Mascarpone Frosting

If you want something velvety smooth and sweet with a little less tangy than cream cheese, this mascarpone frosting is for you.

It’s so smooth and wonderfully creamy, plus it pipes like a dream!

Vanilla Mascarpone Frosting 

Let’s be honest, American buttercream is a little…cloying. And while I love cream cheese frosting, it can be too tangy for a lot of people.

As for the others (Italian, Swiss, French), I don’t always have the time or patience to make them.

That’s why I love this mascarpone frosting! It perfectly balances the sweet richness of traditional frosting with the velvety, creamy texture of Italian mascarpone cheese.

I’m sure you’ve had mascarpone in dishes like Tiramisu, or this stunning peanut butter mascarpone mousse.

If you haven’t, all you need to know is that it’s a thick, high-fat cream cheese with a buttery and slightly tangy flavor.

And it’s so scrummy in frosting! It’s silky smooth and impossible to resist.

But the best part about this frosting is its versatility. It can be flavored with anything from vanilla and citrus zest to chocolate or liqueur.

Of course, my favorite variation is this incredible peanut butter and mascarpone frosting! It tastes amazing on chocolate cake with a drizzle of caramel. Yum!

Ingredients:

This recipe couldn’t be easier and it should be enough for about 24 cupcakes or two 9-inch cakes.

• Heavy Cream
• Mascarpone Cheese
• Vanilla Paste
• Powdered Sugar

How To Make Mascarpone Frosting :

1. Measure the heavy cream and pour it into a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, whisk until you see stiff peaks.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the mascarpone, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Using a spatula, gently mix the whipped cream in the sweetened mascarpone. Start with a small amount, then add a little at a time until it’s combined. 
4. Chill until needed.

Recipe Variations

As mentioned, this recipe is super versatile!

That means you can happily top your cupcakes with the basic recipe and know everyone will love it. But you can also add some yummy extras to suit your needs.

Here are my favorite variations:

Citrus Mascarpone Frosting

Tangy citrus frosting is the perfect complement to a simple pound cake or vanilla sponge that needs brightening up. And that could be lemon, lime, or orange!

Of course, lemon would be ideal on a lemon cake to boost the flavor!

Another terrific option is to smear a little over your next batch of blueberry muffins. Yum!

• Add the zest of 1 large lemon or orange, or 2 limes, plus 1-2 tablespoons of the juice to the original recipe.
• Mix as instructed but add an extra 1/2-1 cup of powdered sugar, as needed.

Chocolate Mascarpone Frosting

Use this decadent frosting on your next chocolate cake, and everyone will go nuts!

Of course, it’ll be just as yummy on banana bread, over brownies, on top of vanilla cupcakes, or even spread over this peanut butter bread.

• Melt 60 grams (about 1/2 cup) of semi-sweet chocolate, then let it cool slightly. 
• Mix the melted chocolate into the frosting at the same time as the vanilla paste.

Espresso Mascarpone Frosting

Want something a little more complex? Then you need to try this gorgeous espresso mascarpone frosting!

It’s perfect on chocolate cake or over brownies. Just be sure to use espresso powder, not instant coffee, for the best, boldest flavor.

• Dissolve 1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder in 1 tablespoon of warm water. 
• Let it cool slightly, then add it with the vanilla paste. 

Cinnamon Mascarpone Frosting

Picture soft, moist carrot cake with tangy, creamy, cinnamon-infused mascarpone frosting.

Or, better yet, how about a batch of soft, still-warm cinnamon rolls? Oh yeah, this stuff is to die for!

• Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the recipe. 

Almond Mascarpone Frosting

Almond pairs well with a lot of things, including lemon, vanilla, and cherry. So, try this with lemon cake or your next batch of cherry cupcakes.

Just keep in mind that almond extract is very strong. So start out slowly and be sure to taste it before adding more.

• Replace the vanilla paste with almond extract, starting with half and adding more as needed.

Raspberry Mascarpone Frosting

This fruity frosting will look beautiful against dark chocolate cake. And the flavor pairs well too.

It’s also excellent with lemon or vanilla cakes.

• Add 1/4 cup of raspberry jam or puree to the frosting. 
• If you’re using jam, reduce the amount of heavy cream to compensate for the added moisture.