Do chocolate and cheese go together?

From indulgent fondue to a Colombian delicacy, chocolate and cheese might just be the flavour combination your tastebuds are craving …

At Hotel Chocolat, we’re always looking for innovative flavour combinations to showcase all that cacao has to offer. The humble cacao bean is incredibly versatile, lending itself to all kinds of treats and tantalising delights. If you haven’t tried chocolate and cheese yet, you might be missing a trick. 

While these two flavour profiles might seem worlds apart at first glance, they can come together to create unexpected opulence. Let’s take a look at the top chocolate and cheese pairings to make the most of the nation’s favourite nibbles. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

Chocolate and cheese: Do opposites attract?

When you first think of cheese, chances are you picture something savoury. Perhaps you see lashings of melted cheddar on a pizza, cubes of crumbly feta in your favourite salad, or a classic cheese and pickle sandwich. 

With its rich, often salty flavour profile, cheese might not be considered the obvious companion for chocolate. However, the pairing could well be an iconic example of how opposites attract. 

After all, many of us enjoy cheese and fruit together — from cranberry-studded Wensleydale to a cheese board topped with brie and grapes. So, perhaps chocolate’s subtle sweetness can complement the savoury and umami notes of cheese. 

But it’s not just flavour contrast we need to consider, there’s also:

• Acidity and complexity: Different types of cheeses and chocolates often have tangy or earthy undertones that can harmonise beautifully.
  
• Fat contents: Both treats are rich in fat, which creates an indulgent, melt-in-the-mouth feel.

• Variety: Both come in a wide variety of types and flavours — perfect for mixing and matching to find the perfect combinations.
  

Fun fact: Did you know that in Colombia, chocolate and cheese combinations are a local delicacy? Chocolate con queso is a popular treat. It involves placing cubes of cheese (usually mozzarella or Chihuahua) in a mug and topping it with hot chocolate. Chocolate con queso is often served with bread for dipping.

The basics of harmonious chocolate and cheese pairings

Before we look at specific cheese types to pair with chocolate — and offer our top recommendations — let’s have a little look at the foundations of combining these ingredients. 

1. Think about texture: Creamy, soft cheeses are ideal for pairing with smooth chocolate. On the other hand, hard cheeses can work well with the satisfying ‘snap’ of dark chocolate.

2. Consider strength: Generally, milder cheeses go well with sweeter chocolate varieties, while those that pack a punch combine nicely with dark chocolate.

3. Find balance: A successful chocolate and cheese pairing finds balance rather than letting one ingredient overpower the other.

Which cheeses pair well with milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate is a well-balanced variety. It’s smooth and mellow yet lets nuanced cacao notes shine through to bring some depth to the profile. With this in mind, we recommend pairing milk chocolate with creamy cheeses that bring a hint of sweetness — such as brie, ricotta, and gouda.

How to pair milk chocolate with cheese

• Brie: Baking a wheel of brie helps bring out its creamy texture and balance of sweet and savoury notes. Place your brie on a baking sheet and stud it with pieces of milk chocolate — like our 40% Milk Chocolate Slab. You can also add chopped nuts for an extra crunchy texture.
  
  Place it in the oven until melted and gooey, then serve with crackers or bread sticks.
  
• Ricotta: Create a creamy dessert dip by melting our 40% Milk Chocolate Batons, then whisking it with ricotta cheese and a touch of vanilla extract. It’s quick and easy to prepare and can be served with strawberries or your favourite biscuits for an instant pudding.
  
• Gouda: This cheese has hints of caramel sweetness, making it a great match for milk chocolate. Try our spin on a grilled cheese sandwich by placing slices of gouda with pieces of our higher-cacao 50% Milk Chocolate between buttered bread. Grill until the fillings melt and the bread has a light golden colour.

Our favourite cheese and dark chocolate pairings

Our dark chocolate features a minimum of 70% cacao, giving it an oh-so-satisfying depth of flavour. Expect fruity notes and a savoury element — all perfectly tempered by a high cocoa butter content to ensure smoothness. It’s never too bitter. 

Those tangier hints make dark chocolate the ideal pairing for mature cheddar, earthy camembert, and the umami profile of parmesan.

How to pair dark chocolate with cheese

• Cheddar: Create an elegant chocolate and cheese board by arranging pieces of dark chocolate on a serving board — we recommend our 70% Dark Chocolate Slab or 85% Dark Chocolate Batons if you fancy a higher cacao percentage. Set out slices of cheddar and add dried fruits, grapes, or apple slices to bridge the gap between the sweet and savoury flavour notes.
  
  Serve with crackers or toasted bread for extra texture.

• Camembert: Melt our 70% Dark Chocolate Batons and drizzle it over a whole baked camembert for a deeply decadent take on a fondue. Enjoy as is own with a spoon or fork, or get dunking with some plain breadsticks.
  
• Parmesan: Keep it simple with small squares of parmesan and bite-sized pieces of 85% dark chocolate. Enhance the flavours with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Looking for a plant-based alternative? In recent years, there has been a big rise in vegan cheese alternatives, and you can simply switch out dairy cheese for a plant-based version. Pair it with our vegan* 70% or 85% Dark Chocolate Slabs or Batons, and you’re good to go! 

*Please note: We believe our dark chocolate is suitable for vegans. However, as it is made in the same environment as our milk chocolate, we cannot guarantee it is free from milk.

Does white chocolate go with cheese?

White chocolate has a light flavour profile with a hint of vanilla sweetness. We craft ours with a high percentage of cocoa butter, which creates a silky mouthfeel. 

Because it is more delicate in flavour, white chocolate pairs best with mild, creamy cheeses that have a buttery texture — like brie and blue cheese. However, you can also look for cheese that has a slight tang, such as goat’s cheese, to contrast the white chocolate’s subtle vanilla flavour notes.

How to pair white chocolate with cheese

• Brie: Just as baked brie works well with melted milk chocolate, you can top a baked brie wheel with melted white chocolate. Top with berries and nuts for a beautiful sweet-savoury balance. We recommend using our White Chocolate Batons.
  
• Blue cheese: Crumble blue cheese onto a plate or board and then drizzle melted white chocolate over it. Scoop the mixture up with crackers or toasted bread. 

• Goat’s cheese: Simply spread a soft goat’s cheese over your favourite crackers and then add a sprinkle of our Vanilla White Hot Chocolate Flakes. These flakes are gossamer fine and will provide an even coating over the cheese. 

Start your cheese-pairing journey with high-quality chocolate

To get the most out of your chocolate and cheese pairings, you want to go for high-quality ingredients. Look for chocolate that contains a high level of cacao solids (for milk and dark chocolate) and cocoa butter (white chocolate) for the most satisfying textures and flavours. 

If you’re feeling creative, why not look at combining spiced cheeses with our Chocolate Orange Tangs? Alternatively, try smoked cheeses with rich, 90% Dark Chocolate to enhance the deep, savoury flavours. 

Whichever you choose, we hope our suggestions have inspired you to explore the world of possibilities when pairing chocolate and cheese.