You can use Philadelphia cream cheese instead of mascarpone although the flavor will often be slightly tangier as a result of the higher acidity of the cream cheese.
You can also mix in some cream cheese with a small amount of heavy cream to get it closer to the texture of mascarpone.
Another cheaper alternative to mascarpone is ricotta cheese.
Ricotta cheese is readily available and less expensive although it might not be as rich on the recipe that you're using it in.
The closest cheese to mascarpone is ricotta cheese or even regular cream cheese.
Ricotta cheese has a similar mild flavor and also texture to mascarpone which makes it a great substitute for mascarpone cheese.
Cream cheese has a slightly tangier flavor when compared to mascarpone although it can work in a pinch as a substitute for mascarpone.
Mascarpone can be used for making desserts such as cheesecake and tiramisu.
You can also eat mascarpone in pasta sauces and soups and other dishes.
Mascarpone is also used to top ladyfingers that are soaked in liqueur and then dusted with cocoa powder.
Mascarpone is also a key ingredient in cannoli and is also used in making of Frittatas or other egg dishes.
You can also eat mascarpone on toast or crackers even with or without added jam.
Mascarpone cream cheese is healthy in moderation although it has an extremely high fat content so it can be unhealthy when eaten in excess.
There are some nutrients like calcium in mascarpone cream cheese which is healthy but it should be eaten in moderation.
Mascarpone cream cheese is a high fat cheese and a significant portion of the fat content is saturated fat.
Although if you're on a high fat diet mascarpone is a good option as it is rich in fat content.
Mascarpone tastes almost nutty and mildly sweet and buttery and also has a hint of acidity with a tangy finish.
Mascarpone cheese is also less tangy in flavor than American Cream cheese and ricotta cheese.
You can eat mascarpone straight although it's more enjoyable to eat mascarpone cheese on bread or crackers because it has a creamy and rich texture and a mild flavor.
Mascarpone cheese is also used as an ingredient in desserts such as cannoli fillings and tiramisu.
Mascarpone cheese is not just cream cheese like normal regular cream cheese.
However mascarpone cheese is a type of Italian cream cheese but it's not exactly the same as cream cheese that you normally eat.
Unlike regular cream cheese the mascarpone cheese is richer and creamier and also has a milder flavor and higher fat content than regular cream cheese.
Regular cream cheese is often tangier although both mascarpone cheese and cream cheese are soft and spreadable cheeses.
However mascarpone cheese is a more luxurious cheese as it has a buttery texture and high fat content unlike regular cream cheese.
Mascarpone cheese is made similar to American cream cheese although it uses a base of whole cream instead of milk.
Mascarpone cheese just like regular cheese is a fresh cheese that is also not aged before it is eaten.
Mascarpone cheese is also more expensive than regular cream cheese due to the larger quantity of cream that is needed to produce it and the cost of raw ingredients in mascarpone cheese is higher.