Find the best cheesecake topping ideas all in one complete resource! You will find everything from the easy toppings to serve with cheesecake to unique and gourmet sauces perfect for holidays and company!

collage of cheesecake toppings

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Best Cheesecake Toppings

Cool and creamy cheesecake with buttery graham cracker crust always delivers. It’s hard to resist the tangy sweetness of cream cheese filling topped with everything from fruit sauce, candy bars, melted chocolate, fresh fruit slices to a simple dollop of whipped cream.

Whether serving your favorite cheesecake recipe, gluten-free cheesecake, no-bake cheesecake, a holiday favorite, like pumpkin cheesecake with pecan crust, or jazzing up a store-bought frozen dessert, it’s hard to choose a favorite cheesecake topping.

Below are not only the best toppings for cheesecake, but classics that don’t require any effort. They compliment the smooth texture and flavor, making every bite irresistible!

  1. Reese’s peanut butter cups
  2. Fresh fruit or berries, like raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches
  3. Chopped candy bars, like Snickers, Heath, Butterfingers
  4. Whipped cream or Cool Whip, dolloped on or decoratively placed with a piping bag
  5. Chocolate shavings
  6. Oreo cookies, crushed
  7. Canned pie filling, like cherry pie filling or apple pie filling
  8. Fruit jam, slightly warmed
  9. Chocolate chips
  10. Chocolate syrup
  11. Fruit sauces, like strawberry syrup or raspberry sauce
  12. Caramel
  13. Toffee bits

Unique and Gourmet Toppings

Cheesecake factory has nothing on these gourmet cheesecake toppings. Most are ready-made and don’t require any extra effort! They would make great additions to a cheesecake bar or add an unique flavor twist.

  1. Crushed Biscoff cookies
  2. Banana curd filling
  3. Marshmallow fluff
  4. Nutella, slightly warmed
  5. Cookie butter
  6. Edible cookie dough
  7. Lemon curd
  8. Chocolate-dipped strawberries
  9. Granola
  10. Fried apples
  11. Grilled fruit, like pineapple, nectarines or peaches

Easy Sauce Ideas

Much like angel food cake toppings, there are variety of sauces to smother on sliced cheesecake. For easy fruit cheesecake toppings, look to store-bought ice cream toppings or canned pie fillings.

Also, many jellies and jams can be turned into a sauce by warming slightly and pouring on.

If you are preparing a homemade fruit sauce or compote, cool to room temperature and chill separately from the cheesecake. Drizzle over before serving.

  1. Peanut butter sauce
  2. Hot fudge
  3. Blueberry compote
  4. Caramel sauce
  5. Chocolate syrup
  6. Pineapple topping
  7. Raspberry sauce

Pro Tips For Serving Cheesecake Toppings

  • It’s hard to choose which cheesecake topping is best, so why stop at one? Set up a cheesecake toppings bar and guests can choose their favorites or make combinations.
  • Store the cheesecake separate from the toppings until ready to serve.
  • When serving warm toppings, such as salted caramel sauce or hot fudge, let it cool slightly before drizzling on.
  • If fruit sauces are too thin, mix together 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and stir into the simmering sauce until thickened.
  • To cut the sweetness of a fruit sauce or compote, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
  • Homemade whipped cream will stay stable, refrigerated, up to 1 day.

More Topping Ideas

1. Thick Old Fashioned Fudge Sauce (Cocoa Powder)

chocolate syrup on melting ice cream in a footed dish
This easy old fashioned hot fudge sauce recipe uses a handful of simple ingredients like Hershey's cocoa powder, sugar, butter, and milk to make a homemade thick and chewy sauce in only 5 minutes. Drizzle over an ice cream sundae, no bake pies, or cheesecake for the perfect dessert!
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2. Homemade Blueberry Maple Syrup (10 Mins)

a bowl of blueberry syrup with a spoon resting on side
This easy blueberry maple syrup recipe takes only 4 simple ingredients and 10 minutes. It's naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, so there is no added refined sugar. Top pancakes, waffles, cheesecakes, ice cream and more with this fruity, homemade syrup using fresh or frozen berries.
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3. Easy Chocolate Whipped Cream Frosting (Stabilized)

a cake on a green cake stand with chocolate whipped cream frosting all over it.
Chocolate whipped cream frosting recipe is light and fluffy, yet sturdy and stabilized enough to pipe on cupcakes or cakes. Rich, airy whipped cream with cocoa powder pairs perfectly with any flavor of cake, such as angel food, white, chocolate, or banana cake.
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4. 5 Minute Candied Pecans With Maple Syrup

an overhead shot of candied pecans in an antique silver bowl
When you need a recipe for simple candied pecans in a jiffy this stove top recipe is the way to go. It comes together in only 5 minutes, requires only pure maple syrup, brown sugar, and nuts, and is perfection sprinkled on salads, yogurt, desserts, for snacking, or so much more!
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5. Gooey 5-Minute Peanut Butter Glaze

close up of peanut butter frosting on a chocolate cake.
Easy, five minute peanut butter glaze makes glossy drizzle for donuts, cakes, brownies, cookies, and more desserts! Peanut butter lovers will rejoice over this frosting that hardens into gooey sweet and salty glaze using four simple ingredients.
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6. Homemade Salted Caramel Recipe

Homemade Salted Caramel Recipe
Made from just 4 ingredients, this homemade salted caramel is salty, sweet, and irresistibly buttery. No candy thermometer required!
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7. Strawberry Sauce

Strawberry Sauce
This homemade strawberry sauce is only 3 ingredients, and is the perfect strawberry topping to go on ice cream, cheesecake, pound cake, pancakes, and more! **This post contains references and/or links to products from one
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8. Easy Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe

Easy Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
Homemade whipped cream is easy to make with only 3 ingredients in 5 minutes! Watch the video and follow our step-by-step photos to learn how to make the best homemade whipped cream recipe!
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