11 Creamy Mascarpone Desserts

By
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
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Updated on 06/23/20
Berry Lemon Mascarpone Tart

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Thick, silky, creamy mascarpone cheese tastes like slightly tangy sweet cream and lends itself beautifully to a whole range of luscious desserts. While you may have tried it in tiramisu, mascarpone cheese appears in many other tasty presentations. It pairs well with fruit and citrus, as well as elevating cheesecakes, tarts, and cakes. Try these favorites for a wonderful end to any meal.

  • 01 of 11

    Sweet Honey and Mascarpone Dessert

    Honey mascarpone

    The Spruce / Jennifer Meier

    Because it has such a creamy, sweet and tangy flavor, mascarpone cheese hardly needs much to make a lovely dessert. Simply drizzle it with a little honey, stir in some lemon zest and cinnamon, and you have a delightful spread that you can enjoy on its own or as a dip for fruit or small cookies. Thin it with a little cream to make a sauce, or use it as a frosting for cupcakes, too.

  • 02 of 11

    Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake

    Lemon mascarpone cake

    The Spruce / Andrews McMeel

    Sour lemons and sweet mascarpone cheese create a lovely contrast in this elegant layer cake. Soaking the layers of cake in a lush lemon syrup gives it an assertive citrus flavor and a trifle-like texture. Meyer lemons will have the best flavor, but any kind of lemon you can find will work fine.

  • 03 of 11

    No-Cook Berry Mascarpone Tart

    Berry Lemon Mascarpone Tart

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    When the mercury rises and you can't stand the thought of turning on the oven, whip up this simple no-bake tart for dessert. The filling uses tart mascarpone cheese and lemon for a rich, creamy texture and zippy flavor, as well as plenty of fresh berries for color and sweetness. This recipe includes instructions for making the tart crust yourself, but you can also use a store-bought pastry shell to save time.

  • 04 of 11

    Sour Cherry Cheesecake

    Cheesecake for Passover

    The Spruce / Daniela Solomon

    With both mascarpone and cream cheese, this Italian-style cheesecake comes out so rich and creamy, but with a fluffy texture and slightly tart flavor. A balsamic vinegar and cherry sauce lends it a fruity complexity with just the right amount of sweetness. A graham cracker or vanilla wafer crust gives it a lovely little crunch, as well.

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  • 05 of 11

    Fresh Fig and Honey Tart

    Fig and Honey Tart

    The Spruce / Anita Schecter

    Fresh figs soaked in honey give this simple and beautiful tart an earthy sweetness that contrasts perfectly with a lemony mascarpone cheese layer. The filling tastes reminiscent of a classic cheesecake, but the figs add an interesting element that will impress your guests. Drizzle with a little extra honey before serving, for extra flare.

  • 06 of 11

    Raisin Flatbreads With Lemon Cream and Apricots

    Raisin Flat Breads Smeared with Lemon Scented Cream and Topped with an Apricot

    The Spruce / Lora Wiley-Lennartz

    For an unusual brunch treat or a light dessert, try these German flatbreads with lemon cream and apricot. The raisin breads have a light sweetness and the creamy topping gets spritzed with a little lemon to perk things up. Use either fresh or canned apricots to top them off, depending on the season.

  • 07 of 11

    Tiramisu Cheesecake

    Tiramisu Cheesecake

     Kristina Vanni

    This classic coffee-flavored Italian dessert is transformed into a luscious cheesecake that is surrounded by the traditional ladyfinger cookies. The chocolate cookie crust is topped with a mascarpone filling, baked, chilled and dusted with cocoa powder. The whipped cream spiked with coffee liquor adds a pretty finishing touch and an extra little kick.

  • 08 of 11

    Polish Meringue Cake With Berries

    Meringue cake with strawberry cream and fresh strawberries
    StockFood / Getty Images

    This delightful Polish cake makes use of fresh spring berries on a light meringue base that really showcases sweet, bright fruit. It uses both the whites and yolks of the eggs, so you don't have to find another use of the yolks after making the meringue. Use pasteurized eggs in this recipe, since the eggs don't get cooked in the cream filling.

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  • 09 of 11

    Elderflower Cheesecake

    Elderflower cheesecake

    Schon & Probst / Getty Images

    For a light, floral dessert that looks as great as it tastes, look no further than this elderflower cheesecake. Elderflower cordial gives it a sweet, slightly herbal flavor that makes a nice change from basic creamy cheesecake. This recipe uses gluten-free digestives, but you can use other cookies for the base if you don't need to avoid gluten.

  • 10 of 11

    Simple Rhubarb Fool

    Simple Rhubarb Fool

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    Just four ingredients come together to create this delicious rhubarb fool. If using outdoor rhubarb, make sure you remove any stringy parts before cooking it down with honey for the best texture. The rhubarb's slightly sour taste complements the honey and creamy mascarpone perfectly, for a summer dessert you can whip up on short notice.

  • 11 of 11

    Classic Tiramisu

    Classic no cook tiramisu

    The Spruce

    With bitter coffee ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone, and a dusting of cocoa, this no-bake tiramisu has all of the classic tiramisu flavors, with less active time than many traditional preparations. It lends itself well to variations as well; try adding a little liqueur to the coffee before soaking the ladyfingers, or grating semisweet or dark chocolate over the top instead of sprinkling with cocoa powder.