10 Tasty Ways To Pair Coffee And Cookies
Better than Forrest and Jennie, tastier than peas and carrots, the combination of coffee and cookies is absolutely dynamite!
Shortbread cookies and light roast coffee.
Sugar cookies and cappuccinos.
A classic chocolate chip cookie and a bold dark roast.
An oatmeal raisin cookie with a timeless medium roast.
The possibilities are seemingly endless because the pairing of cookies with coffee is truly a match made in heaven.
So then, how do you narrow down this endless sea of options?
Which cookies pair best with coffee?
Are some cookies best paired with lattes? Can flavored coffees frustrate the sweet tastes in any given cookie?
Don’t get us wrong here, we’re not trying to complicate things, but there are a few things to consider when coming up with the best, most tasty, and truly perfect pairing when it comes to coffee and cookies.
So, go ahead and brew a cup of your favorite Lifeboost coffee and join us as we explore this tasty topic!
How To Pair Coffee With Cookies
As you may know, some coffee roasts can be bright and acidic, even possessing fruity or floral notes, such as our light roast.
Our medium roast, on the other hand, is considered creamy and nutty, with notes of dried fruit and chocolate covered figs.
Ah, and our dark roast is smooth and full-bodied, with hints of caramel brought out through the roasting process.
Our espresso is bolder and darker yet, with a smokier, fuller flavor.
Then, speaking of flavor, have you tried any of our flavored selections, such as our Pumpkin Spice Coffee, Patriot, Vanilla Chai Latte, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel, Highlander Grogg, and so many more?
Okay, you get it, we love our coffee here at Lifeboost, but why mention each of these, including their respective flavor notes?
Well, we all know that cookies come in a wide variety of flavors and textures. But, as you can see from the descriptions above, each coffee roast and flavored selection has its own unique profile as well.
And, this means that some coffee and cookie pairings will work better than others.
Flavors and textures in foods and beverages can serve to complement or contrast one another, and when it comes to coffee and cookies, taking note of these components can go a long way in helping us find some stellar combos!
In other words, arriving at the perfect coffee and cookie pairing can serve to enhance the flavors in both your brew and your biscuit.
So, let’s examine some classic pairings to get a better picture of how this works:
1- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies And Medium Roast Coffee
In this match up, the cinnamon and dried fruit in the cookie complement the dried fruit notes and balanced strength of the brew.
Then, the highly textured nature of the cookie, due to the oat component, serves to contrast the smoothness of the coffee.
And, I can personally attest that playing around with the cookie ingredients here is advisable…
Each year during the holidays, I make several kinds of cookies, and instead of an oatmeal raisin in this mix, I make an oatmeal, dried cranberry, white chocolate, walnut cookie. (that’s a mouthful, I know)
Anyways, there’s just something about the contrasting textures here that make this selection a perfect medium roast pairing.
I don’t add a lot of white chocolate, just enough to allow you to savor this flavor without it overpowering the dried fruit notes. But, the nuts and fruit just sing alongside the slight nuttiness of the medium roast.
All of that to say, oatmeal raisin is just a start…
2- Almond Flour Cookies Or Snickerdoodles With A Bright And Acidic Light Roast
Snickerdoodles and almond flour cookies, even some shortbread selections, complement this light and bright profile quite well, with their buttery flavor and airy texture.
Snickerdoodle cookies, especially, pair well with light roasts as they aren’t too sweet and contain a spicy element (cinnamon).
Light roast is my favorite unflavored brew, and I almost always opt for a dusting of cinnamon, especially when drinking cold brew.
I like to think of it like this - if you tried a snickerdoodle with a dark roast, you might think, “hmm, that’s pretty good.” But, if you tried a snickerdoodle with a light roast, you’d likely think, “mmm, that’s much better.”
3- Chocolate Chip Cookies And Dark Or Medium Roast Coffee
Unless you’re simply buying prepackaged, processed, boxed chocolate chip cookies from the store, you probably know that no two chocolate chip cookies are alike.
Some chocolate chip cookies are made with bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. Other options use milk chocolate in their making.
Then, some chocolate chip cookies contain minimal amounts of chocolate, while others are loaded with chips, chunks, and shavings - in other words, chocolate, on chocolate, on chocolate!
And, these variations can mean that adjusting your roast pairing could make all the difference.
When sampling a chocolate chip cookie made with dark or bittersweet chocolate, especially those options that heavily add this component, you’ll probably be more pleased with a dark roast pairing.
Dark roasts are bold and smooth, and the bitter notes in dark chocolate pair exceptionally well with such brews as the flavors complement one another.
But, a sweeter cookie, one which uses milk chocolate in its making, would likely pair better with a medium roast.
Here, this slightly more balanced brew serves to complement the sweet chocolate with a similarly detectable sweetness in the coffee.
And, in either case, many experts recommend serving your medium or dark roast with a splash of milk when enjoying alongside a classic chocolate chip cookie as the added creaminess complements the chocolate component.
4- Biscotti And Just About Any Brew
Biscotti is sometimes known as “coffee’s cookie,” and for good reason. This selection isn’t always thought of as a true cookie, as it's made specifically for coffee.
I wanted to highlight this selection though, as I find there to be a lot of “take-home” qualities in this pairing.
One reason biscotti tends to work well with just about any roast of coffee is because of the fact that these cookies simply aren’t very sweet.
Without that confectionery element, you don’t have to worry about sugar competing with the natural sweet notes in your brew.
As bitter as coffee can be, connoisseurs can easily detect the rich chocolate and caramel notes commonly present in most brews.
Aside from this, biscotti is often very dry, which makes sense as these ‘cookies’ are prepared with two rounds of baking.
The dry nature of this treat then pairs perfectly with coffee, as dunking or dipping this cookie in a hot brew can serve to soften the biscotti while also infusing this “not too sweet” option with bold, smooth coffee flavor.
5- Flavored Coffees And Similarly Flavored Cookies
While we’ve seen how contrasting flavors in coffee and cookies can serve to make a tasty pair, you’ve likely noticed that more times than not, like pairs with like.
Bitter, bold, dark chocolate pairs best with a bold dark roast. More mild, but sweet milk chocolate goes well with medium roast, and light airy cookies pair easily with light roast, right?
Well, experts suggest a similar notion when pairing flavored brews with cookies.
So, if you’re sipping an almond infused, nutty-flavored brew, consider pairing this with a nutty biscotti.
But, if you’re enjoying something like our Peppermint Mocha flavored selection, you may want to consider a cocoa-infused cookie, even one with a slight hint of mint.
We have an amazingly delicious Blueberry Cinnamon Crumble Coffee, and a fruity themed cookie or a slightly sweet option containing cinnamon would pair well here.
6- Peanut Butter Cookies And Black Coffee
We’ve covered a few roasts, but what about coffee preparations?
Are cookies better with black coffee, or does cream and sugar frustrate pairings?
We’ll get to the cream and sugar in a moment, but here’s one perfect pairing for peanut butter…
As you know, peanut butter is a creamy, nutty, rich food, so it makes sense that a cookie containing this component would pair best with a coffee that comes without frills.
Whether you’re talking about a classic peanut butter cookie or a souped up creation that slathers a little pb on top, this nutty, sweet, and creamy element serves to infuse both creaminess and flavor into any ordinary cup of black coffee (we suggest a medium or dark roast for the *best* option).
7- Lattes, Cappuccinos, Frappes, And Cookies
When you’re sipping on brews which already add a bit of flare, either through steamed milk, syrups, sauces, or whipped toppings, your cookie pairing can actually boast a bit more sweetness.
Most of us can recall enjoying a tall glass of ice cold milk with a freshly baked cookie at some point in our lives, and this combo allowed for a wide range of cookie samplings.
Well, when you add the creamy, sweet component of milk to your coffee, this also widens the selection window for your cookie choice.
In fact, some find that pairing cookies with lattes and cappuccinos, even sugary-sweet frappes, allows for the most generous selection in cookie pairings - with one caveat…
If you don’t care for overly sweet coffee and confectionery combos, you’ll likely want to choose a lighter cookie, such as a sugar cookie or shortbread option (similar to what we paired with a light roast) when sipping on a milk or sugar-heavy coffee selection.
Fabulous Fall Coffee And Cookie Combos
Now for an extra treat…
We’d like to continue our numbered cookie pairing suggestions here, but numbers 8-10 will transition into a cozy, fall theme.
Here we’ll tackle 3 common fall flavors - pumpkin spice, chai, and salted caramel, looking at the best way to pair these common coffee flavors with cookies.
8- Pumpkin Spice Coffee And Cookies
Whether you’re sipping our Pumpkin Spice Coffee flavored selection (one of our most popular flavors) or a pumpkin latte of your own making, the best way to enjoy a cookie alongside this cozy brew is to follow the “like pairs with like” rule.
But, since this is a spicy brew, it’s important to pair appropriately.
First, most any cinnamon themed cookie would make a great option for pairing with pumpkin spice coffee.
In the same way, cookies containing nutmeg or clove would work great here as well.
But, I also like to think of such pairings the same way I would concoct a fall dessert.
For instance, I’ve commonly found that walnuts pair better with apples, while pecans pair better with pumpkin.
For this reason, if you’re looking for a less spiced option, I’d consider a chocolate-pecan cookie, or even better, a chocolate-pecan cookie bar.
Most cookie bars are typically a little less moist than a cookie, and this touch of dry crunch can be a perfect companion for a freshly brewed cup of pumpkin spice joe!
Then of course, don’t forget a soft, pumpkin-infused cookie for this pairing. Though here, I’d recommend a pumpkin cookie that isn’t as spicy.
Why?
Because the lack of those warm cinnamon and clove notes in the cookie will allow you to draw out the creamy, vanilla and pumpkin flavors in the brew, while still detecting the subtle spice in the background.
Is your mouth watering yet? I know mine is!!
9- Cookies And Chai
Chai is another popular fall flavor, and this selection pairs well with, again, equal spices.
So, a classic snickerdoodle or specifically spiced fall-themed cookie would be delicious with a dirty chai latte, or our fabulous Vanilla Chai coffee.
Our Vanilla Chai Coffee has become quite the hit amongst our customers (we love it too), and something light, like a shortbread or iced sugar cookie would really bring out the vanilla in this brew, allowing those chai spices to dance in the background.
But, if you’re all in when it comes to these spectacular spices, consider a glazed chai cookie to pair with a vanilla chai latte, or…and hear me out on this one…try a chewy gingerbread cookie paired with a vanilla chai!
Gingerbread cookies are more dense than a light and typically airy chai cookie, but the similar spice profile can serve to tickle your tongue’s fancy if you’re a hardcore spice fan (like me).
10- Salted Caramel Coffee And Cookie Pairings
Salted caramel is just one of those warm and cozy fall flavors, an option for those days when you feel like diverting from the pumpkin path…or patch.
Typically folks like to sip their salted caramel coffee in the form of a latte, but we also have a truly delicious (and calorie-free) Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel flavored coffee that is out of this world.
Here, when it comes to cookie pairings, most find that pulling out all the stops seems to work best.
This is why you’ll commonly find recommendations for rich chocolate cookies to pair with salted caramel coffee.
The smooth and rich chocolate flavors are the perfect companion for tastes of sweet, gooey caramel with a savory touch of sea salt.
Then, if you’d like to get creative, here’s a suggestion I found online that I’m dying to try: pair a salted caramel latte with an apple cinnamon cookie.
I haven’t tried this combination yet, but it’s definitely calling my name. If you give it a try, be sure to let us know what you think!
A Cookie Recipe And Coffee Pairings
With all this talk of coffee and cookies, we couldn’t leave you without a tasty cookie recipe to try out this classic combo!
Snickerdoodles were mentioned in many pairings today, and those pumpkin spice and chai coffee and cookie combos were truly making my mouth water, so I thought we’d close things out today with a pumpkin snickerdoodle cookie recipe for the best of several worlds here.
It’s got the spice, the classic snickerdoodle buttery flavor, and pumpkin…yum!
Of course, we’ll also include some fabulous coffee pairings as well!
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter, melted and cooled for at least 10 minutes
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Topping:
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar until well combined.
- Add pumpkin and stir well.
- Stir in egg yolk and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Once combined, gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until well combined.
- Cover dough and place in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes or until well chilled.
- When the dough is almost finished chilling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar topping, then remove dough from the refrigerator and roll into tablespoon sized balls.
- Roll dough balls in the cinnamon and sugar mixture, then place, 2 inches apart, on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes and allow to cool before sampling.
*Keep remaining dough refrigerated while cookies are baking, and do not place cookie dough on a hot pan (allow the cookie sheet to cool completely before baking the next batch of cookies).
- Freshly brewed Lifeboost Pumpkin Spice Coffee, sweetened with a teaspoon of maple syrup, then topped with whipped cream
- Cold brewed Lifeboost Vanilla Chai Latte Coffee with a splash of heavy cream
- Hot or iced Lifeboost Medium Roast or Dark Roast Coffee, prepared as you prefer
- Cold brewed Lifeboost Light Roast Coffee topped with cinnamon cold foam (for foam, add ¼ cup whole milk, 1 teaspoon real maple syrup, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon to an electric frother, froth on cold setting, then top light roast)
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast .
Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.
References:
- https://www.cheryls.com/articles/world-of-cookies/best-cookies-to-eat-with-coffee
- https://blog.pacificcookie.com/2021/11/cookies-and-coffee-pairings/
- https://aerialresupplycoffee.com/blogs/the-resupply-blog/healthy-cookies-that-pair-perfectly-with-your-coffee#:~:text=Pairing%20Cookies%20with%20Your%20Coffee,espresso's%20deep%20notes%20to%20shine.
- https://www.cookietakeabite.com/cookie-pairing-guide/cookie-coffee-pairing/
- https://www.tastingtable.com/1562738/how-pair-coffee-chocolate-expert/#:~:text=According%20to%20Patel%2C%20milk%20chocolate,as%20well%20with%20milk%20chocolate.
- https://www.thebiscotticompany.com/blog/biscotti-and-coffee-pairings-find-your-perfect-match-with-the-biscotti-company/#:~:text=The%20creamy%2C%20smooth%20flavors%20of,to%20satisfy%20your%20taste%20buds.
- https://bakedbrewedbeautiful.com/food-and-coffee/#:~:text=down%20the%20groundwork.-,1.,brownie%20or%20an%20almond%20croissant.
- https://cafealtura.com/coffee-cookies/
- https://sugarspunrun.com/pumpkin-snickerdoodles/#recipe