An apparatus for the automated decoration of a food product, the apparatus includes: a transporter configured to move the food product to a decoration area of the apparatus a detector configured to detect the food product in the decoration area a deposition mechanism disposed above the decoration area, the deposition mechanism comprising a sliding plate disposed between a first fixed plate and a second fixed plate wherein, in a first position of the sliding plate, cavities extending though the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the first fixed plate, and in a second position, the cavities extending through the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the second fixed plate.
