Whipped Cream

• Frost the top of your cracked cheesecake with a slightly sweetened whipped cream for a light addition to the dessert. Experiment with flavoring the cream to play off the flavor of the cheesecake. If you made a plain dessert, you could make a spiced whipped cream or add a touch of fruit extract or juice to the cream. For a chocolate cheesecake, try black or green tea whipped cream, made by steeping tea bags in half of the whipping cream, cooling the liquid, then whipping with the remaining chilled half.

Ganache

• Ganache is a rich chocolate frosting made by pouring boiling heavy cream over chocolate and stirring until smooth. Once the chocolate mixture cools, depending on the ratio of cream to chocolate you use, it can be poured or spread like frosting. Cover a cheesecake with bittersweet, semi-sweet, milk or white chocolate ganache for a rich frosting that will sink into the cracks, creating a perfectly smooth top. Flavor the ganache with extracts or spices, if desired.

Sour Cream Topping

• A classic cheesecake calls for a traditional sour cream topping spread like frosting over the top of the dessert. The topping is a mixture of sour cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread the mixture over the entire top of the cake to hide the cracks and add a sour bite that balances the sweetness of the cheesecake. The topping works well with a variety of cheesecake flavors, from plain to chocolate to pumpkin, and also pairs well with fruits.

Fruit

• If adding a frosting sounds too rich for your cheesecake, cover the cracks with fruit for a light and balancing taste. Make a thick, lightly sweetened sauce with your favorite berries to pour over the top. Alternatively, layer slices of fruit or tightly pack berries over the entire top of the cheesecake to create a frosting of fruit. Once arranged, brush apricot glaze over the fruit to keep it fresh and bright for serving.