Etiquette for the Dessert Course

When your dessert consists of both harder and softer textures, a fork and spoon will be included and both will be used. (Tip: The spoon is not for your coffee or tea.)

How to Eat Dessert Gracefully and Properly

For many of us, dessert is the favorite course of the meal. There's always something to love about dessert!

The dessert utensils are at the top of your place setting.

When your dessert consists of both harder and softer textures, a fork and spoon will be included and both will be used.
(Tip: The spoon is not for your coffee or tea.) 


Here's how it's done.

The meal has ended, and dessert has been served.



Once dessert is served, move the spoon and fork down to either side of the plate - fork on the left and spoon on the right.
(Sometimes, a server will do this for you.)



The fork is placed in the palm of the left hand and the spoon is placed in the palm of the right hand.



The spoon first serves as a knife and the fork is used to steady the solid portion of the dessert.



The spoon is then re-positioned in the right hand, holding in ‘pencil’ position. The fork becomes a ‘mover’ assisting in positioning both the cake and the ice cream on the spoon.



The fork as a helper tool will remain steady in the left hand, and the spoon is loaded with a delicious bite.   (In other words, only the spoon will come to your mouth. The fork remains in your left hand.)

As with other courses, there are resting and close-out positions for your utensils.

The dessert resting position is your fork on the left side of the plate, and your spoon on the right as shown here.



The close-out position is the same as other courses, with fork and spoon diagonal on the plate, or in the 6 o'clock position.



Serve cake and ice cream or pie a la mode at your next family meal, and practice using both a fork and a spoon to enjoy your dessert.

Other times, if your dessert is solid, you only need a fork. If your dessert is liquid or soft, you only need a spoon.

If you are setting the table, include only the utensils that are needed to eat the particular dessert that is to be served.

A retired, national award-winning secondary school educator, Candace Smith teaches university students and professionals the soft skills of etiquette and protocol. She found these skills necessary in her own life after her husband received international recognition in 2002. Plunged into a new “normal” of travel and formal social gatherings with global leaders, she discovered how uncomfortable she was in many important social situations. After extensive training in etiquette and protocol, Candace realized a markedly increased confidence level in meeting and greeting and dining skills and was inspired to share these skills that will help others gain comfort and confidence in dining and networking situations. Learn more at http://www.candacesmithetiquette.com/

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia Etiquette Encyclopedia

Finger Glass Etiquette

The use of "finger glasses," or "finger bowls" after dinner is quite a modern innovation in Germany, introduced from England.

The use of finger glasses after dinner is quite a modern innovation in Germany, introduced from England. Until about ten years ago, glasses were indeed brought round at dessert at the very end of the meal, but this was for the purpose of rinsing the mouth, and a very comical sight it was indeed to see gentlemen and ladles, in plain dress or en grande tenue. washing their mouths at a sumptuously furnished table —or for the matter of that, in any private or public assembly room—instead of retiring to some private chamber for this purpose. In Bavaria it often happens that persons of talent, but without much knowledge of the manners of what is called polite society, are invited to dine with royalty, and not unseldom has the mistake above referred to been made there. 

The following little anecdote, however, contains the details of a practical joke played by a number of artists on a colleague still living who had for the first time received an invitation to dine with the Prince Regent at the schloss at Munich. Several masters of the brush had received similar invitations, and, as the painter in question was somewhat elated and excited by the honor conferred upon him, and at the same time singularly nervous and inquiring as to the way he would be expected to behave at the royal table, his confreres put their heads together and determined to play a practical joke upon him. He was accordingly told: 

“The first time anybody is invited to dine at Court, a special drink is handed round in glass bowls and the newly-invited guest is expected, according to strict etiquette, to take one of these bowls in his hand and to rise and exclaim, ‘I drink to the health of his Royal Highness,’ and then to quaff the contents of the bowl at a draught, make a profound bow towards the Prince Regent, and so resume his seat!’” The gentleman in question acted to the letter according to the instructions given him. To the manners of the Court must be attributed the suppression of all suspicion of a giggle, and it is stated that the royal host did not appear in the least disconcerted, but afterwards over the beer the merriment was unrestrained.— London Telegraph, 1901 

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia