Mascarpone Cake by Benassi (Tiramisu) Honest Review
June 5, 2021
I’ve been craving for tiramisu lately, but was inundated by so many options! It’s really difficult to tell what’s good and what’s not because all the photos look beautiful, and all the store reviews state that “this is the best tiramisu I’ve ever tasted.”
Well, when in doubt, I always go back to friend referrals. So I asked around and one store that consistently popped up and was heavily recommended to me was this: the Mascarpone Cake by Benassi.
Mascarpone – what’s that? Haha, that was a legit question of mine. I am such a noob. Anyway, for those not in the know, including me, mascarpone is a cream cheese with a high fat content and a slightly sweet taste. It’s essentially what makes up the tiramisu (aside from the ladyfingers or sponge cake). Mmmm I always thought it was just normal cream cheese. Joke’s on me!
Anyway, now that we’re all on the same page….
What exactly makes Mascarpone Cake by Benassi so special?
It’s all in the authenticity. The maker of Mascarpone Cake is Katia Benassi-de Guzman. She’s half Italian (the Benassi side) and grew up eating these glorious homemade Italian cooking – one of which is the Mascarpone Cake I’ll be talking about today. The recipe for this originated from the town of Massa, Italy and is a family recipe passed down from generation to generation. How many generations? No idea. But just hearing the history makes me hungry!
The second thing that’s supposed to make this so different is the mascarpone used. They only use premium mascarpone. I’m obviously not an expert in mascarpone, but I’m an expert in what tastes good. So without further ado – let’s discuss. Is the hype worth it?
One word – yes.
It really is good. I won’t say it’s life-changing, but it’s definitely worth the splurge AND the calories.
The mascarpone itself is very creamy and decadent. You definitely won’t think it’s cream cheese once you’ve tasted it. More importantly, the cream doesn’t overwhelm! I was a bit worried about that at first because when you look at it – literally half your bite is just cream. Well, those worries were unfounded. You can still taste hints of coffee blend and cacao as you savor the coffee infused cake layer in your mouth.
Important to point out that this cake isn’t too sweet either – which makes it perfect if you have parents or grandparents who are sweets conscious. Just the perfect balance – great to pair with a cup of coffee!
Presentation-wise, it’s literally a tub. I bought the large sized one, which is meant to be good for 10-12 people. Clearly, they didn’t mean my family! We finished it in one go, and we’re a family of 5. Mygosh!
Overall verdict: Very good! One of the best tiramisus tasted so far. Go for it!