The Topping That Makes Store-Bought Cheesecake Way Better

A creamy, cold, delicious slice of cheesecake is a tough treat to beat. A classic Kirkland cheesecake is a dessert you should never pass up, and yet all too often store-bought just can't compare to homemade. If you want to add a little pizzazz to your dessert, cookie crumbles are the perfect topping to make any store-bought cheesecake taste gourmet.

Cookies are already a classic base for cheesecake crust, so it's no surprise they work wonders as a topping. The crunch enhances the texture of the creamy cheesecake, while additional flavors from the cookies give the dessert a wonderful complexity. And topping the cheesecake is easy; all you have to do is put your chosen cookies in a plastic bag and pulverize them with a rolling pin (or skip the plastic bag and just pulse them in a food processor). Once they're crumbled to your liking, spread the cookie bits on your cheesecake. To help them stay on, you can apply a layer of syrup or sauce beforehand. Then, pop the cake in the fridge and let it set for just a few minutes before serving (lest the crumbles lose their crunch).

You can use any kind of cookie for your cheesecake. From store-bought to homemade cookies you've just baked in the air fryer, from chocolate chip to shortbread, the only limit is your palate. While it may be slightly more difficult to crumble softer cookies, they still work as a topping. Try your favorite cookies on top of your favorite store-bought cheesecake and marvel at the new flavors it brings out.

Out of the countless types of cookies you can crumble on top of your cheesecake, one of the best to start with is the famous chocolate chip. You can't beat the classics, after all. The chocolate complements the rich tang of a standard cheesecake fantastically, and with the seemingly endless assortment available, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to texture and levels of sweetness. Pick up some chocolate chip cookies from your favorite chain restaurant or whip up a batch at home. Either way, you're in for a treat.

Another good choice that's a little more unorthodox is snickerdoodles. Their light texture makes them a great topping if you don't want a lot of crunch with your cheesecake, and the cinnamon is a delicious complement to the cream cheese in the cheesecake. Admittedly, this is one of those soft cookies that might be challenging to crumble without squishing, but it's well worth a try.

Finally, a combination you won't regret trying with your store-bought cheesecake: Thin Mints. They're the best-selling cookie in the Girl Scouts' repertoire for a reason, and they go wonderfully on cheesecake. Their crispy crunch makes them a good choice if you want a little extra texture with your cheesecake, and their signature combination of mint and chocolate adds a new level of flavor that will make your taste buds cheer.