Make your own Italian cream cheese - All you need is 2 ingredients to make rich and creamy homemade Mascarpone cheese.

Homemade mascarpone is rich, creamy, buttery and delicious, not to mention it’s cheaper than buying it.

Just like homemade mozzarella and homemade ricotta, this popular Italian cheese is super easy to make at home.

All you need is just 2 ingredients and some basic kitchen tools. In less than 10 minutes prep.

This unique Italian cream cheese is incredibly versatile and can be used for both savoury & sweet recipes.

It’s also naturally gluten-free, and vegetarian-friendly.

WHAT IS MASCARPONE?

Mascarpone (pronounced mahs-car-POH-nay), is a popular Italian cream cheese, and best known as the star ingredient of Tiramisu’.

It has a subtle milky and slightly sweet flavour and has a rich, buttery texture.

This super smooth, and easily spreadable fresh Italian cream cheese can be used for both savoury and sweet recipes.

It’s usually available in large grocery stores and it’s a bit more expensive than other cream cheeses.

So, making your own mascarpone at home is great a budget-friendly alternative!

INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE MASCARPONE

• Fresh cream
• Fresh lemon juice

That’s literally it!

FRESH CREAM

To make fresh mascarpone you need fresh whipping cream (we call it panna fresca in Italy). Whipping cream has around a 32-36% fat content, depending on the brand.

Any fresh cream with 32-36% fat content will work.

If you’re in US, look for fresh heavy cream or whipping cream. Heavy cream has at least 36% milk fat.

Whipping cream contains between 30 to 36 percent milk fat. Both will work here.

LEMON JUICE

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is all you need. You can substitute with 2 g of citric acid mixed with 1 tablespoon of lukewarm water.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU NEED

• Cooking Thermometer (I use a Thermapen)
• Heavy-duty saucepan for heating the cream.
• Strainer
• Cheesecloth or tea towel
• Air-tight container for storing the cheese

HOW TO MAKE MASCARPONE

The best part about making this cheese at home is that it takes just about 10 minutes!

• Step 1. Place the whipping cream in a large saucepan.
• Step 2. Stir the cream over low heat.
• Step 3. Stir until it reaches 185 F (85 C).
• Step 4. Add in the lemon juice, and continue to stir over low heat for 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat and let the cream cool.
• Step 5. Place a sieve lined with a tea towel or 3-4 layers of cheesecloth over a bowl. Pour the cream through the sieve, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Step 6. The cheese is ready when it reaches a creamy and rich texture.

STORAGE TIPS

You should store homemade mascarpone in an airtight container, in the fridge, and it will last up to 3-4 days.

Can you freeze it?

I don’t recommend freezing mascarpone cheese, as it tends to separate when thawed. However, you can freeze it in an air-tight container for up to 1 month.

Once thawed, use it for cooked recipes, so that even if the texture has changed slightly it won't compromise your recipe.

COOKING TIPS

• I recommend using a thermometer, as you need to follow the temperature advised.
• Don’t skip the resting time, the more you allow the cheese to rest the more compact it will be.
• Use high-quality fresh cream, as it will impact the final result, the better quality the cream the better the cheese!

HOW TO USE MASCARPONE

There are plenty of delicious savoury and sweet recipes that call mascarpone, here are a few of my favorite options:

• • • Desserts: Make Tiramisu, of course, or use it for cheesecake, tarts and cannoli.
    • Frosting: Use it instead of cream cheese as a frosting. Try it with this amazing carrot cake or this super easy water cake.
    • Sauce: Use it instead of crème fraiche for this delicious mushroom pasta, creamy salmon pasta or lasagne.
    • Spread: Use it as cream cheese and spread it on bagels, crackers, bruschetta or polenta crostini.

MORE CLASSIC ITALIAN RECIPES TO TRY

• Italian Pizza Dough Recipe
• Torta di Mele - Italian Apple Cake
• Traditional Italian Pasta e Fagioli
• Classic Italian Tomato Sauce
• Ricotta Cheesecake - Just 3 Ingredients

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook! Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!