An illuminated display system or assembly. In particular, the illuminated system is designed to display various food items such as wedding cakes, hors d'oeuvres, buffets, pies, and the like. The assembly includes a plurality of plates and sheets adapted to be engaged to form enclosures for lighting. Lighting is secured to the sheets within the enclosures. The assembly further includes one or more pillars each adapted to engage the plates and to house additional lighting. The invention also includes methods of assembling the display system and methods of displaying and illuminating the various food items.