Recipe for Cheesecake Serving Success

If you are including a gourmet cheesecake with your dinner, consider taking the extra step of thinking about the presentation of the dessert. We get enjoyment from our food with our eyes, in addition to our mouths. Always experiment, but here are a few possibilities to get your creative juices flowing.

New York Cheesecake: This is what most people would think of as the plain or “unflavored” cheesecake. Frankly, it is anything but unflavored! However, the taste is one that will adapt well to almost any accompaniment. Well, maybe not broccoli! I suggest that you consider picking up on the richness of this versatile dessert by putting a generous amount of hot caramel topping around the serving plate.

Berry Cheesecakes come in a variety of berry options. The most obvious choice for adding pizzazz and beauty to the plate would be to add fresh berries matching those of the dessert. But I prefer to add a variety of my favorite berries--raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.

Blueberry Cheesecake: Purchase an exceptional quality blueberry preserve. Stir in enough fresh lemon juice to dilute the preserves so that it will slide off a spoon easily. Put the mixture in a criss cross pattern across the dessert. The tartness of the lemon juice will provide a nice counterpoint to the sweet taste of the preserves and cake.

Strawberry Cheesecake is lovely by itself, however it is even more striking with the addition of large, beautiful berries around the cheesecake serving.

Key Lime Cheesecake: We want to pick up the hue of the dessert. Randomly sprinkle mint leaves atop the cheesecake and serving plate. I generally place around six or seven per serving.

Turtle Cheesecake: Since this cake already brings a medley of flavors, it’s a good idea not to try to add yet another one. Instead, place a few petals from small blooms around the platter to enhance the presentation. Yellow petals especially compliment the color of the cake.

Pumpkin Cheesecake: This is a frequent choice the holiday season and at other times. Shake a sprinkling of nutmeg around the plate--but not on the cake, itself. Or you might think about shaking a very small amount of cinnamon on both the serving platter and the slice.

Chocolate Cheesecake: Place thin shavings of dark, unsweetened chocolate atop and beside the cheesecake slice. You can never have too much chocolate!

Sugar Free Cheesecakes--no sugar added: No matter what the flavor of the cheesecake, a mint sprig atop the widest part of the dessert, will dress it up delightfully without additional sweetness.

A great cheesecake is certainly worth the price, even though it may not be an everyday treat. Those times when you are about to indulge, party with your eyes as well as the mouth! (See all of our cheesecakes by clicking.)