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Mascarpone Frosting

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a close up shot of Mascarpone Frosting
Mascarpone frosting is a sumptuous topping that combines the richness of mascarpone cheese with the warmth of vanilla and almond extracts, ideal for enhancing a wide range of desserts.
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Table of Contents
  1. Let’s Dish: About This Recipe
  2. Mascarpone Frosting Ingredients
  3. Substitutions and Additions
  4. How To Make This Mascarpone Frosting Recipe
  5. How To Serve
  6. Storage
  7. Why We Love This Recipe
  8. Frequently Asked Questions
  9. More Recipes You’ll Love
  10. JUMP TO RECIPE

Our mascarpone frosting recipe is the ideal upgrade for any dessert, taking cakes and cupcakes from ordinary to extraordinary. The rich mascarpone is blended with a hint of almond and vanilla to create a frosting that’s light, creamy and subtly sweet. Unlike other frostings that can feel overly sugary or dense, our recipe maintains the perfect texture, making it ideal for both piping and spreading.

overhead shot of Mascarpone Frosting in a bowl

Let’s Dish: About This Recipe

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Main Ingredients: Mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, almond extract, powdered sugar, cold heavy cream.
Quick Steps: Beat mascarpone, vanilla, almond extract, and powdered sugar. Slowly add cream and whip to stiff peaks.
Total Time: 30 minutes

Why This Recipe

  • This mascarpone frosting recipe stands out because it offers a rich, creamy texture without being overly sweet — unlike many buttercream alternatives.
  • While other recipes use cream cheese substitutes, which can add a tangy flavor, our recipe sticks to pure mascarpone, ensuring a smooth, buttery taste. This results in a more refined, luxurious frosting that pairs perfectly with both cakes and cupcakes.
  • In addition, the balance of vanilla and almond extract gives the frosting a subtle depth of flavor, making it unique compared to other mascarpone frostings that rely solely on vanilla​.
  • The use of cold heavy cream ensures the frosting stays light and airy, ideal for piping, without the risk of splitting or becoming too dense.

Mascarpone Frosting Ingredients

Mascarpone Frosting raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

  • 1 (8-ounce or 226-gram) container of mascarpone cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon of pure almond extract
  • 1 cup of powdered sugar (If the powdered sugar is lumpy, be sure to sift before adding)
  • 1½ cups of cold heavy cream

Substitutions and Additions

VANILLA AND ALMOND EXTRACTS: Experiment with other extracts like coconut or hazelnut for a unique flavor twist. Just be mindful of the intensity; a little goes a long way.

FOOD COLORING: If you want to color your frosting, use gel food coloring sparingly. A little goes a long way, so add it slowly until you achieve the desired shade.

How To Make This Mascarpone Frosting Recipe

Before starting, allow your mascarpone cheese to come to room temperature. This makes it easier to blend smoothly and prevents lumps in your frosting.

STEP ONE: Use either a stand mixer with a wire whisk attachment, or a medium-sized mixing bowl (2-3 quarts) and a handheld electric mixer, on medium-high speed.

mascarpone, vanilla, almond extract, and powdered sugar mixed together

Beat together the mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, almond extract, and powdered sugar for 1½-2 minutes or until the mascarpone mixture is incorporated. 

Be sure you do not overmix the ingredients. You will end up with a separated and curdled-looking frosting.

STEP TWO: Lower the mixer speed to medium-low speed. Slowly drizzle in the cold heavy cream. 

beat frosting until is thickens

STEP THREE: Increase the speed to high and beat for two to three minutes or until the frosting thickens and reaches the stiff peaks stage. This means when you lift your beaters, the frosting should stand straight up without collapsing. 

Again, be careful not to overmix the frosting. If you do overmix, you can try hand whisking in two to three tablespoons more heavy cream.

Keep the frosting refrigerated until you are ready to use.

How To Serve

Frost your favorite cakes with a generous layer of mascarpone frosting. It pairs wonderfully with classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, adding a luxurious touch to any celebration cake.

Transform simple cupcakes into mini works of art by piping a swirl of mascarpone frosting on top. Add a sprinkle of colorful sugar crystals or sprinkles for an elegant touch.

Spread a generous layer of this frosting between two cookies for an irresistible cookie sandwich.

Serve mascarpone frosting as a fruit dip at brunch or dessert parties. It pairs beautifully with strawberries, blueberries, and slices of fresh peaches or apples.

Serve this frosting alongside warm churros, pretzels, or funnel cake bites for a sweet and savory dipping sauce. 

Our cream cheese frosting and whipped cream frosting are two more recipes for delicious frostings that you should check out, too.

Storage

MAKE AHEAD: You can prepare this mascarpone cream frosting a day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Give it a gentle whisk before using.

IN THE FRIDGE: Leftover frosting can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Ensure it’s in an airtight container to prevent absorbing other odors.

IN THE FREEZER: Mascarpone frosting can be frozen for up to one month. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and re-whisk it to restore its texture.

Why We Love This Recipe

We think this is the best mascarpone frosting recipe for plenty of reasons:

CREAMY BLISS: Mascarpone cheese creates an incredibly smooth and luxurious texture, making this frosting an absolute delight.

FLAVOR HARMONY: The combination of vanilla and almond extracts adds a layer of complexity to the frosting, elevating it from ordinary to extraordinary.

a close up shot of Mascarpone Frosting on a cupcake

Our mascarpone frosting is a true game-changer for your dessert creations. Its creamy, dreamy texture and harmonious flavors make it a versatile choice for any occasion. Elevate your baking game with this delightful mascarpone frosting recipe, and watch your desserts become instant crowd-pleasers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I color this frosting for decorating cakes? 

Add gel food coloring to achieve your desired hues for cake decoration.

Can I add cocoa powder for a chocolate-flavored frosting? 

Certainly! Mix in cocoa powder to taste for a rich chocolate mascarpone frosting.

Can I use this frosting to pipe decorations on cupcakes? 

This frosting pipes beautifully onto cupcakes and holds its shape well.

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Mascarpone Frosting

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Mascarpone frosting is a sumptuous topping that combines the richness of mascarpone cheese with the warmth of vanilla and almond extracts, ideal for enhancing a wide range of desserts.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, 226 grams
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar (if the powdered sugar is lumpy, be sure to sift before adding)
  • cups cold heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Using either a stand mixer with a wire whisk, or a medium-sized mixing bowl (2-3 quarts) and a handheld mixer, on medium-high speed, beat together the mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, almond extract, and powdered sugar for 1½-2 minutes or until the mixture is incorporated. Be sure you do not overmix the ingredients. You will end up with a separated and curdled-looking frosting.
  • Lower the mixer speed to medium-low. Slowly drizzle in the cold heavy cream.
  • Increase the speed to high and beat for 2-3 minutes or until the frosting thickens and reaches the stiff peak stage. Again, be careful not to overmix the frosting. If you do overmix, you can try hand whisking in 2-3 tablespoons more heavy cream. Keep the frosting refrigerated until you are ready to use.

Notes

  • Before starting, allow your mascarpone cheese to come to room temperature. This makes it easier to blend smoothly and prevents lumps in your frosting.
  • Be sure you do not overmix the ingredients. You will end up with a separated and curdled-looking frosting.
  • Whip the frosting until it reaches stiff peaks. This means when you lift your beaters, the frosting should stand straight up without collapsing.

Nutrition

Calories: 679kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 58g | Saturated Fat: 36g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 87mg | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 2106IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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