18 Mascarpone Recipes That Aren't Tiramisu

Blackberry and Mascarpone Crepe Cake
Photo: Victor Protasio

This creamy cheese can be so much more than merely a topping for espresso-soaked ladyfingers (even though there's always a time and place for tiramisu). Dip into mascarpone's sweet and savory sides with these recipes that cover everything from parfaits to pasta.

01 of 18

Whipped Mascarpone

Whipped Mascarpone
Eva Kolenko

Chef Sarah Grueneberg whips mascarpone with cream and sugar to give the dense cheese a soft and pillowy consistency. It adds that special something to any pie or tart—try it on Grueneberg's Rhubarb and Candied Ginger Crostata!

02 of 18

Cherries Poached in Red Wine with Mascarpone Cream

Cherries Poached in Red Wine with Mascarpone Cream
Ben Dearnley

You can drink your wine and eat it too with these red wine-poached cherries, which are topped with a mixture of mascarpone and honey.

03 of 18

Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone

Cornmeal-Almond Cake with Strawberries and Mascarpone
Paul Costello

Chef Mike Lata's take on a strawberry shortcake combines a nutty base with a whipped mascarpone topping, adding both crunch and tang to otherwise simple flavors.

04 of 18

Penne with Smoked Chicken and Mascarpone

Penne with Smoked Chicken and Mascarpone

Mascarpone doesn't only work in desserts. Here, the cheese adds some sweetness to a chicken and pasta dish.

05 of 18

Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Coffee Mascarpone Cream

Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Coffee Mascarpone Cream
© Anna Williams

Pastry Chef François Payard knows chocolate, and that comes through in this tiramisu-esque tart, piled high with coffee mascarpone cream.

06 of 18

Brandy-Mascarpone Semifreddo

Brandy-Mascarpone Semifreddo

This sweet semifreddo can be made in any mold or pan. Just make sure to serve it cold from the freezer so that the slices maintain their shape.

07 of 18

Lemony Layered Cheesecake

Lemony Layered Cheesecake
JONATHAN LOVEKIN

Icebox cake is traditionally made with chocolate wafer cookies and whipped cream. This unique spin uses graham crackers and lemon curd.

08 of 18

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Mascarpone Frosting

Pumpkin Layer Cake with Mascarpone Frosting
© Con Poulos

This classic pumpkin cake from Food & Wine's Justin Chapple is perfectly moist and delicately spiced. The simple vanilla buttercream frosting gets a lovely tang from the mascarpone that's blended in.

09 of 18

Fettuccine with Shrimp

Fettuccine with Shrimp
© Andrew Purcell

Justin Chapple mixes plenty of scallions, creamy mascarpone cheese and fresh spinach into this super-easy pasta.

10 of 18

Warm Chocolate Cakes with Mascarpone Cream

Warm Chocolate Cakes with Mascarpone Cream

These mini Black Forest cakes are best served warm, topped with mascarpone cream that melts into the chocolate.

11 of 18

Spinach-and-Prosciutto Ravioli

Spinach and Prosciutto Ravioli
© Con Poulos

As a stuffing for her supple ravioli, Missy Robbins, chef at Lilia in Brooklyn, mixes spinach and prosciutto with two cheeses. Her ravioli can be made a month ahead of time—freeze them in a single layer; when they are solid, they can be combined in a large resealable plastic bag.

12 of 18

Pumpkin Parfaits

Pumpkin Parfaits
© Christina Holmes

Justin Chapple layers super-speedy pumpkin mousse with whipped mascarpone cream and crushed chocolate wafer cookies for his gorgeous, delicious parfaits.

13 of 18

Cast-Iron Blackberry Galette with Whipped Mascarpone

Cast-Iron Blackberry Galette with Whipped Mascarpone
Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

This galette is great baked in a cast-iron skillet because it's easy to transport and serve. The secret to the sturdy crust is the buttery brown sugar oat crumble, which absorbs the jammy blackberries as they bake.

14 of 18

Lobster-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Lobster-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
Victor Protasio

Delicate zucchini blossoms are made for filling and frying. We're giving this classic Italian appetizer a decadent spin with a lobster-and-mascarpone filling, though feel free to use lump crabmeat, cooked shrimp, or diced zucchini in place of the lobster.

15 of 18

Scrambled Eggs Florentine

Scrambled Eggs Florentine
Eva Kolenko

Here, we fold spinach and mascarpone into soft scrambled eggs and spoon them over crostini for an easy appetizer.

16 of 18

Blackberry and Mascarpone Crêpe Cake

Blackberry and Mascarpone Crepe Cake
Victor Protasio

This show-stopping cake would be perfect in July, when blackberries are at their peak.

17 of 18

Goat Cheese Cake with Wine-Poached Cranberries

Goat cheese cake with red wine poached cranberries
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Crowned with candied pistachios and draped in tart, glistening cranberry gelée, Claudia Fleming's holiday cheesecake is extra creamy thanks to a combination of tangy goat cheese and mascarpone. Be sure to beat in the mascarpone at low speed to preserve its extra-smooth texture.

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Bûche de Noël with Mascarpone Cream and Dark Chocolate Ganache

Buche de Noel
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Kay Clarke

A few smart moves make this Bûche de Noël a cut above the rest. Allowing the cake to cool while still rolled helps prevent cracking. Mascarpone stabilizes the whipped cream filling so that it can be chilled up to overnight without weeping. Butter and corn syrup in the ganache keep it smooth and glossy. And stirring slivered toasted almonds into the ganache frosting gives it a "tree bark" look and adds contrasting texture to the silky filling and tender cake.

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