This mascarpone frosting will be your new favorite frosting recipe! It’s ultra-rich and creamy and will taste fantastic on anything from cakes and cookies to cinnamon rolls and cupcakes.
The BEST Mascarpone Frosting Recipe
At the Cheese Knees, we love sneakin’ yummy cheese into our frosting. And if you’ve been around long enough, you’d know how we love using cream cheese frosting on just about any dessert! BUT we had to hop aboard the mascarpone frosting train, and once you try this recipe, you’ll immediately know why.
Basically, this creamy Italian cheese makes for the MOST delicious frosting. The flavor of the mascarpone is much richer and sweeter than cream cheese, so if you’re looking for a more decadent dessert, you’re in the right place!
why you’ll love it!
- Made with only 4 simple ingredients.
- Great for piping on cakes and cupcakes — or even cinnamon rolls!
- Easy to make ahead!
- It tastes FANTASTIC.
Made with Simple Ingredients
- Mascarpone cheese: we recommend using high-fat mascarpone cheese for the best results. Try our easy recipe if you’re looking to make homemade!
- Vanilla extract: we love adding a hint of vanilla to all of our frostings, but feel free to flavor it as you wish!
- Heavy whipping cream: adds lots of creamy texture to the frosting.
- Powdered sugar: adds just the right amount of sweetness. Don’t mix this up with granulated sugar!
try it!
How to Make Mascarpone
Follow our step-by-step how to make mascarpone cheese tutorial and enjoy homemade mascarpone in no time at all.
How to Make Mascarpone Frosting (3 Steps!)
- Add the mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low/medium speed until well blended.
- Next, add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until well combined.
- Spread the mascarpone mixture on the cake immediately. Or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
here’s a tip!
If your frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of heavy whipping cream at a time until it reaches desired consistency.
If your frosting is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until it thickens.
What to Use it On
Mascarpone frosting works as an excellent substitution for cream cheese frosting.
If you need that tangy flavor that cream cheese offers, simply add in a pinch of salt or a few drops of lemon, and you won’t even tell the difference!
Cupcakes
Mascarpone frosting is delicious on any and all cupcakes. Try it on:
Cakes
This frosting will frost cakes, pound cakes, layer cakes, and more. Try this frosting on:
Cinnamon Rolls
Try this mascarpone icing on Fit Foodie Finds’ (our sister site!):
Cookies
Frost your cream cheese sugar cookies or heart cookies with this yummy frosting.
FAQs
Is mascarpone the same as cream cheese?
Although both kinds of cheese may seem similar, they are actually quite different. Mascarpone is made from heavy cream, while cream cheese is made from whole milk. Therefore, mascarpone has a higher fat content and richer taste compared to cream cheese.
Can mascarpone be substituted for cream cheese in frosting?
Absolutely! Mascarpone has a richer, creamier taste than cream cheese but acts as a great substitute for cake frosting in dessert recipes. However, keep in mind that it is not as salty or tangy as cream cheese, so you may need to add a pinch of salt or a drop of lemon juice if you’re trying to recreate the cream cheese frosting taste.
Why is my mascarpone icing runny?
A runny mascarpone frosting can be due to overmixing or adding too much liquid ingredients. To prevent this, be sure to stop mixing once you notice stiff peaks form. You also want to make sure you’re using high-fat mascarpone and a cold, high-fat heavy cream.
Storage
Transfer your mascarpone frosting into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
To reuse: as your frosting sits in the fridge, it is going to thicken. Let your frosting sit on the countertop for 30 minutes to an hour before using it again. Make sure to give it a good stir before piping or frosting.
Still too thick? Add a teaspoon of heavy whipping cream at a time and stir until you’ve reached your desired consistency.
Mascarpone Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 oz. mascarpone cheese ~1 cup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4.5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add the mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low/medium speed until well blended.
- Next, add the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until well combined.
- Spread on the cake immediately. Or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Tips & Notes
- We used this recipe for the mascarpone. Feel free to sub for store-bought mascarpone.
- This can be altered in so many ways. Add lemon or orange zest to compliment the cake being frosted. Or sub almond for vanilla extract.
Unfortunately this icing was horrible. Way to runny the recipe shouldn’t call for so much liquid. Such a shame