This delicate cream cheese, native to the Italian region of Lombardy, is the perfect complement to the most exquisite desserts. Besides the fact that Italians have found a use for mascarpone in sweets, they also use this cheese the same way we use butter: they spread it on bread and eat it with tea.

Interestingly, mascarpone isn't exactly a cheese, as it's made from heavy cream. The milk from which this cream is collected comes exclusively from cows fed a special inflorescence of herbs and flowers. This is what gives mascarpone its magical aroma.

Mascarpone was first prepared in the early 17th century. Since then, it has become a favorite product used in a wide variety of dishes. However, due to its creamy consistency and delicate milky flavor, the cheese is most often used in desserts and sweet dishes. Perhaps the most famous dessert made with Italian mascarpone is tiramisu. Incidentally, tiramisu recipes and more information about this dessert can also be found on our website.

Delicate raspberry cheesecake

Raspberry cheesecake

A delicate cheesecake with creamy mascarpone is a classic cheesecake recipe. According to some sources, cheesecakes were enjoyed as early as Ancient Greece, but naturally, the recipes back then didn't include mascarpone.

So, for this magical cheesecake you will need:

  • mascarpone – 500 g
  • heavy cream - 400 ml
  • chicken eggs - 3 pcs
  • granulated sugar - 1/2 cup
  • vanilla
  • butter - 150 g
  • shortbread cookies - 300 g
  • raspberries - 100 g
  • cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
  • ready-made whipped cream

Like all dessert recipes, this one starts with making the base. You'll need cookies, butter, and cinnamon. Crush the cookies into crumbs, mix them with softened butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon powder. Form the base for the cheesecake—the bottom and sides—to a height of 3 cm. Place the base in the refrigerator to set.

Using a mixer, beat the cheese, sour cream, sugar, and vanilla thoroughly. Once the mixture is combined, beat in the eggs one at a time. Pour the finished mousse into a mold. Then pour water into a heatproof container. Wrap the mold with the filling in foil and lower it into the container with water. The mold should be half-submerged.

The cottage cheese pie is baked at 160 degrees Celsius (325 degrees Fahrenheit). It should stay in the oven for at least 60 minutes. However, classic cottage cheese pie recipes may suggest reducing the baking time to 45 minutes.

Let the finished cheesecake cool, top with cream, and top with raspberries. Your delicate mascarpone dessert is ready!

Berry trifle

Berry trifle

Trifle is an English dessert most often served in glasses or other glassware. Recipes for this dessert include sponge cake, fruit, berries, jelly, cream, and other delicious ingredients, including cream cheese. Some trifle recipes even suggest using biscuits instead of sponge cake. This significantly speeds up the cooking process.

Trifle, in addition to its exceptional taste, can also boast of an exquisite appearance.

For berry trifle you will need:

  • shortbread cookies - 200 g
  • sweet Muscat liqueur - 100 ml
  • bananas - 2 pcs
  • wild berries - 100 g
  • medium chicken eggs - 2 pcs.
  • granulated sugar - 60 g
  • mascarpone cheese - 200 g

Break the cookies into pieces and divide them among the prepared glasses. Pour the liqueur over the cookies. Then puree the berries and banana in a blender. Pour the resulting puree into the glasses, ensuring the layers of liqueur, cookies, and fruit mousse are evenly distributed.

Mix the yolks and sugar and beat until smooth, then add the cheese. Beat the whites until stiff and carefully fold them into the cheese and yolk mixture. Spoon this mixture over the fruit puree.

Refrigerate the glasses with the trifle. Garnish the finished mascarpone and berry desserts with fruit pieces, mint, or cinnamon sticks.

Cherry cream with mascarpone

Cherry cream with mascarpone

Italian cream cheese can be used to make delicious creamy mousses. While there are, of course, a wide variety of recipes, cherry cream is probably the best.

Ingredients for the cream:

  • ripe cherries - 500 g
  • dry red wine - 1 tbsp
  • mascarpone – 200 g
  • granulated sugar - 2 tbsp
  • powdered sugar - 2 tbsp
  • strong alcohol (cognac, rum, etc.) - 50 ml
  • cinnamon

All cream recipes based on this cheese require pre-preparation of the ingredients, so before cooking, wash the cherries, remove the pits, and pour boiling water over them. Then pour the cognac over them.

Place the prepared cherries in a saucepan, pour in the wine, and a glass of water. Add sugar and cinnamon to the mixture, bring to the boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Blend the cheese with powdered sugar and mix with the cherry syrup.

This cream can be used in desserts with mascarpone and also as a decoration for pies and cakes.

Check out this recipe for a delicious raspberry and strawberry cheesecake. Even though the author explains it in English, it's perfectly understandable.

What can you substitute for mascarpone in desserts and baked goods? There are several secrets for replacing cheese in desserts.

Substitute recipes:

  • Mix 250 g of soft cheese with a quarter cup of low-fat sour cream
  • Mix 250 g of soft cheese with 2 tbsp of cream, 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of milk
  • Mix 250 g of soft cheese with a quarter cup of milk and a quarter cup of cream.

Bon appetit!