Can I substitute mascarpone cheese for cream cheese?
On One Hand: Similar Characteristics Make It Easy to SubstituteMascarpone and cream cheeses are both unaged cheeses meant to be consumed fresh. Cream cheese is made mostly from milk with varying percentages of milk-fat added, as well as lactic acid to firm it. Mascarpone cheese is a product of cream skimmed right off the top of whole milk, with cultures added as firming agents.On the Other: Their Calorie Counts Are DifferentMascarpone is not intended to be anything other than an intensely rich, triple-cream dessert cheese; a low-fat or reduced-fat version is not available. Cream cheese, though, can be found in reduced-fat, half-fat and fat-free versions.Bottom LineUse mascarpone cheese for special occasions or “fancy dinners” where the high fat content can be discounted as a once-in-a-blue-moon luxury, and serve smaller portions. In the case of cheesecake, cut thinner slices and use additional fresh fruit to round out the treat.
