Set of 6 Laguiole Dessert Knives and Forks

Snakewood, vinestock or ebony

The name snakewood comes from the black, snake-like markings on its golden-brown background, and it's finished with a polish. The wood is dense and heavy enough to give a small fork real weight in the hand. Vinestock is made from old vines, uprooted in southern France after decades of producing grapes, so no two knotty handles are alike. Ebony uses only the black heartwood, polished until it gleams. Pick snakewood for its markings, vinestock for a rustic table and ebony for a sleek, all-black look. To compare all the handle options, read Knife Handle Materials.

Laguiole cake forks for the dessert course

Plenty of shoppers know these as Laguiole cake forks, and cake is exactly what they're for, along with tarts, pastry and fresh fruit. The dessert knife is there for cheese and a firm slice of cake, so the two work as a pair once the dinner plates are cleared. At a formal dinner, the fork is set above the plate from the start, ready for the last course. Nothing prevents a factory from using the Laguiole name, and many do. Each piece here is handmade in France by Laguiole en Aubrac.

Separate sets, matching handles

Both sets are offered in one range of woods and horns, and every one of those handles is also made as a dessert spoon. Many desserts need only a fork, so start with forks for pie and cake. Add the knives if you serve cheese after dinner or a tart with a firm crust. Dinner forks, steak knives and soup spoons use the same handles too, so one material can follow the meal from soup to dessert.

Dessert fork questions

Cake fork vs dessert fork: what's the difference?

In everyday American use, the two names often cover the same small fork. Some cake forks have one wider tine for cutting through cake without a knife, while a dessert fork looks like a smaller dinner fork and is used with a knife or spoon. Laguiole en Aubrac's version pairs with a set of six dessert knives, sold separately in the same handles.

Where does the dessert fork go?

Above the plate, laid sideways with the handle pointing left, with the dessert spoon above it pointing right. At a less formal meal, it's fine to bring forks out with the sweet course. Set a Laguiole en Aubrac fork above each plate, and add the matching knife when cheese or tart is served.

What does a dessert fork look like?

Like a dinner fork scaled down: shorter overall and lighter in the hand. Laguiole en Aubrac's dinner forks share their handle materials with these dessert forks, so every place setting on the table can match, from the main course to dessert.

You'll find care instructions in every order. Wash these pieces by hand, dry them right away, and skip the dishwasher, which damages wood and horn.