Hot Chocolate Pairings

Hot cocoa and hot chocolate are known for their decadent toppings. Their innate ability to pair with other flavors makes them a fantastic beverage to pair with food. Here are the top picks for hot chocolate pairings:

Salty Pairings

Salty foods act as a foil to hot chocolate's intense sweetness. Avoid greasy salty snacks, as they will clash with the richness of cocoa. These salty foods are your best bets for hot chocolate pairings:

• Air-popped popcorn with salt and (optional) chocolate-friendly spices
• Peanut butter on rice cakes or grainy bread
• Salted soft pretzels
• Spiced, roasted almonds (or other nuts)
• Toasted pumpkin seeds

Sweet Pairings

Sweet foods can be paired with hot chocolate in moderation. Generally, the best sweet food pairings for hot chocolate with be sweets with a pronounced flavor, such as mint. Here are my favorite sweet hot chocolate pairings:

• Angel food cake drizzled with caramel or a crème de menthe sauce
• Anything with peppermint (mints, chocolates, candy canes, etc.)
• Caramel candy or dulce de leche frozen yogurt
• Tart candied fruits, such as candied lemons with the rind

Tangy Pairings

Tangy fruits play off of hot chocolate's sweetness while refreshing and cleansing the palate. Pair these fruits with your next cup of cocoa, and remember - the tangier the better!

• Any sour citrus fruit
• Blackberries
• Granny Smith apples
• Green grapes
• Mangos
• Raspberries
• Strawberries