Mascarpone is often referred to as Italian Cream Cheese, but it does have a higher fat content, making it creamier and richer than regular cream cheese. Despite this additional richness, the texture of the cake is remarkably light and delicate. Mascarpone is also a bit sweeter and less tangy than cream cheese. We love them both as a "secret ingredient" in cake batter and they both make for fabulous frostings as well. We also have a delicious Lemon Mascarpone Cake recipe which is a layer cake. It is so moist and light!