dessertive

Dessertive is an English adjective formed from dessert, the sweet course that traditionally concludes a meal. In culinary discourse, dessertive describes things pertaining to dessert or resembling dessert in flavor, texture, or presentation, such as creaminess, sweetness, or decorative plating.

The term is a neologism built by attaching the common suffix -ive to dessert. It is not widely standardized in dictionaries; its use is primarily descriptive in menus, food writing, or scholarship when a precise alternative like dessert-like or dessert-inspired would be verbose. It can apply to flavors, textures, or aesthetics that readers would associate with desserts.

Examples of usage include referring to dessertive flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, and caramel or describing a dessertive menu section that emphasizes dessert-like qualities. It may also be used in contrast to savory courses, to mark a dish as deliberately dessert-like or dessert-adjacent. The term should be used judiciously to avoid ambiguity, given its lack of broad formal recognition. Related terms include dessert, patisserie, and confectionery.