Cream cheese substitutes

Best swap: Mascarpone. Use 1 cup mascarpone per 1 cup.

Cream cheese is thick, rich and mildly tangy. The best swaps are other soft, spreadable cheeses, blended smooth where needed.

I need cups of cream cheese Change this and every amount below updates.

What to use instead of cream cheese

1. Mascarpone

Best

1 cup mascarpone

Best for: Frostings, cheesecakes, fillings

Richer and less tangy, one-to-one. Add a little lemon juice for more tang.

2. Strained Greek yogurt

1 cup thick Greek yogurt, strained

Best for: Lighter dips and spreads

Strain in a cloth for a few hours to firm it up. Tangier and lower in fat.

3. Blended cottage cheese or ricotta

1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta, blended smooth

Best for: Baking, savoury fillings

Blend until completely smooth. Add a pinch of salt and a little lemon.

Cream cheese substitutes: common questions

What can I use instead of cream cheese?

Mascarpone is the closest, cup for cup, though richer and less tangy. Strained Greek yogurt or blended ricotta also work, especially for lighter or baked uses.

Can I substitute mascarpone for cream cheese in cheesecake?

Yes, one-to-one. The cheesecake will be richer and slightly less tangy, so a squeeze of lemon juice helps bring it closer to the original.

More ingredient swaps

🥛 Buttermilk 4 substitutes 🥚 Eggs (in baking) 4 substitutes 🧂 Baking powder 2 substitutes 🧂 Baking soda 1 substitute