Mascarpone Cheesecake Filled Strawberries
Transform luscious, juicy berries into a bite-sized dessert with this delectable recipe for Mascarpone Cheesecake Filled Strawberries.
These Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are as tasty as they’re beautiful!!
Why You Must Make Stuffed Strawberries:
- I have been making cream cheese stuffed strawberries for many, many years. They are a gorgeous addition to a fruit tray or even as a healthier sweet on a dessert buffet.
- The iconic combination of strawberries and cream is perfectly demostrated in this easy recipe.
- My latest twist was to try Mascarpone Filled Strawberries. Don’t they look scrumptious? They’re “almost” a guilt-free dessert!
I’ve used Martha Stewart’s version with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla, which were topped with toasted sliced almonds. I shared this recipe early in my blogging career, and it was recognized by the now-defunct Foodbuzz as one of their Top 9 posts. Such a thrill for a new blogger.
Stuffed Strawberries
When checking out dessert ideas on the Driscoll website, I spotted their version of stuffed strawberries. I quickly realized that my old recipe had just been trumped!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Pick Ripe Strawberries
There are two seasons for beautiful, ripe strawberries here in the Midwest. Local strawberries ripen in late spring, then California strawberries fill in the gap for the rest of the summer. Around November, Florida’s crop is available, just in time for the holidays.
When choosing your strawberries, look for bright red berries with no white or green around the stem area. The exterior should look glossy and the tiny seeds should look fresh, not dry. There should be no blemishes, soft spots, or signs of mold.
Inhale and you should smell a lovely aroma of sweet berries. If they don’t smell like strawberries, they won’t taste like fresh ripe berries.
How Do You Hollow Out a Strawberry?
There are a few techniques. First, you can cut off the stem end and use a paring knife to carefully remove the core and expand the opening if needed.
There are also special coring tools designed especially for strawberries. You can also use a sturdy straw as your coring device. Remove the leaves and insert the straw into the core. It leaves a nice round opening that will need to be enlarged for stuffing.
And I haven’t tested this, but have heard you can grab the stem end, twist, and pull to remove the leaves and core.
What is Mascarpone Cheese?
Mascarpone is a soft, rich, buttery double to triple cream cow’s milk cheese that originated in the Lombardy region of Italy.
If you have trouble finding mascarpone in your market, it’s easy to make Homemade Mascarpone Cheese in your kitchen! You may also substitute cream cheese in a pinch.
Tips for Filling Your Strawberries Stuffed with Mascarpone Cheese
- You don’t need a fancy piping bag and tip to make these. I have always used a Zip-loc bag with the corner cut off to fill my strawberries. Feel free to top yours with sliced almonds; they add a nice crunch to contrast with the sweet juicy berries and creamy filling.
- You can stuff from either end of the berries. If you choose to fill from the tip end (top photo), first cut off the stem so the bottom is flat. Then from top to bottom, cut almost all the way through with two perpendicular slices. Make sure not to cut all the way through the berries.
- Alternatively, you can fill the strawberry from the stem end. In this case, I cut a small slice off the tips of my berries. This allows them to sit upright on a platter without wobbling. Then using a paring knife, I open up a cavity in the stem end for the mascarpone mixture.
- These mascarpone-filled strawberries would be a nice surprise for your sweetie on Valentine’s morning. I think mine would faint if I made him breakfast!!! Granted, he does leave the house before 6 AM. At least that’s my excuse for now.
- PRO-Tip: Some mascarpone is looser than others. You’ll need a firmer version, more like cream cheese, or your filling will be too soft to pipe or stuff your berries. (Vermont Creamery brand, though delicious, was not firm enough).
More Fresh Strawberry Recipes You’ll Love:
- Fresh Strawberry Margaritas from A Spicy Perspective
- Strawberry Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Frosting from Spend with Pennies
- Fresh Strawberry Pie from Brown Eyed Baker
- Strawberry Souffles with Fresh Strawberries
- Strawberry Cream Pie
- Mascarpone Cheesecake with Balsamic Strawberries
- Try my Homemade Mascarpone Cheese, too!
Mascarpone Filled Strawberries
Sweet ripe strawberries filled with mascarpone cream.
Ingredients
- 16 large strawberries
- 1/2 cups Mascarpone cheese
- 1/4 cup cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Prepare strawberries. To make the presentation in the top photo, trim off stem end, then place stem end down on a cutting board. Cut berry into quarters from top to almost the bottom of the berry, taking care not to cut all the way through. Place berries stem side down of serving platter.
- An alternative is to trim a bit off the non-stem end to allow for the berry to stand upright. Slice off stem end and remove the core. Place these on the platter with the stem side up.
- To make filling, beat Mascarpone with cream, sugar and vanilla till smooth. Put filling into a piping bag fit with a star tip or even a Zip-loc bag with just a corner cut off. Pipe the filling into the the middle of each berry. Garnish with a small sprig of mint if desired.
Notes
Look for red, fragrant strawberries for the best results.
The recipe is adapted from Driscoll's.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
2 strawberriesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 86Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
72 Comments on “Mascarpone Cheesecake Filled Strawberries”
My trial was good, I did take a shotsnap but they don’t look as pretty as yours.
These are beautiful and I love your photos! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday. Please come back by today to vote.
Such a simple and elegant dessert! Looks beautiful too!
So simple, but also so tasty! I am obsessed with mascarpone and it’s the perfect filling!
I saw it on IG and I immediately love it! So cute, so easy, perfect quick dessert!
I am loving this combination. Mascarpone is one of my fav cheese to work with. I am making this for Valentine’s day dinner and I am going to drizzle some chocolate sauce on top. Sounds so yuM!
Last spring when I guest posted for you, I discovered the sweet combination of strawberries and mascarpone cheese! These are just gorgeous Liz! And I LOVE the presentation! So pretty, so yummy and so easy! PERFECT!
xoxo
Roz
Ooh how fun! I LOVE these, Lizzy! Not only they look so adorable but they have mascarpone filling – yummers!
Oh Yum!!! Those are gorgeous!
I can see why your strawberries were in Foodbuzz’s top picks. Oh my goodness, you present such elegant dishes…I’d never thought of mascarpone in strawberries, but why not? Bravo, Liz for this discovery =)
i absolutely love edible bites! especially strawberries, they are just so pretty! the color is amazing.
Simply lovely…wouldn’t a tray of these be wonderful to wake up to on Valentines…well after 6 a.m.!
What an elegant dessert! Sometimes I think the best desserts are the simple ones, just a piece of fruit with something to liven it up. These strawberries look wonderful.
Just what I need to look at before getting hit with 2 feet of snow. I hope my sweetie makes some for our breakfast.
Oh Lizzie, this strawberries filled with mascarpone awesome…so simple and elegant.
Gorgeous pictures as always.
Hope you are enjoying your week!
Ooh I love these, and Driscolls strawberries are the ultimate for Valentine’s Day. I’ve seen a similar recipe on the back of InStyle Magazine one year and tore it out. It was a recipe to one of the stars. It sounds wonderful and looks so pretty. I never did try it but now that I see your version I need to. So simple yet it looks irresistable!
Wonderful Mascarpone-filled strawberries! I just love stunning but easy to make desserts like this, Liz!
These are strawberries are really gorgeous! I love how you arranged them on the plate – very elegant looking. Thank you, Liz!
Driscoll’s are wonderful but a tad expensive here 😛 😀 It’s strawberry season in our side of the world , cheap and sweet , that is , if I’m lucky lol That delicious combo is a sure winner ! Your photos are as gorgeous as that dessert 😉
One of my friends introduced me to cream cheese stuffed strawberries and I was hooked – whenever I make them, I’m sure to make “too much” of the cream cheese filling so that I can sneak spoonfuls of it. In allllll my days, I have never used mascarpone and love the idea of trying it for this delicious and decadent treat! Your strawberries are gorgeous and this is so fresh and tasty for whipping up any night of the week or for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day! My boyfriend will be thanking you after I make up a batch of these pretty guys! 🙂