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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!
Cheese-making is one of my favorite not-really-cooking cooking projects. Sure, you’re heating things up on the stove, but it’s so easy it feels more like magic than cooking
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.
Homemade mascarpone cheese is even easier, and perfect for everything from pancakes to panettone.
If you’ve got a big pot, a colander, and some cheesecloth, you can learn how to make mascarpone at home!
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. If you’ve ever had tiramisu, you’ve had mascarpone!
In the U.S., cream cheese is the closest, easiest-to-find relative to mascarpone, although it should be noted that cream cheese 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. It doesn’t necessarily taste “cheesy” at all, because it is so creamy and mild.
This rich flavor makes it ideal for lots of recipes, especially desserts like my peach galette with mascarpone.
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.
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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.
Store the cheese in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. While it is in the refrigerator, more whey might be released (much like yogurt or sour cream). You can stir it back in or drain it off, depending on the texture you’re after.
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. Or, simply dip fresh fruit right in.
If you have 15 minutes of time tonight you can have fresh mascarpone ready by morning. What’s stopping you?
How to Make Mascarpone
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove from heat and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- 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.
- 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.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate based on online calculators. Any nutritional information found on Stetted should be used as a general guideline only.
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About Megan
I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, I’m here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen. Read more…
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.
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!
How much do you end up with… 1 cup?
Hi Liz, when I make it I end up with approximately 1 1/2 cups.
Oh my goodness!! This is marvelous! There will never be store bought marscapone in my house again!!! Thank you so much!
Does it matter if you use bottled lemon juice vs fresh?
I love mascarpone but tend to skip it because of the costs.
Hi Davette, I have made it both ways. If you use fresh make sure to strain it.
Would using a double boiler to heat the cream be of any benefit?
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!