17 Cheesecake Topping Ideas

Transform your store-bought cheesecake into a decadent dessert with these 18 topping ideas.

From strawberry sauce to chopped up Oreo’s, these tasty cheesecake toppings will make everyone happy.

Cheesecake is that thick and velvety dessert that no one can say no to. I love serving it at house parties because I know they’ll always be a huge hit. But sometimes, when I’m too preoccupied with other things for my event, I just don’t have the time to bake cheesecake. 

What do I do instead? I get a store-bought naked cheesecake and add my touch to it by dressing it up with toppings.

While sure, cheesecake tastes amazing just as it is, it’s definitely more exciting with toppings!

You can go with something traditional like strawberry sauce or cherry pie filling. Or, if you’re a chocoholic like me, you can use chunks of your favorite candy bar or chopped up Oreo’s.

There’s a topping for every taste bud! But if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 17 cheesecake topping ideas that will make your already delicious dessert even more phenomenal. 

1. Fresh Fruit Slices

Fruit and cheesecake is a partnership that goes way back. Fruits have a wonderful combination of sweet and tangy, which tastes fantastic with the sweet and salty dessert.

Because sometimes, simple is best. No need for anything super fancy – just some slices of sweet fruit are enough to elevate your cheesecake!

I love arranging some mango and peach slices on top of my cheesecake – not only do they taste amazing, but they also make your cheesecake look stunning.

Or how about some blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries? A combination of fresh berries gives your cheesecake wonderful vibrant contrasting colors. Sprinkle the fruits with some powdered sugar to give them a gorgeous icy feel.

Or, if you want something sweeter, how about some banana slices?

Whatever fruit you choose, here’s an important tip: fresh is best!

2. Fruit Compotes

Now, if you’re not a fan of the tartness in fruits, here’s a great alternative: fruit compote! These thick concoctions also give that wonderful fruity feel but are on the much sweeter end of things. When it comes to fruit compotes, preserves, and sauces, here are some of the best:

3. Strawberry Compote

Strawberry compote is quick and easy to make and requires only 3 ingredients: fresh strawberries, sugar, and lemon.

To make, combine rinsed and quartered strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Let it macerate for 30 minutes, and they’re ready to go.

Now, if you want something more luxurious, then soak your berries in a Pinot Noir and sugar mixture. Why? Because wine makes everything fancier, that’s why! 

4. Blueberry Compote

Is there anything more classic than a blueberry cheesecake? Here’s how to make a simple blueberry compote:

Combine fresh blueberries, lemon juice, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the berries start to burst and the sauce thickens.

5. Raspberry Compote

If you want that beautiful red hue in your cheesecake though, top it with a sweet and tart raspberry compote!

Just coat it in sugar and let it macerate for 30 minutes. Mash the berries with a fork to get a luscious chunky compote. You may also blend it in a food processor for a much smoother sauce.  

6. Cherry Pie Filling

Sure, you can always use a canned cherry pie filling, but where’s the excitement in that? Making your own cherry pie filling at home is quick, easy, and much more fulfilling. Not to mention, tastes a lot better than store-bought!

Here’s how to make it: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, sugar, and lemon juice and stir until sugar dissolves.

In a separate container, combine cornstarch and water until the cornstarch dissolves. Add the cornstarch mixture to the cherries and mix well.

Stir the compote until it comes to a boil. It should be thick and glossy at this point. Remove from heat, let cool, and enjoy.

7. Chocolate

Well, because everything tastes better with chocolate – cheesecakes included. No matter how you use it – whether in chunks or melted, chocolate elevates your cheesecake to a whole new level of awesome.

8. Chocolate Shavings

Just shave your favorite chocolate bar and use it to top your cheesecake and you get a great-tasting and gorgeous-looking dessert. And, it doesn’t matter what type of chocolate to use – whether it’s dark, milk, white, or a combination of all – it will look and taste phenomenal.

9. Melted Chocolate 

If you want a thick, luscious, and decadent sauce, though – just melt some chocolate chips, transfer it into a piping bag, and let your inner artist shine! 

10. Chocolate Syrup

Or, you can also just drizzle your cheesecake with simple chocolate syrup. Have the kids join in on the fun and let them design the cake with the chocolate syrup as well!

11. Caramel

While most people prefer chocolate, but when it comes to sauces, I love me some caramel. The silky smooth sauce is all I need for my cheesecake. It’s simple, yet oh so delicious.

You can drizzle melted caramel on top of your cheesecake and call it a day.  I prefer adding a little bit of salt in there though to make salted caramel – this simple addition makes all the difference!

If you’ve got some pecans on hand, great – now you can make that iconic Turtle Cheesecake!

If you’re feeling fancy, you can use some caramel shards (which is hardened molten sugar broken into pieces) to decorate your cake.

If you want your cheesecake to have that elegant feel, infuse your caramel with some bourbon. 

12. Candy Bars and Cookies

Give your cheesecake a crunchy twist by topping it with a layer of crushed candy bars and cookies! Apart from the flavor, I also love how fun and these toppings are to use.

Just place them in a Ziploc bag, seal, and crush them with a rolling pin. Then scatter them all over the cake and you’re done. 

13. Crushed Heath Bars

Heath bars are made of milk chocolate, toffee, and almonds – flavors that enhance the deliciousness of cheesecake. 

14. Oreos

And of course, who can forget the classic Oreo cheesecake? Aside from using crushed Oreos as a topping, you can also use it to make the crust. The cookies give the cake that stunning pop of color and that wonderful crunchy contrast.

15. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

I love the sweet and salty combination of Reese’s peanut butter cups, and when topped on cheesecake, it brings out the sweetness of the cake. Oh, and speaking of Peanut Butter cups, how about some…

16. Peanut Butter Sauce 

To make peanut butter sauce, just combine peanut butter with honey or corn syrup. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and it’s done!

17. Matcha

Give your cheesecake an Asian flair by topping it with this Japanese powdered green tea. Matcha has a slight bitterness to it, which is great because it brings out the sweetness in the cheesecake even more.