8 Desserts That Pair Well With Coffee

By Niveditha Kalyanaraman

December 27th, 2023

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There are many types of desserts that go well with coffee, including cakes, flans, cookies, muffins, and madeleines. Intensely flavored desserts go will with an espresso, while delicately flavored desserts pair nicely with a cappuccino. Coffee-flavored desserts go exceptionally well with a café au lait, and black coffee can be paired with almost any type of dessert. Here are 8 desserts that pair well with coffee. 

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Espresso With Chocolate Cake

Unlike most coffee beverages, the espresso is served in a ‘shot.’ This concentrated beverage tends to feature a more full-bodied tasting experience, which pairs best with rich chocolate desserts, such as the Flourless Chocolate Cake.

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Latte And Fruit Tarts

Latte’s are espresso shots with added milk. Commonly known as “milk coffee” in Italy, this lighter rendition of the espresso is best paired with lighter desserts, such as small cookies and Fruit Tarts.

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Americano And Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes

Think of Americano’s like a latte, except the milk is hot water. This results in a more full-bodied drink than the latte. So, in order to make the most out of this drink, and to avoid drowning out the flavors of the dessert, it is best to pair the Americano with heavier and richer desserts like Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes.

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Capuccino And Choco Chip Cookies

This stronger version of the latte is best paired with light chocolate desserts, such as the Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Macchiato And Caramel Nut Tart

The Macchiato features a heavier emphasis on espresso while lessening the amount of milk. Full-bodied drinks such as this one pair well with caramel and nut-based desserts, like the Caramel Nut Tart.

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Cafe Au Lait And Tiramisu

Being a relatively light drink, the Cafe Au Lait is best paired with light, coffee-based desserts to bring out that lovely coffee flavor we all love, like a classic Tiramisu.

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Ristretto And Choco Pudding Cake

While the amount of coffee beans is the same, the Ristretto uses half the amount of water that an espresso uses. Such a strong and full-bodied drink pairs well with strong and rich chocolate-based desserts.

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Dark Roast Coffee With Choco Brownies

Darker drinks tend to pair well with heavier and richer desserts. As such, the dark roast coffee pairs well with chocolate-based desserts, such as Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies.

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