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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Plated Desserts / How to Plate a Dessert

    How to Plate a Dessert

    Mar 7, 2019 · 13 Comments

    Learn the basics of plating a dessert and up your game at your next dinner party. Let me show you how to take a simple dessert and turn it into something extraordinary. Plated dessert of lemon poundcake with raspberry coulis, whipped cream and a candied lemon slice.This post was updated March 2019 with new text. The recipe for lemon chips is no longer here and can be found in its own post, How to Make Candied Lemon Slices. 

    I've always loved plating desserts. So, today I thought I'd share some basics on how to plate a dessert with you. There are so many possibilities, but this simple guide will help you get started.

    Four Main Features of a Plated Dessert.

    1. Main Item: This of course is the star of the show: a cake, a custard, a tart...
    2. Sauce: This is usually a flavor that complements or contrasts with the star: raspberry sauce, chocolate, creme anglaise...
    3. Crunch: An essential component if the main item has no crunch itself: nuts, cookie, caramel decoration, piece of chocolate...
    4. Garnish: A fancy dessert garnish can add color or decorate...sugared petals, a frosted basil leaf, chocolate shavings, berry, candied orange peel, mint leaves...

    Mexican fried ice cream in a plate with chocolate sauce, raspberry sauce and cinnamon tortilla chips.A plated dessert can be as complicated as you want it to be. Keep in mind that the flavors and textures still need to work together. Don't try to pair a bright green kiwi sauce with a cookies and cream frosted cake!

    Here's an example of a plated dessert that I put together after I made that Meyer Lemon Poundcake. It took minimal effort and it completely changed the taste and look of the dessert.

    I basically took this...

    Meyer lemon poundcake topped with a white glaze and candied lemon slices.and created this...Plated dessert of lemon poundcake with raspberry coulis, whipped cream and a candied lemon slice.
    The pound cake was good by itself but the plated version was a completely different experience. New textures and flavors made it even better. The plate was first decorated with a raspberry coulis which goes nicely with lemon flavor and adds moisture to the cake.

    The slice of cake was placed on top with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and topped with a crunchy chewy candied lemon slice. A few raspberries were added for garnish and more color.

    Here's another example. These are easy peasy Meyer lemon cheesecake bars:meyer lemon cheesecake barsI put together a quick blueberry compote and crushed up some graham crackers to create this plate:

    plated cheesecakeMore Tips for Plating a Dessert Like a Pro:

    • Start with a white plate or at least a plain plate. White plates, let the food stand out more. A plate with a pattern distracts from your presentation.
    • Try a different shaped plate other than round such as square, rectangle or triangle if you can find it!
    • Use squeeze bottles for your dessert sauces. This will give you more control when trying to create a pattern. See my introduction to using dessert sauces for more ideas.
    • Try to have multiple textures between your main item, side item and garnish.
    • Think about a deconstructed version of your dessert like in this deconstructed Mexican Fried Ice Cream.
    • Cut up your sheet cake with a cookie cutter to get different shapes like in this crustless pumpkin pie. (This works best if the cake is frozen)

    Have a question about plating desserts? Leave me a comment below.

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    « Irish Cream Cheesecake Brownies
    Baileys Cheesecake Made in Instant Pot »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret - Savory Sweet Living says

      April 25, 2011 at 11:51 am

      Your pound cake was already stunning but when you serve it with the raspberry coulis, it just made it extra special. So pretty and love the lemon chip.

      Reply
    2. Tenina says

      April 26, 2011 at 12:46 am

      This is fantastic, I am going to try the same method with pineapple, something I recently enjoyed at a restaurant and have subesequently tried and failed. But this could be the method that will work! Thanks!

      Reply
    3. Carolyn says

      April 27, 2011 at 6:55 am

      Hey - thanks so much for starting this series...Perfect plating is incredibly difficult!

      Just a question about those beautiful lemon chips - how long will they last? I am forever looking for ways to use the last of my lemons!

      Reply
    4. nisha says

      April 27, 2011 at 9:28 am

      i am such a sucker for plain cakes...the yellow cake is to die for

      Reply
    5. culinaryneophyte says

      April 29, 2011 at 9:08 am

      Beautiful pictures!

      Reply
    6. barunram says

      April 28, 2013 at 10:37 am

      vry good plating

      Reply

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