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Dessert plates are an elegant way to present your favorite sweet treats at the end of a meal. Yet, whether you use a plate or a dessert bowl will depend on the type of dessert you're serving.
Anything sliced, like a piece of apple pie, pavlova or cheesecake will look best served on a dessert plate, as it will retain its shape, and allow space for a drizzle of cream or sauce.
The best dinnerware sets usually contain dessert plates. However, if you want to buy extra, or something special, we've scoured the best home decor stores for a round up of the best dessert plates so you can serve sweet treats with style.
Best bold dessert plates
Price: $16
Maximalists will love the contrasting tones and clashing prints on this colorful hand-painted, stoneware patterned plate. Mix it with bowls, mugs and even teaspoons in similarly coordinating colors and patterns.
Price: $21.24 for set of 4
Suitable for salads, pastries, cakes or desserts, these porcelain Mandala plates are inspired by traditional hand-painted crockery, and will bring a beautiful boho feel to your table. They can go in the oven, microwave and dishwasher too.
Price: $64 for set of 4
We all love octopus and now these clever sea creatures are immortalised on these graphic blue plates. There's a sister set with a fish design, so mix it up with both, if you're catering for a crowd.
Best elegant dessert plates
Price: $49.50
Beautifully boxed, this plate from Halcyon Days makes a great gift. Made from fine bone china, the repeating trellis pattern is made up of tiny antler motifs, inspired by the antler heads which used to adorn the dome ceiling of Gordon Castle in Scotland.
Price: $252 for set of 4
These elegant Emerald porcelain dessert plates from Vista Alegre will bring an air of Art Deco decadence to your dining table. So make sure the sweet course served is equally extravagant and alluring - no pressure.
Price: $31.99
This beautiful Blueshire dessert plate has a repeating mosaic of a simple diamond shape depicted vertically and horizontally in shades of blue. It's paired with a gold band featuring raised interlocking T-bars for an elegant finish.
Best rustic dessert plates
Price: $45
Crafted from stoneware, this Marcus plate from Blue Pheasant is available in a soft grey or dappled white finish. Style it with the rest of the collection, including dinner and side plates, bowls and mugs, for a charming farmhouse feel.
Price: $139.99 for set of 6
Part of one of the best dinnerware sets for six, and made in Italy, this is inspired by nature and available in grey or sand tones. To appreciate their full glory, team them with the accompanying dinner and soup plates in complementary patterns.
Price: $4.99
There's a gorgeous hand-crafted quality to this 8" stoneware plate due to it's organic shape and reactive glaze. It's available in gray or cream and is suitable for salads, desserts or sides.
Best simple dessert plates
Price: $45 for set of 4
We're huge fans of Our Place cookware and dinnerware and this set of four midi plates is one of the many reasons why. These stackable ceramic plates are just the right size for a slice of cake, piece of pie, scoop of pudding and much more.
Price: $6.95
The distinct contours of Paul McCobb's original 1959 design has had a dynamic update with CB2's reissue of the Contempri Appetizer plate in new bone china, with a shiny white glaze. Its slight coupe form and straight, lifted edge is effortlessly modern and easy to stack.
Price: $84 for set of 6
Available in rose, white or black, these oval plates from Casafina are made in Portugal from classic stoneware. The organic shape and softly speckled finish offers a simple casual style for serving appetizers, cakes or desserts.
What is the best size for a dessert plate?
Dessert plates in dinnerware sets are often interchangeable with salad or side plates. Formal dining rules have relaxed but there are guidelines based on practicalities.
'Traditionally a 8"-9" diameter is considered a good size for dessert plates,' says Louise Rosie, Head of Design at Wedgwood . 'However, people are becoming increasingly inventive in their use of tableware and a variety of sizes and shapes are now acceptable.'
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