Erin Elizabeth
When it comes to cheesecake, you really can’t say no. Another slice of cheesecake? Why not! A trip to the Cheesecake Factory first thing in the morning? Sure! A mixed platter of mini cheesecakes for dessert? Of course!
You only have to taste cheesecake to see why it is so impossible to say “no” to any offer of cheesecake. So, when it comes to having people around, you might find yourself wanting to serve cheesecake for your guests.
But baking a cheesecake from scratch isn’t the easiest task. There are lots of things that could go wrong, and this is the last thing that you need when you have a busy day ahead of you. This is why lots of people buy plain, store-made cheesecakes, then transform them using different toppings.
If you are thinking of doing this, then you are probably wondering what cheesecake toppings are the best. In this guide, we’ll be telling you just that.
What Makes a Good Cheesecake?
There are lots of factors that go into making a cheesecake good. From flavor to texture to appearance, lots of things will impact your enjoyment of that cheesecake. So, it is important to consider this before you begin adding toppings to this dessert.
If you are choosing to buy a store-made cheesecake, and add the toppings yourself, then the “plain” cheesecake that you are working with will probably be vanilla in flavor. While it isn’t plain, vanilla is a great base flavor, and you can add pretty much anything that you want to this salad to make it delicious.
A good cheesecake will be packed with flavor, but it will not be overwhelming. Instead of combining lots of different flavors, it will focus on one main flavor, and only add extra toppings if their flavor complements the main focus. For example, a summer fruit cheesecake might use strawberry as the main flavor, then add other berries (such as raspberries) to complement this.
When you are adding toppings to your cheesecake yourself, it can be a lot more difficult to find the perfect balance of flavors. But as long as you pick flavors that complement each other, then your cheesecake will taste outstanding. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best cheesecake toppings available.
Sliced Fruit
If you are making a cheesecake to enjoy on a hot, summer’s day, then sliced fruit is the perfect topping. It is straightforward to prepare, so you won’t find yourself sweating in the kitchen trying to prepare your cheesecake, and it is refreshing too.
With sliced fruit, you can make it look prettier by arranging it into special patterns and spreading it across the top of your cheesecake. Not only does this topping look great, but it tastes great too, so here are some options to consider.
Sliced Lemon
Lemon cheesecake is popular because it has a strong, citrus flavor. This citrus flavor complements the sweet, creamy flavor of cheesecake perfectly, adding a whole new dimension to the flavor of your cheesecake. Lemon looks great on a cheesecake too, and it is the perfect option to enjoy on a hot day.
Sliced Strawberries
But not everyone likes sour fruits, so if this is the case for you, you might prefer sliced strawberries instead. Strawberries are sweet, and they are full of color too. Strawberries can be effortlessly cut in half to decorate your cheesecake, and they are easy to work with too. So this is a great option if you prefer sweet to sour.
Sauces
Sliced fruit is a pretty effortless topping for your cheesecake, but if you are looking for something that is even easier, then a sauce is perfect.
No matter whether you make your sauce yourself, or buy it from the store, all you need to do is add it to the top of your cheesecake. You can add it to the whole cheesecake, or you can add it to individual slices, the choice is entirely yours.
Strawberry
Strawberry cheesecake has always been one of the best flavors, so it makes sense that strawberry sauce is a great choice too. You can serve this on its own, or you can pair it with fresh strawberries to create a delicious cheesecake that looks good too.
Mixed Berry
If you like strawberries, but like a lot of other berries too, then a mixed berry sauce might be the better option for you. This sauce has lots of dimensions because a variety of different berries are used to make it. A lot of the time strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are used to make this sauce, so it is packed with flavor.
Caramel
Alternatively, you might choose to add caramel sauce to your cheesecake. Most of the time, people associate cheesecake with fruity flavors, but it tastes great when combined with caramel sauce too. If you choose this topping, you should consider adding the sauce in a pretty pattern because the golden color of the sauce looks great against the cream color of the cheesecake.
Peanut Butter
Finally, if you fancy something a little different, you should consider making a peanut butter sauce. Simply melt down peanut butter, and combine it with whipping cream, brown sugar, and corn syrup to form a delicious peanut butter sauce that tastes great on any cheesecake.
Compotes
If you don’t like sauce and prefer something a little thicker, then a compote is the perfect topping. You have quite a few compotes to choose from, and they all taste outstanding.
Compotes usually have a complex flavor, with a mixture of sweet and sour undertones, and this means they work perfectly when combined with the creamy texture and flavor of cheesecake.
Cherry
Strawberries are sweet, but if you prefer a darker berry, then cherry compote is perfect. Cherry compote is outstanding, with a deep color, and a delicious flavor. Cherry compote is multidimensional, and it tastes great served hot and served cold, making it the perfect topping for cheesecake.
Raspberry
Another great choice is raspberry compote. A lot of people think that strawberries and raspberries taste very similar together, but while they have some common flavors, they are very different fruits. So, if you fancy something a little different, then raspberry compote could be the one for you.
Strawberry
Alternatively, if you want to stick with what you know, strawberry compote is a great choice. As we have established, strawberries taste great on cheesecake, and strawberry compote is no different. So, if you love strawberries, this is a great way to enjoy their flavor.
Blueberry
Finally, if you want to change up the appearance of your cheesecake, then a blueberry compote could be perfect. When transformed into a compote, blueberries become dark and purple, but this is still very different from the color of the other berry compotes that we have looked at. So, you should definitely give it a try.
Chocolate
It is very rare for you to get cheesecake that is made to taste like chocolate, and this is why chocolate works so well as a topping. Whether you choose white, milk, or dark chocolate, there are actually quite a few different ways which you can add this to your cheesecake. So, let’s take a look at what they are.
Chunks
If you prefer your chocolate in large amounts, then you should add chocolate chunks to your cheesecake. This is a great choice if you have a branded make of chocolate that you want to use to decorate your cheesecake. Simply break it up into pieces, then add them to the top of your cheesecake in a pattern.
Shavings
Alternatively, if you prefer to keep things simple, then chocolate shavings might be the best choice for you. All you need to do is take a shredder and rub the chocolate on top of it, this will cover the top of your cheesecake in shavings. It is a simple finish, but it is beautiful.
Melted
Another great way to serve chocolate on your cheesecake is to melt it. Simply melt your chocolate, wait for it to cool, then pour it over the top of your cheesecake. Leave the chocolate to set, then enjoy!
Syrup
Finally, you can use chocolate to make a syrup. This is straightforward to do, then you can easily drizzle the syrup across the top of your cheesecake in a pretty pattern before serving.
Confectionary
Finally, another type of cheesecake topping which has become very popular in recent years is confectionary. As cheesecakes have begun to be sold in place of birthday and celebration cakes, lots of companies have started to use confectionary as a topping for cheesecakes.
This is another great option to consider. Especially if you are decorating a cheesecake for someone in particular. Here are some of the best confectionary options to choose from.
Oreo
Let’s face it, Oreos taste great on everything. They taste great when eaten alone, they taste great when dipped in milk, and they taste even better when added to a milkshake. So, it makes sense that they taste great on a cheesecake, too. Break your Oreos up, or add them to your cheesecake whole. Either way, they will taste great, and they will be easy to work with too.
Biscoff
Another biscuit that has taken the world by storm is Biscoff, so this is another option to add to your cheesecake. If you just can’t get enough Biscoff, consider pairing this with Biscoff spread or a Biscoff sauce that you can easily make yourself.
Just like Oreos, Biscoff is a great option because you can either break them up or add them to your cheesecake whole, either way, they will taste great.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups/Pieces
If you have already made a peanut butter sauce to add to your cheesecake, then you might be looking for a confectionary to pair with this. In which case, Reese’s peanut butter pieces or cups are perfect. You can add these with a sauce, or add them on their own. Either way, they are perfect for all the peanut butter lovers out there.
Candy Cane
Let’s wrap this up with a seasonal delight, and that is Candy Cane. If you are making a cheesecake to celebrate Christmas, then this is the one to choose.
The peppermint flavor of the candy canes will taste outstanding, and the red and white appearance just screams Christmas. So whether you add them to your cheesecake whole, or crush them up, this is the perfect topping for celebrating the holiday season.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll never have to settle for a bland cheesecake ever again. Any one of these delicious cheesecake topping ideas is sure to please you and your guests the next time you make or buy cheesecake.
