Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (2024)

Last modified: . Originally posted: By Sophia DeSantis

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This vegan mascarpone recipe is easily made with simple ingredients to get a rich creamy result! The perfect dairy-free mascarpone substitute.

You can use vegan mascarpone in any recipe that calls for mascarpone cheese. It is versatile and perfect for desserts, pastas and more!

Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (1)
Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (2)

This post was originally published on May 27, 2020.

I use this easy vegan mascarpone cheese in multiple ways! It's a perfect substitute in my vegan tiramisu, and is a delicious addition to my spinach tomato pasta for a creamy twist.

Ingredients

Since traditional mascarpone is dairy filled and not vegan, I had to make a mascarpone cheese substitute. I used my vegan cream cheese recipe as a base, since the mix of raw cashews and slivered almonds created a great creamy flavor.

The recipes are similar, with this one focusing on a little less tang and bringing out some of the sweetness.

Each recipe for vegan mascarpone will vary, this particular one is made without coconut cream, soy, or tofu. In order to get the flavor I was looking for I needed the perfect mix of tang and nut base. Here is what I used:

  • Raw cashews
  • Blanched slivered almonds
  • Creamy dairy-free yogurt
  • Lemon juice
  • White vinegar
  • Sea salt
  • Sugar (this is optional for use in sweet recipes)
Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (3)

How to Make Vegan Mascarpone

Making the recipe itself is super easy as all you need to do it blend them well. Here are the simple steps:

  1. Add everything to a food processor or high speed blender and blend until you reach a smooth and creamy texture.
  2. Serve as a topper or mix into recipes.
Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (4)
Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (5)

Uses for Vegan Mascarpone

Since mascarpone has a slightly sweet taste, it is often used in desserts. However you can also use this dairy-free substitute in savory recipes like pasta dishes.

Some general ways to use mascarpone are:

  • Dip for fruit
  • Spread on toast
  • Pizza topper or sauce
  • Sub for whipped cream
  • Stir it into pasta sauce
  • Soup topper
  • Add it in vegetable dishes for a creamy twist
  • Make desserts with it like tarts, cheesecakes, pies, cakes, parfaits, and more!

This vegan mascarpone is great used in many of the recipes on this site. Here are some ideas:

  • Use in this Vegan Tiramisu recipe
  • Substitute it for frosting on my vegan vanilla, vegan chocolate or vegan pumpkin spice cupcakes, or any cake!
  • Use it on this pina colada smoothie
  • As a topper for this vegan peach cobbler
  • Top this vegan apple crisp with it
  • As a sub for whipped cream for my vegan pumpkin pie
  • Drop a scoop into this vegan hot chocolate
  • Serve it over this vegan strawberry shortcake
  • Drizzle it on these maple roasted carrots
  • Use it in these vegan mashed potatoes
  • Spread over pancakes or vegan French toast with a drizzle of maple syrup
Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (6)

Preparation Tips

  • For the best vegan mascarpone use full fat vegan yogurt, which results in ultimate creaminess.
  • For an extra thick consistency make sure to use all cashews.
    • If you want a lighter result, use up to ½ cup almonds instead.
    • Just make sure the total amount of nuts is 1 ½ cups no matter what type you use.
  • The nuts need to be soaked overnight for the right result.
    • If you forget to soak, you can boil them for 30 minutes, then drain and proceed with the recipe.
  • Regular mascarpone doesn’t have sugar but it does have a touch of sweetness from the heavy cream. To mimic that adding a touch of sugar helps.
    • Feel free to leave the sugar out depending on what you are making.

Storage Tips

  • Seal the dairy free mascarpone in an airtight container.
  • Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
  • You can also freeze vegan mascarpone cheese for up to 3 months.
    • Defrost in the fridge then re-blend to get the texture back.

Common Questions

What is Mascarpone?

The easy explanation is that mascarpone is like an Italian cream cheese. It has a sweeter flavor because of the high fat content and is also not as thick.
Cream cheese was created in America, and it uses whole milk as a base. Mascarpone is Italian and is made using heavy cream. Which is where the richer and slightly sweet flavor come from.

What's the difference between ricotta and mascarpone?

The main difference is the flavor. Ricotta isn't as sweet as mascarpone. It also has a little bit of a different texture. It's more textured and although creamy, isn't as smooth. (Try my vegan ricotta recipe next!)

What is vegan mascarpone made of?

Some recipes use full-fat coconut milk or tofu. This version uses nuts, dairy-free yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, and a pinch of salt.

Can I substitute cream cheese for mascarpone?

Yes, the most common substitute for mascarpone cheese is cream cheese. But you may want to mix it with a touch of milk to remove some of the tartness and thin it out a bit.
You can even sub coconut whip if you are using it in dessert and don't mind the fluffier texture. For savory dishes I would use a plain yogurt or sour cream.

Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (7)

More Dairy-Free Substitutes

  • Best Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe
  • The Best Homemade Vegan Ranch Dressing
  • The Best Homemade Vegan Sour Cream Recipe
  • Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (12)

Vegan Mascarpone Recipe

Sophia DeSantis

This vegan mascarpone recipe is easily made with simple ingredients to get a rich creamy result! The perfect dairy-free mascarpone substitute.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients

Course 30 Minutes or Less, Filling, Topping

Cuisine Italian

Servings 16

Calories 73 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup raw cashews , soaked overnight
  • ¼ cup blanched slivered almonds , soaked overnight (see note)
  • ½ cup plain dairy free yogurt (see note)
  • 5 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 3 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons cane sugar ,optional (see note)

Shop Ingredients on Jupiter

Instructions

  • Put everything into a food processor and blend until creamy and smooth.

  • Use in your favorite recipes or as a dip!

Notes

  • The nuts need to be soaked for the right result. If you forget to soak, you can boil them for 30 minutes.
  • If you want a lighter result, use up to ½ cup almonds. If you want it thicker and heavier use all cashews. Just make sure the total amount of nuts is 1 ½ cups.
  • Make sure to use a creamy full fat yogurt for best results.
  • Regular mascarpone doesn’t have sugar but it does have a touch of sweetness from the heavy cream. To mimic that adding a touch of sugar helps. Feel free to leave it out depending on what you are making.
  • This makes about 2 cups, serving size is 2 tablespoons.

Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 35mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (13)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. jennifer

    I'm so excited to find dairy-free alternatives that don't use soy! (body can't handle either). However, we do have a lemon/citrus allergy in the family, as well- Do you think we could just omit the lemon juice? Or add a touch more vinegar?

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      Hi Jennifer! I wouldn't just omit it because the tang is important to counteract the sweetness of the cashews. You can try to add more vinegar or maybe some apple cider vinegar since all white vinegar will be too tart. The flavor overall won't be exactly the same as it is with lemon because the flavor the lemon brings contributes to the end result. But it should still work ok!

      Reply

  2. Mike

    So, I tried the recipe and I must have made it a bit too heavy cause it didn't turn out as fluffy as I was hoping for. However, I put the mixture into the fridge and will try adding confectioner's sugar to see if that helps it fluff up a bit.

    The recipe was really easy to follow, the only thing I'd add is what each component is meant to do, incase someone needs to make a substitution for what you have written, they can substitute correctly. This is only because I'm fairly new with these recipes and have only made your version before. I'm sure many more like me are new to baking and would love a little explanation as to why you chose these ingredients specifically other than being Vegan/GF.

    Thank you, have a wonderful day!

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Hi Mike! I'm glad it was easy to follow! The fluffiness may also have to do with your food processor. Sometimes if a blender or processor aren't sharp or high speed enough it can affect the texture. Also, did you use all cashews or add in some almonds? But as long as it tastes good you're good to go! As for the ingredients, the nuts and yogurt are there to mimic dairy. And the yogurt, lemon and vinegar are there to balance it out and mask some of that nut flavor. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  3. Charles Stuart

    I am neither vegetarian nor vegan but I wanted to bake a cake that doesn't contain dairy, so a friend with a dairy allergy can eat it. I was really surprised how well this turns out and I think it could be even better passed through a fine sieve. It's not quite the same as genuine mascarpone but it's very good. I was also surprised how good almond yoghurt is. My one complaint is that whenever I look at the recipe again it defaults back to American measures that just aren't used in the rest of the world. It's easy enough to set to metric but it would be nice if the site remembered my choice.

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      I'm so happy you liked it! I wish there was a way to save your choice but unfortunately I don't think there is.

      Reply

  4. Stephen in Seattle

    Wow! Wow! Wow! I can't believe how easy this was to make and how fantastic the results. We're veganizing Kasha Kohl's recipe from her Burren Wild gluten-free cookbook for rhubarb lavender cake. The marscapone will be part of the topping.

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Yay! I am so happy you liked it!

      Reply

  5. Lynne

    This was easy & so good! Great recipe. Thank you.

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      I'm so happy you liked it!!

      Reply

  6. Anita

    Hi here! Have loved trying out this recipe. Just wondering how long it will keep for if refrigerated?

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Hi Anita! I'd say about 5-7 days for optimal flavor! Glad you liked it!

      Reply

  7. Mehy

    Hi,

    Is it ok to replace the vegan yogurt with vanilla Skype full fat yogurt and get the same result?

    Much appreciated.

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Hi Mehy! I have never tried the Skype but it should yield similar results! Let me know if you try it!

      Reply

      • Mehy

        Sorry autocorrect, it’s Skyre yogurt.

      • veggiesdontbite

        Hi Mehy! I haven't tried that one. But let me know if you give it a shot!

  8. Chelsee Lee

    PERFECT! I needed a good recipe like this for the holidays and this will be great.

    Reply

  9. Steph

    Can you recommend any full fat vegan yogurts? I was thinking almond yogurt but all vegan yogurt has a ton of sugar. I’m allergic to coconut:/

    Also this looks divine and I want to try soooo bad!

    Reply

    • veggiesdontbite

      Hi Steph!! Yes, a lot of the plain yogurt has sugar as well, but the plain seems to have less. Unfortunately my favorite one with very little sugar is coconut based. I'd try an almond one or the cashew one from Forager. I usually use my coconut one I love, but the others should work well too!

      Reply

Vegan Mascarpone Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is mascarpone not vegetarian? ›

It is a fresh cheese that is most commonly made with pasteurized cow's milk. Unlike some cheeses, which have animal-derived rennet added, mascarpone is vegetarian. It's made by heating heavy cream and adding an acid like tartaric acid (aka cream of tartar), citric acid, or lemon juice to solidify and thicken the cream.

What is the best substitute for mascarpone cheese? ›

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.

What is the difference between cream cheese and mascarpone? ›

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.

Is mascarpone cream cheese unhealthy? ›

Mascarpone is an ingredient of some famous Italian desserts like tiramisu. Mascarpone is not the best choice for your heart health as it's one of the highest fat cheeses (44 per cent, of which 30 per cent is saturated).

What animal milk is mascarpone made from? ›

Mascarpone is a triple-creme cheese made from fresh cream. Traditionally, this was made from the fresh milk of cows that have grazing pastures filled with fresh herbs and flowers. The freshest milk is still the best for this but a great Mascarpone can also be easily made with cream from the store, as we will show you.

What is healthier than mascarpone? ›

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese can be a great substitute for mascarpone cheese in various recipes, especially when you're looking to cut down on calories or fat content. To achieve a texture and flavor similar to mascarpone, opt for high-fat cottage cheese and put it through a simple process of straining and blending.

Can you swap mascarpone with ricotta? ›

Mascarpone: Another Italian cheese, mascarpone makes a great ricotta substitute. However, since mascarpone is more tart and flavorful, you should only use it in dishes with other strong flavors. It may overpower milder ingredients.

Is there a difference between ricotta and mascarpone cheese? ›

Texture: Ricotta has a grainy texture, like cottage cheese, and mascarpone has a smooth, creamy texture, similar to heavy whipping cream. Mascarpone is a more spreadable cheese than ricotta. Taste: Ricotta is brighter and more acidic than mascarpone. Mascarpone has a slightly sweet, milky flavor.

What does mascarpone taste like? ›

The taste of mascarpone is similar to that of cream cheese, ricotta cheese, creme fraiche, or clotted cream, but with a little more sweetness and acidity. This makes it a versatile cheese for both sweet and savory dishes.

Can you use Philadelphia cream cheese instead of mascarpone? ›

No mascarpone and cream cheese are not the same, they are both dairy-based and do have some similarities but they are made in different ways. They have a similar texture so can very often substitute each other but Philadephia is more savory while mascarpone is milkier in taste.

Is creme fraiche the same as mascarpone? ›

Mascarpone is a sweet Italian cream cheese that is versatile and delicious. At a quick glance, it seems similar to sour cream and crème fraîche, but it's a departure from its cultured lookalikes. While sour cream and crème fraîche are thick, tangy cultured dairy products, mascarpone is not cultured.

Can I use sour cream instead of mascarpone? ›

Another cool swap for Mascarpone: sour cream! It's a tad different from our Crème Fraîche but still shares many similarities. Sour cream, Crème Fraîche, and Mascarpone are all very thick, but sour cream takes the acidity crown.

What is the unhealthiest cheese? ›

After comparing the saturated fat content of many different kinds of cheese, super-rich varieties (like Triple Crème Brie or Double Gloucester) fell into the unhealthiest category. These cheeses should be eaten more like a treat than a daily part of a healthy diet.

Can you eat mascarpone on its own? ›

Mascarpone cheese isn't very good to eat by itself (imagine eating a spoonful of butter), but it is perfect to use as an ingredient for savory and dessert recipes alike. Next time you want to try out a recipe calling for mascarpone cheese, give this recipe a try!

What is the best cheese to eat if you have high cholesterol? ›

Choose cheeses that are lower in saturated fat and sodium. (Though sodium does not affect your cholesterol levels, excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.) Examples include reduced-fat Swiss, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.

Is mascarpone cheese suitable for vegetarians? ›

Our classic mascarpone is a velvety smooth, soft cream cheese, churned from cow's milk and cream. Use our mascarpone in your next tiramisu, or stir into a classic tomato sauce and serve with pasta for an indulgent meal the Italian way. Made with pasteurised cow's milk and cream. Suitable for vegetarians.

Is mascarpone a non veg cheese? ›

Mascarpone, however, traditionally uses a mild acid like vinegar or lemon juice rather than rennet. Unless something has gone horribly wrong, it's vegetarian-friendly.

Why is tiramisu not vegetarian? ›

Traditional tiramisu is not vegan, as it is made with several animal-derived ingredients. Eggs and mascarpone (a type of cheese and therefore made with milk) are main ingredients in a tiramisu. Another main ingredient - ladyfingers, are also made using Eggs.

What ingredient makes cheese not vegetarian? ›

Many cheeses are made with animal rennet, which comes from the fourth lining of the stomach of ruminant animals, usually a young calf. Here, find out why cheese is not always a vegetarian-friendly choice and how you can find cheese not made with animal products.

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