Cream Cheese vs Mascarpone: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Cream cheese has 6.2 g of protein, while mascarpone has 4.8 g. Cream cheese contains 350 calories, whereas mascarpone has 392 calories.

Cream cheese and mascarpone are popular dairy products used in various dishes. While they may seem similar, their nutritional profiles differ significantly.

What Is the Difference Between Cream Cheese and Mascarpone?

Cream cheese is a soft, spreadable cheese made from milk and cream. It has a smooth texture and is commonly used in spreads and desserts. Mascarpone is a rich Italian cream cheese made from cream and citric acid. It is known for its creamy texture and is often used in desserts like tiramisu.

Cream Cheese vs Mascarpone: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values of cream cheese and mascarpone.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Cream cheese	Mascarpone
Calories	350 kcal	392 kcal
Protein	6.2 g	4.8 g
Carbs	5.5 g	3 g
Sugar	3.8 g	3 g
Fat	34.4 g	39.3 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	314 mg	30 mg

Which Is Better, Cream Cheese or Mascarpone?

For weight loss: Cream cheese has 350 calories per 100 g, while mascarpone has 392 calories, making cream cheese the lower-calorie option.

For muscle and protein: Cream cheese provides 6.2 g of protein per 100 g, compared to mascarpone's 4.8 g, making cream cheese the better choice for protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Cream cheese contains 5.5 g of carbs and 3.8 g of sugar, while mascarpone has 3 g of carbs and 3 g of sugar, making mascarpone lower in both.

How to Track Cream cheese and Mascarpone Accurately

Portion sizes and macros can be easily misjudged, affecting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g: Cream cheese from USDA FoodData Central, Mascarpone from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Cream cheese has 6.2 g of protein, while mascarpone has 4.8 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Cream cheese has 350 calories, whereas mascarpone has 392 calories.

What is the fat content of cream cheese?

Cream cheese contains 34.4 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the fat content of mascarpone?

Mascarpone contains 39.3 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sugar is in cream cheese?

Cream cheese has 3.8 g of sugar per 100 g.

How much sugar is in mascarpone?

Mascarpone contains 3 g of sugar per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Cream cheese has 350 calories per 100 g.
• Mascarpone has 392 calories per 100 g.
• Cream cheese contains 6.2 g of protein.
• Mascarpone contains 4.8 g of protein.
• Cream cheese has 34.4 g of fat.
• Mascarpone has 39.3 g of fat.