Hotel Chocolat Group plc

09/02/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/02/2021 19:14

Drinks to pair with desserts

Perfect drink and dessert pairings can make your post-meal treat even more delicious

Is there anything more satisfying than finding the perfect tipple to pair with your favourite dessert? Whilst each can taste wonderful individually, bringing certain desserts and beverages together can actually change the way you experience the whole lot. A sip of a delicious drink can enhance the flavours, aromas and textures of your after-dinner treat. Whether it's a fine wine to complement your cheesecake or a smooth Chocolate Velvetised Cream to accompany your coffee and cake. Here's our guide on which drinks to pair with desserts.

What factors affect which drinks to pair with desserts

One of the main things to consider when it comes to pairing drinks with desserts is sweetness. Generally speaking, you want your drink to be slightly sweeter than your pudding. This is especially true of wine - sweet desserts make wine taste drier. So if you start with a dry wine in the first place, it may taste bitter with a sweet dessert.

You also want to make sure your wine has a good level of acidity to avoid cloying sweetness.

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Chocolate cake

What's better than a big slab of chocolate cake? If you're wondering what kind of drink to pair with this indulgent dessert, then wine is a great option. Any dessert wine, such as Madeira, Port, Muscat or Riesling, will bring a good balance of sweetness and acidity. Chilling it for three hours in the fridge before serving will optimise the flavours.

As you may well know, we're big fans of the coffee-chocolate combination at Hotel Chocolat! Coffee in all its forms is an excellent way to wash down your delectable chocolate cake. For something with a real boozy kick, why not try whipping up an Espresso Martini or creating an Irish coffee? A generous helping of whiskey, liqueur or Chocolate Velvetised Cream can add a new level of decadence to your black coffee. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream for a delightful Irish coffee that will complement your chocolate cake perfectly.

And if you're looking for non-alcoholic drinks to pair with your chocolate cake desserts, you could always cut the tipple from the Espresso Martini and have a delicious fresh coffee. Alternatively, milk can be a thirst-quenching addition.

Cheesecake

The kinds of drinks that complement a cheesecake depends on the dessert's flavour. For a classic plain cheesecake, you can't go wrong with a glass of white wine. Sweet Rieslings or Sauvignon Blancs are reliable options. These wines also make a lovely accompaniment to berry or cherry cheesecakes too.

Comforting hot chocolate is a wonderful alcohol-free choice - after all, cheese and chocolate are an excellent flavour combo! A smooth and creamy Milky 50% Hot Chocolate would be our recommendation. Or you could go for a Classic 70% variety if you fancy something with deeper cocoa notes.

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Key lime pie

A refreshing lager is an excellent beverage to accompany lime desserts. Though it may not be the first drink that comes to mind to pair with desserts, a crisp Mexican lager lets the tart citrus notes of a key lime pie shine through.

You could even try your hand at baking a lager and lime cake!

Fudge cake

Rich, gooey and satisfying, a fudge cake has got to be the ultimate decadent dessert. But which drinks make it even more spectacular? Well, a robust bourbon offers a gentle sweetness and notes of toffee and cinnamon that can elevate fudge flavours.

You could also try slowly sipping a rich cognac as you enjoy your fudge cake.

Fruit salad

A fresh fruit salad is a light and healthy way to round off a meal with a sweet treat. Champagne, Prosecco and other sparkling wines are the perfect drinks to enjoy with fruity desserts. For a romantic pud, why not go for the classic combo of Champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries?

And if you really want to ramp up those fruity flavours, you could always try a refreshing gin liqueur. For tropical fruit selections, our Mango and Passionfruit Gin Liqueur is brimming with sunshine. Sip and savour on the rocks or pair with a crisp tonic. Or, for red berry fruit salads, our Cherry and Raspberry Gin Liqueur is an excellent choice.

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Chocolates

Of course, we couldn't leave chocolates out! With so many sensational chocolate options available, there's a drink and chocolate combination to suit every taste.

When it comes to wine, there are lots of varieties to choose from. However, it's important to make sure your wine doesn't drown out the nuanced cocoa flavours of your chocolate or enhance bitterness.

With its delicate vanilla notes, white chocolate pairs beautifully with sweet wines. Anything too dry can overpower the subtle flavours. Milk chocolate, on the other hand, can pair with a broader range of wine types. Both red and white are suitable choices. Or why not go for sparkling wine? Our Chocolate and Fizz Collection brings together a Classic Prosecco with a host of mellow, creamy chocolate treats. Ideal for any celebration.

For dark chocolate, red wine or port can work well. However, red wine that's high in tannins may contrast the polyphenols in your chocolate, creating a drying effect. For balance, try looking for a Vintage Red Wine that offers smooth berry flavours.

Did you know that gin is also a welcome addition to white chocolate? The spirit's light floral notes offer a delightful contrast to the white chocolate's sweetness. We infuse our Cacao Gin with cacao nibs to bring an extra depth of flavour.

Drinks as desserts

Sometimes, a delectable cocktail can double up as a dessert. We recently teamed up with Amelia Taylor to develop an irresistible Nutmilk Ice Cream Float using our innovative Velvetiser. Cool, creamy, and dairy-free, it's an ideal post-dinner treat when you fancy something satisfying but don't want to prepare a full dessert.

And for those moments when you need a little nibble of something sweet but a big pudding is too much, why not explore our range of patisserie chocolates? From Tiramisu to White Chocolate Eton Mess, these bite-size pieces of heaven have been inspired by the nation's best-loved cakes, bakes and puddings.