Cheese and Chocolate Pairings

Rich, bold, robust, nutty, creamy – chocolate and cheese share many of the same descriptions, and are an unexpectedly flavorful pairing. Thanks to our friends at Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, we made this delicious discovery. We use their cultured butter in our truffles, and during a tasting one day, we sampled their cheese with our chocolate. The results were amazing! Who knew a spicy dark chocolate could pair so well with an aged goat cheese?

We’ve since identified some pairing guidelines and suggestions to help you get started. In general, light cheeses complement light flavors, while heavy cheeses balance more vibrant flavors.

• Soft ripened goat, sheep or cow’s milk cheeses tend to be more pungent, acidic and aggressive and pair well with dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
• Aged cheese is nutty, less acidic and with a crunchy texture that pairs well with chocolates with fillings and inclusions such as almonds, honey and maple.
• Blue Cheese, with its sharp, pungent aromas and flavors will enhance the undertones of a strong dark chocolate.
• Truffles and caramels, with such prominent dairy and butter notes, are an easy choice to combine with a variety of cheese.

There are no standard rules when it comes to pairing – experimentation is the objective and a new discovery the reward. Just keep practicing!

Grande Valencia Truffle
Showcases local cream, butter from Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, sweet dark chocolate (54% cocoa), and essence of orange.Recommended with fresh goat cheese.

Organic Ginger Lemon Truffle
Sweet dark chocolate (54% cocoa), fresh cream and butter with tangy citrus and zippy ginger. Pairs well with sharp cheddar.

Spicy Aztec Squares
55% cocoa content with cayenne, pumpkin seeds, and cinnamon. Nicely complements a ripened goat cheese.

Sea Salt Almond Squares
A blend of milk and dark chocolate (38% cocoa) with salty-sweet inclusions. Enjoy alongside a hard sheep's milk cheese.

Chocolate Covered Almonds & Macadamia Nuts
Salted macadamia nuts covered in a sweet blend of milk and dark chocolate (38% cocoa). Fresh roasted almonds covered with rich dark chocolate (54% cocoa). Both marry well with hard aged cheeses.