Mascarpone

Mascarpone is probably the best substitute for cream cheese if you have to choose just one. This soft cheese is richer and creamier than cream cheese, but it can be used in many of the same recipes as cream cheese—but not the other way around. If you're making tiramisu, for example, you don't want to use mascarpone instead of cream cheese.

However, if you need something to spread on toast or a bagel, this is an upgrade. If you miss the tangy flavor of cream cheese when substituting mascarpone, add a little lemon juice or plain yogurt, or both, until the flavor is similar to cream cheese.

Mascarpone cheese, regardless of the type of milk used to make it, is a concentrated source of the nutrients found naturally in milk, including calcium. Other important nutrients found in mascarpone cheese include phosphorus, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and vitamin A.