Top 35 Best Cheesecake Toppings

All the best cheesecake toppings to try, in one place! If you love baking cheesecake but want more ideas for cheesecake toppings, you've certainly come to the right place.

Jump to:

• Best Cheesecake Toppings
• 1. Chantilly Cream
• 2. Strawberry Compote
• 3. Fresh Fruits eg. raspberries
• 4. Dried rose petals
• 5. Crushed Cookies eg. Biscoff
• 6. Chopped nuts eg. pistachios
• 7. Whipped Chocolate Ganache
• 8. Ferrero Rocher
• 9. Caramelized Apple Topping
• 10. Mascarpone Frosting
• 11. Strawberry Shortcake Crumble
• 12. Lemon Curd
• 13. Homemade Caramel
• 14. Chocolate Namelaka
• 15. Homemade Nutella
• 16. Cream Cheese Frosting
• 17. White Chocolate Sauce
• 18. Homemade Lotus Biscoff Spread
• 19. Nutella Frosting
• 20. Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
• 21. Homemade Cool Whip
• 22. Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
• 23. Homemade Pistachio Butter
• 24. Mini Brownie Bites
• 25. Choux Au Craquelin
• 26. Homemade Pecan Butter
• 27. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• 28. Chocolate Bon Bon With Hazelnut
• 29. Macarons
• 30. Easy Homemade Graham Crackers
• 31. Maple Glazed Pretzels
• 32. Peanut Butter Cups
• 33. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
• 34. Sour Cream Frosting
• 35. Blueberry Cake Filling
• Cheesecake toppings FAQs
• Related Cheesecake Recipes
• Top 35 Best Cheesecake Toppings

This cheesecake toppings list covers the classics, as well as some fun and unusual ideas full of taste and texture. You can use any of these gourmet cheesecake toppings for baked cheesecake, or as no-bake cheesecake toppings. No matter what type of cheesecake you're making, I have the best cheesecake toppings ideas to try.

Best Cheesecake Toppings

1. Chantilly Cream

Simple and elegant homemade whipped cream is infused with vanilla and lightly sweetened to make this classic French recipe. Chantilly cream works beautifully with all manner of desserts, but especially well as a cheesecake topping.

2. Strawberry Compote

Fruit and cheesecake are surely a classic flavor combination. Sweet and vibrant strawberry compote is a traditional cheesecake topping made from sweetened homemade strawberry sauce cooked down with a bit of sugar and lemon juice. You can spread it over the surface of your cheesecake to create a beautiful contrast to the pale and creamy cheesecake filling.

3. Fresh Fruits eg. raspberries

A pile of fresh fruit, either delicately sliced or left whole is one of those easy cheesecake toppings you can throw together in minutes. Choose your favorite fruit, they all taste fantastic.

Fresh strawberries and raspberries work well as cheesecake fruit toppings, as do mango and sliced banana. In conclusion, if you're tight on time, this is the cheesecake topping for you. Add some chocolate shavings to make it a bit more decadent.

4. Dried rose petals

Rose petals make the most fragrant and elegant cheesecake topping eg. on this baklava cheesecake. Crumbled delicately over the cheesecake, each bite is infused with rose flavor and a very subtle crunch. Rose petals work particularly well paired with honey, chopped nuts like pistachios, or dark chocolate shavings.

5. Crushed Cookies eg. Biscoff

Biscoff, Oreos, or whatever your favorite cookie is, can make the most delicious cheesecake toppings. You can leave some whole, or crumble up and sprinkle over the top. Simply put, it's so easy! The best part is the added crunchy texture, though which works so well against the creamy cheesecake.

6. Chopped nuts eg. pistachios

If you're wondering how to make cheesecake topping easy, just add nuts! Any chopped nuts work well as simple cheesecake toppings. My personal favorite is pistachio nuts, as you get that delicious taste as well as a vibrant green color.

But pecans, peanuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts also work really well as toppings for cheesecake and complement the creamy cheesecake texture perfectly.

7. Whipped Chocolate Ganache

A decadent chocolate cheesecake topping is just what the doctor ordered. My super smooth and chocolaty whipped ganache will make anyone's eyes glaze over and make a delicious addition to a cheesecake. In conclusion, this cheesecake topping idea will win first place at the dessert table.

8. Ferrero Rocher

Whole candies like Ferrero Rocher are a super fun and easy way to decorate cheesecakes and add both taste and texture. They look so imperious and fancy but are actually super simple. Place them on top of a cheesecake at the last minute and serve to general admiration.

9. Caramelized Apple Topping

If you're looking for Fall cheesecake topping ideas, look no further. Sweet apples in a caramel sauce are full of warm comforting flavors and work just as well over ice cream or as a pie filling as they do as a cheesecake recipe topping.

Try some of these other apple desserts, too.

10. Mascarpone Frosting

Cheesecake is traditionally made with cream cheese, so the comparative light sweetness of mascarpone works truly well with it. Mascarpone cheese is super smooth and creamy, and this frosting recipe pipes perfectly so you can decorate cheesecakes with it easily. Flavor it with lemon zest for some zing and use some food coloring to create more of a color contrast.

11. Strawberry Shortcake Crumble

The viral craze that surrounds strawberry crunch cake shows no signs of slowing down, and the shortcake crumble made from Golden Oreas and freeze-dried strawberries is such a tasty cheesecake topping. Press it into the sides as well a the top of the cheesecake for a full wrap effect, and wait for the compliments to roll in. Surely, no one will be able to stop after one slice.

12. Lemon Curd

Homemade lemon curd is certainly one of the best cheesecake toppings out there. The tangy lemon cuts through the rich cream cheese and provides the perfect contrast. It looks refreshing and inviting, and would surely make a delicious Spring dessert. But you can also use storebought lemon curd if time is tight and the result will be just as tasty.

13. Homemade Caramel

This tasty caramel is the perfect topping for cheesecake as well as other desserts like cupcakes or ice cream. It is perfectly sticky, buttery, silky and won't turn hard. What's more, it's very well balanced in sweetness due to the glucose syrup added besides sugar. Add a pinch of salt to get a salted caramel sauce topping if you're a fellow fan of sweet and salty, like me.

14. Chocolate Namelaka

Whilst this cheesecake topping might sound fancy and complicated, it is actually a lot easier to make than you might think. Made from only a handful of basic pantry ingredients, it has the perfect pipeable texture, so you can decorate cheesecakes with it. Namelaka is the perfect cross between ganache, pastry cream, and mousse. Simply put, you must try it!

15. Homemade Nutella

Did you know you can make your own Nutella? And then use it as an easy cheesecake topping recipe to turn any cheesecake into a tasty Nutella dessert. Honestly, once you have tried Nutella on a cheesecake, you won't go back.

16. Cream Cheese Frosting

Double down on the cream cheese by making a cream cheese topping for cheesecake. It's thick and rich but pipeable, so you can make easy cheesecake decorations out of it. You can even color it with gel food coloring to make a bright and colorful dessert.

17. White Chocolate Sauce

Who else is obsessed with white chocolate? Certainly, after trying this sauce, you might be. It's creamy and full of white chocolate flavor. Seriously, no one can ever stop eating his sauce when I make it for them. I like to use it as a topping for cheesecake along with some sliced fresh strawberries.

18. Homemade Lotus Biscoff Spread

Are there any other Lotus Biscoff fans out there? Trust me, and try it with cheesecake. I like to make my own Biscoff spread as I love Biscoff desserts so much, and it means I always have some in the house.

19. Nutella Frosting

Any kind of beautiful piped frosting is surely a stunning cheesecake topping and decoration all in one. And this nutty, chocolaty frosting is a match made in heaven for cheesecake. What's more, it is so simple to make and only requires a few simple ingredients.

20. Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love the rich tangy goodness of cream cheese frosting but also love fresh fruit flavor, this is the best cheesecake topping idea for you. It's smooth and silky and infused with real strawberry flavor so it has a delicate pink color as well as authentic berry taste.

21. Homemade Cool Whip

Now, this might be America's favorite topping but have you ever wanted to try it with no additives and preservatives? Then you'll love this recipe. Furthermore, it's perfect as a cheesecake topping idea because it's so easy but tastes amazing. Add a dollop of this fluffy, cloud-like topping to any cheesecake and transform it to the next level.

22. Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Who else loves peanut butter? Spread a layer of this delicious peanut butter cheesecake topping over your dessert and watch as everyone devours it. Simply put, no one will be able to resist. The saltiness works so well against a sweet and creamy cheesecake and it's fiendishly moreish.

23. Homemade Pistachio Butter

The vibrant green color alone makes this a cheesecake topping recipe worth making, but the flavor is the real highlight. Pistachio flavor is irresistible to most people, so it's always a winner. Spread the pistachio butter in a thin layer on top of the cheesecake or drizzle it over with a fork to get a pretty design.

If you love pistachios, try some of these other pistachio desserts.

24. Mini Brownie Bites

You can create a mound of brownie bites in the center of the cheesecake, or arrange them around the sides like a cute edible fortress. In particular, kids will love this cheesecake topping, and they could help you to decorate it. However, some mini brownies might disappear along the way...

25. Choux Au Craquelin

Cream puffs are an elegant French dessert that you can fill with anything you like, and choux au craquelin takes this one step further. The crunchy disc melts over the choux bun as it bakes, leaving a crispy coating that is the perfect texture contrast to cheesecake. Whilst this cheesecake topping idea might be a bit more of an effort to make, it is certainly worth it for the end result.

26. Homemade Pecan Butter

Make a cheesecake into a Fall dessert by topping it with homemade pecan butter. The rich and earthy flavor of pecan is condensed into a silky smooth nut butter which tastes incredible when spread in a thin layer over the top of a cheesecake. You could even sprinkle chopped nuts on top to double down on nutty flavor and add some texture, too.

27. White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I love using strawberries for cheesecake toppings. We know that strawberries make delicious cheesecake toppings, so why not take it up a notch and dip the fruit into melted chocolate first? Chocolate-dipped strawberries give you both fresh fruit flavor and a decadent chocolate taste. Honestly, it's the best of both worlds. Arrange on top of the cheesecake pointing inwards, so that each slice of cheesecake gets one.

28. Chocolate Bon Bon With Hazelnut

How beautiful would a cheesecake be, adorned with homemade chocolate bonbons? I love making homemade candies, and all you need are a few basic pantry staples and a chocolate mold. You can match the cheesecake flavor to the bonbon flavor, too. For example, a Chocolate cheesecake would be perfect with these chocolate hazelnut bonbons.

29. Macarons

Beautiful, dainty macarons look so picture perfect when stood up on their sides so that you can see the pretty colored shells and delicious filling. Place them artfully on top of a cheesecake in a ring to make stunning and unusual cheesecake toppings.

If this is your first time making these delicate French pastries, why not take my online macaron class?

30. Easy Homemade Graham Crackers

Whilst you might be accustomed to making a buttery Graham Cracker crust, you may have never thought about using them as a crunchy cheesecake topping, too. They might also be one of the easiest cheesecake toppings around, as you can simply crumble them up and dust them over the top to make a tasty cheesecake topping that is full of texture, too.

31. Maple Glazed Pretzels

Sweet and salty pretzels make an excellent cheesecake topping idea, as you get a hit of salty goodness that balances the creamy, sweet taste of the cheesecake. Either leave them whole or crush them up and press them into the top and sides of the cheesecake. If you have any leftovers, they make great snacks, too!

32. Peanut Butter Cups

Arrange some peanut butter cups on top of a plain cheesecake to make it appetizing! Everyone loves peanut butter and chocolate, and the flavors work so well against a rich, cream cheese cheesecake filling.

33. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love mini cookies. They are super cute, and you can either line them up in a ring on top of the cheesecake or simply pile them on, pure decadence style. If you're looking for cute cheesecake toppings with texture, a few little cookies are always a great choice.

34. Sour Cream Frosting

Have you ever tried cheesecake topped with sour cream frosting? It is the perfect accompaniment. It adds an extra tang, as well as a beautifully creamy appearance. I like to spread a sour cream topping over the cheesecake surface, and especially in winter, it looks like a snowdrift.

35. Blueberry Cake Filling

A sweet and juicy blueberry compote makes an excellent cheesecake topping, especially for those who love blueberry desserts. You can make it in advance and spread it over the cheesecake so that it's ready to serve whenever it's time for dessert.

Sometimes, I like to blend and strain out the seeds for a smoother topping, but otherwise, it looks great with a bit of texture from the whole fruit. Lemon and blueberry is a classic flavor pairing, so this idea works well for lemon cheesecake toppings.

Cheesecake toppings FAQs

Related Cheesecake Recipes