4 Unusual Ways to Garnish Your Cheesecake

With cheesecake, the garnish is just as important as the cake itself. This is your chance to really make the cheesecake yummy! Standard toppers for cheesecake include fresh fruit, whipped cream, fudge sauce, and even ice cream. First, start with your favorite cheesecake recipe. Then, select one of these unique topping ideas. They’re just as unpredictable as they are yummy!

Salsa

Using salsa as a garnish for cheesecake can be a little tricky since some salsas are on the spicier side. Salsa that has been made from fruit such as strawberries, mangos, and pineapples are good bets because they’re on the sweeter side. To make your own sweet salsa at home, add two cups chopped fruit, two tablespoons fruit preserves, two tablespoons granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne pepper (optional) to a mixing bowl and toss gently until flavors are combined. Or, you can use any mild salsa that you can find in the store.

Bacon

Did you know that bacon makes a delicious topper for chocolate cheesecake? Simply fry four strips of bacon until they’re crispy, crumble them with your fingers, and sprinkle them on top of your cheesecake. For an even more unique treat, use maple bacon and then drizzle the cheesecake with real maple syrup. Chocolatiers have started offering chocolate treats with bacon in them to sell to their customers. You can take it one step further and use it to top your cheesecake! If you don’t want to use maple syrup, try candying the bacon instead.

Sundried Tomatoes

Compared to regular tomatoes, sundried tomatoes are a bit on the sweeter side. Because of this, they make a great topper for cheesecake! Reconstitute ½ cup sundried tomatoes in about ¾ cup vegetable oil for a few hours, or until they become soft. Remove from oil and chop until fine. Add the juice of ½ a lemon, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand for two hours. Drizzle over cooled cheesecake just before serving.

Balsamic Vinegar

When balsamic vinegar is reduced, it turns into thick syrup that’s both sweet and tart at the same time. Because of this, many chefs incorporate it into their desserts. Balsamic reduction tastes great drizzled on cheesecake, too! To make your own reduction, empty a bottle of balsamic vinegar into a saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon honey or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar. Set heat on medium and bring to a boil. Stir a few times to prevent the vinegar from burning at the bottom of the pan. Simmer with the pan uncovered for about fifteen minutes, or until the syrup is at the desired consistency. Cool completely on the stove and then transfer to the refrigerator. Drizzle over cheesecake just before serving.

As you can see, you don’t need to use typical cheesecake garnishes all the time. These choices are both unique and delicious!