• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
Follow stetted on Twitter Follow stetted on Facebook Follow stetted on Instagram Follow stetted on Pinterest

stetted

recipes, decor, and more for a better life

  • Recipes
  • House & Home
  • Blogging 101
  • Travel
  • Shop

How to Make Mascarpone

September 19, 2014 / Featured, Condiments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Homemade mascarpone is only a few steps away. Find out how to make this rich, soft cheese at home and how to use it in every meal of the day!

Mascarpone - Homemade mascarpone is only a few steps and two ingredients away.

Cheese-making might be my new obsession.

I’m loading up on cheesecloth. Errands have been scheduled around trips to the store that sells the best rennet selection.

I might be trying to convince my husband that we need to move to an acreage so I can have goats for milking.

This is all normal, right?

It’s not like I’m going to drop everything to have my own cheese business. But maybe I could.

I first got hooked on making cheese at home with this simple ricotta-style homemade cheese, getting totally mesmerized watching the curds form after pouring in the vinegar. Food science and poetry, mingling together right there in my pot.

DIY mascarpone only needs two ingredients and some time for creamy, dreamy results.

Homemade mascarpone cheese is even easier.

What is mascarpone?

Mascarpone is a soft cheese that hails from the Lombardy region of Italy.

Mascarpone is thick with a very smooth texture. The closest relatives to mascarpone are clotted cream or creme fraiche.
In the U.S., cream cheese is the closest, easiest-to-find relative to mascarpone, although it should be noted that it is much thicker and has a tangier flavor. (That’s why it works so well with bagels and cured salmon!)

What does mascarpone cheese taste like?

If you’ve never had mascarpone cheese, you’re in for a real treat.

Mascarpone cheese has a very milky and slightly sweet flavor, often with a very slight tang. It is mild, while still being buttery and rich due to containing a high percentage of fat.

How to make mascarpone

Considering how much mascarpone costs at the store, it’s like a dirty little secret that all you need is good, quality cream and some citric acid — by way of lemon juice — to make it at home.

And time, but, well, most of that is the cheese just doing its thing in your fridge.

Making homemade mascarpone is as easy as heating cream to about 190°F, adding lemon juice, and letting the mixture simmer together for another 5 minutes.

From there, it’s all about the wait.

I let my homemade mascarpone sit in the fridge for about 16 hours, but it really doesn’t need that long. The longer it sits, the more whey is drained out, so you might find yourself needing to stir some whey back in to achieve that silky, creamy texture mascarpone is known for.

Definitely do not throw away the whey, because it’s a great addition to a variety of things. I like to use it in pancake batter or use in place of yogurt in a smoothie for a protein boost that isn’t thick.

I do recommend getting a candy thermometer to make sure you are bringing the cream to the right temperature, but I promise you can find plenty of uses for it outside of cheese making.

DIY mascarpone is a versatile ingredient you can easily make at home!

Uses for mascarpone cheese

This revelation might actually be a dangerous thing for me, because now I’m obsessing over finding new ways to use mascarpone.

Dessert, obviously. It’s divine in my Blueberry White Chocolate Tart.

Breakfast dishes, sure. It’s a must in Mascarpone Pancakes, and you could swap out the cream cheese for homemade mascarpone in my Blueberry Cream Cheese Danishes.

Stuffed in pasta or stirred into risotto? Now we’re talking. It even makes an excellent dipping sauce for Mini Vegetable Latkes.

If you have 15 minutes of time tonight you can have fresh mascarpone ready by morning. What’s stopping you?

DIY mascarpone is a versatile ingredient you can easily make at home!

How to Make Mascarpone

Yield: 24 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Rest Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes

Creamy mascarpone is easily made at home with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pour heavy cream into a saucepan and heat over medium-high. Using a candy thermometer to check temperature, cook until it reads about 190°F, about 5 minutes. Stir with a silicone spatula while cooking to ensure the cream doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan.
  2. Stir in the lemon juice and continue to simmer at the same temperature, stirring continuously, for another 5 minutes. The mixture will thicken quickly and begin to bubble slightly, so reduce heat as needed.
  3. Remove from heat and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  4. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and set over a bowl. Pour the cooled mixture into the cheesecloth, making sure the cheesecloth stays in place. Cover the strainer with plastic wrap and let drain in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
  5. After resting, put the finished cheese in a bowl and stir to loosen it up. Stir back in some of the whey that drained out if you like, to achieve the texture you want.

Notes

  • Any other whey can be saved and used in smoothies, batters, or scrambled eggs.
  • Store mascarpone cheese in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Thermometer 
    ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Thermometer 
  • Cuisinart Stainless 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set
    Cuisinart Stainless 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set
  • 100% Unbleached Cotton Fabric Ultra Fine Cheesecloth
    100% Unbleached Cotton Fabric Ultra Fine Cheesecloth
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Share on Instagram and tag @stetted!

Recipes that use mascarpone that you might like:

Lemon Mascarpone Stuffed Vanilla Bean French Toast – Pineapple & Coconut
Mascarpone Pancakes – Stetted
Mascarpone Pasta with Smoked Sausage and Broccoli – Stephie Cooks
Strawberry Mascarpone Yogurt Pie – Dessert for Two
Tiramisu Brownies with Hazelnuts – Bluebonnet Baker

Fit Foodie 5k Recap
Weekly Meal Plan, September 22

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Join the Conversation
  1. Kristin says

    September 19, 2014 at 11:57 am

    I love mascarpone and always shocked at how expensive a tiny container is. I can’t believe it’s this simple to make! I am definitely going to try it.

    Reply
  2. Jen @ My KItchen Addiction says

    September 19, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Yum!! I made homemade mascarpone for tiramisu a few years ago, but I haven’t made it since. I make ricotta all the time, but I think I need to add mascarpone to my weekly repertoire. Thanks for the reminder!

    Reply
  3. Liz Colombo says

    March 28, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    How much do you end up with… 1 cup?

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 28, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Hi Liz, when I make it I end up with approximately 1 1/2 cups.

      Reply
  4. Lynn says

    January 5, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    Oh my goodness!! This is marvelous! There will never be store bought marscapone in my house again!!! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  5. DavetteB says

    March 19, 2020 at 12:31 am

    Does it matter if you use bottled lemon juice vs fresh?
    I love mascarpone but tend to skip it because of the costs.

    Reply
    • Megan says

      March 19, 2020 at 9:28 am

      Hi Davette, I have made it both ways. If you use fresh make sure to strain it.

      Reply
  6. Emily says

    May 18, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Would using a double boiler to heat the cream be of any benefit?

    Reply
    • Megan says

      May 18, 2020 at 4:12 pm

      Hi Emily, a double boiler would be a great option if you are worried about uneven heating or scalding the milk. I haven’t tried this using one, so if you do please let me know your results!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

I focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients in my family-friendly meals. Come live a balanced life with me!

Read More »

Subscribe via Email

to stay in the loop on new posts!

Reader Faves

Spicy glazed brussels sprouts are a quick and easy side dish. It gets its flavor from the fiery Korean condiment, gochujang.

Spicy Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Learn how to peel tomatoes for cooking and canning. It's easy!

How to Peel Tomatoes

Bison One-Pot Dinner

Bison One-Pot Dinner

Raspberries and Cream Pie

Raspberries & Cream Pie

Browse Around

  • Muffins
  • Side Dishes
  • Cookies
  • Vegetarian
  • Cakes
  • Videos

    Hungry for more Texas recipes?

    Footer

    Seasonal

    Butternut Squash Tacos

    Butternut Squash Tacos with Black Beans

    Broccoli Cheese Toastie

    Broccoli Cheese Toasties

    Spiced pear cake is a lovely cake for any party, or just because.

    Spiced Pear Cake

    Popular

    This comforting Instant Pot Irish lamb stew is full of tender lamb and vegetables. It's a wonderful way to end to the day.

    Instant Pot Irish Lamb Stew

    Baked bison meatballs are quick and easy to make any night of the week. Use them for pasta, sandwiches, and more.

    Baked Bison Meatballs

    Copycat Starbucks Breakfast Sandwich

    Copycat Starbucks Breakfast Sandwiches

    apple recipes

    Apple Coffee Cake

    Whole wheat apple cinnamon muffins are bursting with flavor. The whole family will love them.

    Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins

    Swedish Apple Pie

    Swedish Apple Pie

    Follow stetted on Twitter Follow stetted on Facebook Follow stetted on Instagram Follow stetted on Pinterest
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    Copyright © 2021 Megan MyersTheme by Once Coupled & Melissa Rose Design