarpone and heavy cream. When this happens, try beating in extra powdered sugar, 1 spoonful at a time, to help it thicken.

Is mascarpone healthier than cream cheese? ›

No, mascarpone cheese is not healthier than cream cheese as it contains 25% more fat than cream cheese. Yet mascarpone cheese is only preferred for its extra smooth texture. You can use cream cheese and mascarpone cheese for salty and sweet dishes.

Can I substitute mascarpone for cream cheese in frosting? ›

Substituting Mascarpone For Cream Cheese

Mascarpone is richer and creamier than cream cheese, but works well in recipes like cake frosting. It's not as salty or tangy as some brands of cream cheese, so taste the frosting to see if it needs a pinch of salt or a few drops of lemon juice for balance.

Can you use Philadelphia cream cheese instead of mascarpone? ›

Is Philadelphia cream cheese mascarpone? No marscapone and cream cheese are completely different. There are cases where one may be substituted for the other but as a general rule you should use the ingredient the recipe calls for; otherwise you will end up with a similar but still completely different result.

Is mascarpone 2 weeks out of date safe to eat? ›

What is the shelf life of mascarpone? A closed package of mascarpone will last in the fridge until its best-by date. If you've already opened it, the clock starts ticking, and you have around 1 week to use it all up.

How do I know if my mascarpone is bad? ›

When mascarpone goes bad, the indicators are quite distinctive. The cheese may develop a sour smell somewhat similar to sour cream. Rancid mascarpone cheese may also form a tough yellowish crust on the surface. In some cases, you might notice mold growth in different hues – blue, green, or white.

Can I freeze leftover mascarpone? ›

In addition, you can freeze mascarpone in smaller portions if you do not want to use it immediately. It may change texture slightly when thawed, but you can still use it to make desserts and sauces.

What happens if you over whip mascarpone? ›

Whip on high until soft peaks form, 1-2 minutes. This takes less time than whipping cream by itself. If you accidentally over-whip the mascarpone and it turns grainy, you can rescue it by folding in a splash of cream until it smooths out again.

Why is my homemade mascarpone runny? ›

The other main reasons the mixture would be runny is if other liquid ingredients have been added first, or if the mascarpone has been beaten so much that it has curdled (then you will get water separating out from the cheese curds).

What can I use instead of mascarpone frosting? ›

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.

Is mascarpone same as whipping cream? ›

Is mascarpone the same as whipping cream? No. Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese made with heavy cream, and whipping cream is made with heavy cream that didn't go through the process of cheese making.

Is mascarpone a butter or cheese? ›

Mascarpone (/ˌmæskɑːrˈpoʊn(eɪ), -ni/, US also /ˌmɑːsk-/; Italian: [maskarˈpoːne]) is a soft Italian acid-set cream cheese.

What is the difference between mascarpone and butter? ›

Full of flavorful milk fats, mascarpone is just a step away from butter, with fat comprising around 75% of the cheese compared to 80% in butter. In fact, mascarpone is so rich that it is often used like butter in polenta, risotto, and other dishes of Italy, the origin place of mascarpone cheese.

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