Creamy Mascarpone Dessert
If you've got mascarpone cheese, heavy cream and chocolate syrup, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for pan and saucepan. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Set a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, add the egg yolks and granulated sugar, and whisk constantly for 6 to 8 minutes until the mixture is pale, thick and reaches 71 C to safely cook the yolks.
- Remove the bowl from the heat and continue whisking for a minute or two as it cools slightly, then beat in the vanilla extract.
- Gently fold the mascarpone into the cooled yolk mixture a spoonful at a time until completely smooth, taking care not to overwork it so it stays light.
- In a separate cold bowl, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks, then fold it through the mascarpone base in two additions to keep the mixture airy.
- Spoon the cream into four serving glasses, drizzle a swirl of chocolate syrup through each, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours to set and develop flavour.
- Just before serving, top each glass with a cloud of the barely-sweetened whipped cream and dust generously with cocoa powder sifted over the top.
You'll use: Pan · Saucepan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Mascarpone
- cream cheese softened with a little cream
- Heavy Cream
- evaporated milk · ½ cup milk + ¼ cup melted butter · full-fat coconut milk
Tips & common questions
How long does Creamy Mascarpone Dessert take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of mascarpone?
Try cream cheese softened with a little cream. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Creamy Mascarpone Dessert vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
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Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Creamy Mascarpone Dessert is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Македонски десерт тирамису (2).jpg (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.