Cream cheese substitute
8 oz (1 cup) cream cheese = 1 cup mascarpone
For frosting and cheesecake, cream cheese is hard to replace, but a few options come close.
Substitutes for 8 oz (1 cup) cream cheese
Option 1
1 cup mascarpone
A 1:1 swap. Milder and richer, with less tang. Works in frosting and cheesecake.
Option 2
8 oz Neufchâtel
A 1:1 swap. A lower-fat cream cheese with a similar taste.
Option 3
1 cup full-fat ricotta, drained and blended smooth
Works in baked dishes and dips. Softer and less tangy.
Amounts are for a US recipe. Need to convert them? See cups to grams.
Questions
What can I use instead of cream cheese?
For 8 oz (1 cup) cream cheese, you can use 1 cup mascarpone; or 8 oz Neufchâtel; or 1 cup full-fat ricotta, drained and blended smooth.
What is the best substitute for cream cheese?
For most recipes, use 1 cup mascarpone. A 1:1 swap. Milder and richer, with less tang. Works in frosting and cheesecake.