Holiday dessert toppings from no churn ice cream to the perfect sweetened Chantilly cream ~ your special desserts deserve the perfect topper!
We show off our best desserts during the holiday season, we put them on display under domes and on pedestals to tempt friends and family as they work through their holiday dinners…but a great dessert without a great topping can be a sad, sad affair. Master these easy dessert toppings so none of your holiday treats have to go naked this year.
Chantilly Cream
This is it, the OG of all dessert toppings and the first one you need to know. It’s super simple, but there are a few details you need to get right. You can dollop it or pipe it onto just about any dessert to get that sweet creamy finishing touch.
Try this dessert topping with:
- No Bake Pumpkin Mousse Pie
- The Ultimate Drinking Chocolate
- Maple Frangipane Pecan Pie
- Cranberry Apple Crisp
- Flourless Pumpkin Spice Cake
- Queen Elizabeth?s Chocolate Biscuit Cake
Creme Anglaise
This shockingly easy dessert sauce is so versatile ~ when fresh summer fruit is available it turns a pile of berries into an elegant dessert, but in fall and winter it goes just as well with gingerbread and apple cakes!
Try this dessert topping with:
- Indian Pudding
- Flourless Belgian Chocolate Cake
- Honey Cake
- Easy Chocolate Souffl?
- Honeycrisp Apple Cardamom Cake
- Authentic Irish Apple Cake
- Gingerbread Cake
Hot Fudge Sauce
Hot fudge is one of the great pleasures of life that nobody should miss out on. I, for one, would trade my slice of pumpkin pie for a gingerbread hot fudge sundae in a heart beat!
Try this dessert topping with:
Salted Maple Caramel Sauce
Pure maple syrup brings a new flavor profile to a classic sauce! With only 4 ingredients and no sugar or corn syrup this luxurious dessert sauce comes together in just 10 minutes.
Try this dessert topping with:
- Maple Pecan Pound Cake
- Maple Walnut Ice Cream
- Jewish Cardamom Apple Cake
- Butter Pecan Shortbread
- The Frozen Turkey Cocktail
- The Ultimate Maple Cheesecake
- Maple and Mascarpone Fruit Tart
Cherry Dessert Sauce
There’s something about cherries…probably because they’re not available year round, they’re extra special. But no worries ~ you can still make fabulous cherry sauce in December, just use frozen fruit!
Try this dessert sauce with:
- Perfect Buttermilk Pound Cake
- Flourless Belgian Chocolate Cake
- Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart
- Molten Lava Cake
- Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
Bailey’s No Churn Ice Cream
Once you realize how easy this is to pull off, you’ll want to reinvent it using your favorite spirit. Think Amaretto or Grand Marnier. And don’t forget Frangelico, Tia Maria, or peppermint schnapps…
Try this dessert topping with:
- Hot coffee! (to make Affogato)
- Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart
- Black Bottom Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Pumpkin Spice Crisp
- Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Soft Glazed Gingerbread Cookies
Blender Lemon Curd
Blender lemon curd is silky and pourable ~ perfect for topping fresh berries, pavlovas, pound cake, and so much more. For a new taste sensation, try it with dark chocolate or gingerbread.
Try this dessert topping with:
- Simple Berry Pavlova
- Easy Lemon Trifle
- Lemon Olive Oil Cake
- Lemon Chiffon Cake
- Lemon Cheesecake Recipe
- Gingerbread Cake
Cranberry Whipped Cream
I’ve been flavoring my whipped cream for years. There are so many ways to do it, and this festive cranberry version is perfect for the holidays.
Try this dessert topping with:
Confectioner’s sugar
Confectioner’s sugar (aka powdered sugar) is the easiest of all dessert toppers, but did you know it can also be the most dramatic? This effect works with most flat cakes, pies, and tarts that have a dry surface; all you need is a paper doily or a piece of lace to use as your stencil!
Try this dessert topping with:
- Honey Cake
- Flourless Pumpkin Spice Cake
- Flourless Belgian Chocolate Cake
- Lemon Olive Oil Cake
- Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
- B?che de No?l Layer Cake
- Gluten Free Tangerine Cake
Bourbon Whipped Cream
As with my spirited no churn ice cream, the possibilities are endless with this one. I use about a tablespoon of alcohol per cup of heavy cream. You can make it stronger, just keep in mind that when you add extra liquid to heavy cream it whips up in softer peaks (which I prefer.)
Try this dessert topping with:
- Black Bottom Bourbon Pecan Pie
- Libby?s Pumpkin Pie Recipe
- Ina Garten?s Brownie Pudding
- Flourless Belgian Chocolate Cake
Sparkling Sugar
Sparkling sugar (aka coarse or sanding sugar) is an easy way to add a festive touch to cakes and cookies. Look for it in specialty baking shops, craft stores, and online, here.
Try this dessert topping with:
