Your Guide to Pairing Chocolate and Cheese
Chocolate and cheese make for one of the most delicious combinations. The sweet and creamy notes of chocolate pair perfectly with the salty and tangy flavours of cheese. Treat your palate to these recommendations from this guide to pairing chocolate and cheese if you’re a fan of both foods.
Understanding Your Options
Countless chocolates and cheeses are available on the market, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to pairing them. Let’s talk about the main types of chocolates and cheeses you have to choose from before diving into which flavours taste delicious together.
Types of Chocolate
Chocolate comes in a rainbow of options that encompass every flavour note imaginable. Although milk chocolate is a classic option, specialty chocolates can further enhance the experience by offering additional tastes and textures.
Milk Chocolate
This sweet treat is a go-to chocolate, making it perfect for those just stepping into the chocolate and cheese pairings world. It has a sweet flavour and creamy texture thanks to its high milk content.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate may be your perfect option if you prefer bittersweet or semi-sweet treats. It has a rich cocoa flavour with hints of earthiness making it ideal for even the most sophisticated palate.
White Chocolate
White chocolate is a confection of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids and is the sweetest of the chocolate family. It has a milder flavour and pairs perfectly with many kinds of cheese.
Ruby Chocolate
This delicious option has a fruity and slightly tangy flavour. Also, ruby chocolate naturally has a pinkish appearance making it stand out in the looks and taste departments.
Fine Chocolate Confections
Think beyond the bars and pieces—fine chocolate confections come in many forms, including caramels, bonbons, ganaches, truffles, chocolate-covered snacks, and spreads, each offering a unique texture and layered tastes when paired with cheeses.
Types of Cheese
The cheese spectrum is equally diverse, with variations in aging, milk type, and production method. Common options include:
- Soft Cheeses: Brie and Camembert are creamy options with mould-ripened rinds and gooey interiors.
- Semi-Soft Cheeses: Options such as gouda and Havarti, offer smooth textures and buttery flavours.
- Hard Cheeses: Aged cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère deliver an intense taste and typically have granular textures.
- Blue Cheeses: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, and Stilton have distinct blue veins and bold, pungent notes.
Consider having several of these options and chocolates available when sampling so you can treat yourself to a wider variety of deliciousness.
The Art of Flavour Fusion
We often default to wine when we think of pairing foods, but a chocolate and cheese pairing has one of the most divine chemistries. A velvety chocolate truffle can find its soulmate in a soft Brie.
Below, we’ve detailed a few suggestions for cheese and chocolate pairings based on the flavours both offer:
- Milk Chocolate: This crowd-pleaser is sweet and creamy and goes well with milder cheeses like the Edam and Manchego. Our award-winning Rosemary Fusion is delicious with Brie, Gouda, and Camembert.
- Dark Chocolate: Its intense flavour can withstand sharper cheeses such as aged cheddar or gorgonzola. Our delicious Oregano Fusion dark chocolate tablet is simply delightful when paired with blue cheese, old cheddar, buffalo, Emmental and flavoured cream cheeses (raspberry, chive onion, jalapeno, sundried tomato, basil.
- White Chocolate: With its sweet, buttery taste, white chocolate can illuminate the earthy notes in a Camembert or a smooth goat cheese, blending each bite with dreamy delight. Our Dill Fusion is delicious with medium and hard cheeses like Gouda, Gruyere, Aged Cheddar and Parmesan.
- Ruby Couverture: Ruby's creamy berry flavour with sweet and tart notes pairs beautifully with Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, Camembert, Mascarpone, Cream Cheese, Goat cheese, and Bellavitano Raspberry Ale Cheese.
Once you’re more familiar with how each cheese and chocolate interact, feel free to mix and match, creating culinary masterpieces.
Complementing the Cheese With Chocolate
Certain flavours, when combined, spark joy on the palate. Aged cheddar perfectly complements the richness of dark chocolate. Likewise, St. Agur blue cheese pairs wonderfully with sea salt caramels. It’s all about balance and finding those distinctive combos you just can’t get enough of.
As you select complimenting flavours, remember that sweetness isn’t your only guide. The varying densities of chocolate and cheese and their fat content play a significant role. A creamy, heavy cheese can pair better with crisp, lighter chocolate to prevent flavour overlap and heaviness on the tongue.
Evaluate the Textures of Each
Next in your guide to pairing chocolate and cheese is evaluating the texture of each. The softness of cheese or the smoothness of chocolate can be just as vital as its flavours. Think about the way the textures feel as you select and eat your cheeses and chocolates.
Mouthfeel
Evaluate how the combination feels in your mouth. For instance, consider how each granular Parmesan feels alongside the pieces of a dark chocolate bar; swirl it around in your mouth as you take in the textures and flavours.
Contrast
Pairing brittle chocolate bark with soft blue cheese creates an exciting contrast that keeps things interesting between bites. Sometimes experimentation is the best way to determine the right pairings.
Try Various Forms of Chocolate and Cheese
Chocolate and cheese come in more forms than blocks and bars. A softer, spreadable cheese pairs well with solid chocolate. However, you can also enjoy harder cheeses alongside some chocolate fondue.
Creating Your Chocolate & Cheese Board
Prepping a spread of chocolate and cheese at your next gathering can be a highlight of the event. Get creative and fill a charcuterie board with a mix of chocolate types and cheeses. This way, you can experiment however you want. You can taste some milk chocolate alongside cheddar cheese or eat some gouda with white chocolate.
Consider the visual factors alongside the flavours when laying out your spread—for example, contrasting colours and textures make for a refreshing spread. Moreover, ensure you serve your chocolate in various forms, such as solid pieces, fondue, bonbons, truffles, and spreads. Follow our how-to on how to make a charcuterie board with cheese, meat, and chocolate.
Pro Tip
Create a cheat sheet with ideal chocolate cheese pairs for guests to enjoy at their leisure.
Consider the Options You Prefer
We all define the ideal pairings differently, as it depends on everyone’s palate. Some appreciate a lingering sweetness that makes the cheese taste richer, while others enjoy a spicy contrast with their cheese and chocolate mix.
Ask yourself whether you lean toward sweet or salty flavours as you decide which chocolates and cheeses to pair. Likewise, do you like creamy or crumbly textures? Knowing these preferences will be your compass as you explore the world of chocolate and cheese fusions.
Prioritize Quality
Top-tier cheese and chocolate are the bedrock of a transcendent pairing experience. High-quality foods often taste fresher and have the richer taste that we all love.
Shop at Cococo
Couverture is the best option on the market when it comes to all things chocolate! Cococo Chocolatiers proudly sells the finest quality, Rainforest Alliance Certified™ fair trade and sustainable cocoa products. Get ready to savour the rich flavours and smooth textures of chocolate and cheese in a harmonious duo.
