We could eat chocolate on its own all day long, but it’s one of those foods that skyrockets to a whole new level of amazingness when paired correctly with another compatible flavor profile — kind of like a fine wine. Mmmmm — chocolate and wine. See what we mean?
We’ve got the hookup on unexpected — yet yummy — chocolate flavor combos.
White chocolate
Pairing white chocolate can be challenging because of its delicate flavors, but that just means it creates some of the most unique and versatile combinations.
There’s always good old-fashioned white chocolate and strawberries, but to get a little fancy, whip up a white chocolate soufflé and add some caviar. We’re talking almost as much caviar as you have white chocolate. This scientifically proven (yes, we’re serious) flavor combo powerhouse may sound strange, but it’s a darling of molecular gastronomists.
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Here are some other foods that pair amazingly with white chocolate:
- Sea salt caramel
- Agave nectar
- Maple syrup
- Lemongrass
- Pink peppercorn
- Cardamom
- Saffron
- Sea salt
- Wasabi
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Cranberry
- Blueberries
- Macadamia nuts
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Brie
- Wisconsin mixed-milk cheese
- Dragon well tea
- Matcha tea
- Colombian coffee
- Costa Rican coffee
- Yemeni coffee
- Bourbon barrel-aged tripel (beer)
- Orange muscat
- Vintage port
- Chocolate stout
Milk chocolate
For milk chocolate, it really is better to seek out those deep, European-style milk chocolates.
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Some other things that pair super-well with milk chocolate are:
- Caramel
- Honey
- Coconut
- Lavender
- Pink Himalayan salt
- Curry powder
- Orange
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Asiago
- Chai tea
- Darjeeling tea
- Smoked black tea
- Colombian coffee
- Kenyan coffee
- Sumatran coffee
- Yemeni coffee
- Ethiopian coffee
- Kona coffee
- Raspberry beers
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate — like semisweet and bittersweet — is often considered the most versatile of the chocolates because it’s less sweet. This translates into an amazing contrast with sweet or tangy foods and bolder flavors — like balsamic — serve to bring out the richness of the confection.
This is a no-brainer, but serving dark chocolate up with a berry-streaked whipped cream and a glass of pinot noir makes for a jaw-dropping flavor profile. Or to get a little crazy with dark chocolate, sprinkle in a bit of black pepper to add a heat and complexity the next time you make brownies or chocolate cake.
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Even more taste bud-blasting pairings for dark chocolate:
- Sea salt caramel
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Mint
- Cardamom
- Wasabi
- Chipotle
- Jalapeño
- Cinnamon
- Fennel
- Black sesame seeds
- Banana
- Lime
- Figs
- Grapes
- Dried currants
- Pine nuts
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Goat cheese
- Aged gouda
- Parmesan
- Chèvre
- Monterey Jack
- Blue cheese
- Grasshoppers — yes the insect!
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Assam tea
- Earl Grey tea
- Indonesian coffee
- Guatemalan coffee
- Brazilian coffee
- Ethiopian coffee
- Dark-roast coffee
- Espresso beans
- Belgian quad (beer)
- Red zinfandel
What’s your favorite food/chocolate pairing combo?
Originally published December 2013. Updated May 2017.
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