Spring will be here before you know it. That means your schedule is about to be filled with picnics, potlucks, graduation parties, and seasonal meals shared with loved ones. Every gathering, big or small, needs a good balance of food and drinks. When it comes to the food, there’s no better choice than a delicious, flaky pastry that is bursting with your favorite seasonal filling. Butter Braid® Pastry offers several sweet and savory options that will delight at any spring get together. All you have to do is pick which flavor you’d like to serve then let it thaw, rise, and bake! Now, all that’s left is to pick the drinks.
Butter Braid Pastries are full of flavorful fillings that steal the show. Picking drinks that have complementary flavors will help make your flaky, buttery pastry stand out even more. It may seem like the process of choosing the right drink and pastry pairings can be tricky. How do you know what fillings go well with a certain type of drink? Don’t worry, this guide on spring drink and pastry pairings will provide you with all the information you need on picking good drink pairings for your pastries. Each of these classic combinations can be dressed up with creative twists for special events or done simply for a breakfast or dinner with the family. Now, put out your pastry, gather the cups, and get ready for a season full of fun and flavor in the sun!
Balance the Creaminess of a Cream Cheese Pastry
Our rich, silky smooth Cream Cheese pastry is made with layers of light and flaky pastry dough, a cream cheese filling, and a drizzle of sweet icing. The cream cheese is the star of this classic pastry. To make it really pop, you want to pick a drink that emphasizes the smooth texture and brings out the subtle flavor notes in the filling.
Coffee
Coffee is a great drink to balance out the richness of this Cream Cheese pastry. A light roast, which has more acidity and bright flavors, will complement the creaminess of this dessert the best. Cream cheese helps to cut the acidity of the coffee while the coffee lightens up the rich filling to make it creamier and more luxurious. If you usually add cream and sugar to your coffee, try serving it black with this pastry. The cream cheese acts like a creamer and helps give the coffee a nutty, complex flavor that will take this dessert-drink experience to a whole new level.
Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate is a classic dessert drink that everyone loves. The sweetness of the chocolate is just the thing to set off the tangy flavor of the cream cheese. It helps to highlight the more savory aspects of the cheese while matching the intensity of the overall flavor to ensure your drink won’t overpower the pastry and vice versa. Serve as an after-meal treat to help cleanse the palate.
A Refreshing Addition to the Four Cheese and Herb Pastry
This savory Four Cheese and Herb pastry is made from a custom blend of four cheeses and herbs and is accompanied by a fresh, chunky marinara sauce. With so many different cheeses and secondary flavors, it is better to serve a drink that is mild and light. Bolder drinks would overwhelm the subtle flavor notes instead of highlighting all that this pastry has to offer.
Natural Soda
An organic soft drink made from subtle flavors that don’t overwhelm the cheeses in your pastry is a great option for you and your guests. Soda naturally goes well with cheese because of the carbonation. The little bubbles lift the flavors from your tongue, refreshing your palate as you drink. Citrus or fruit-based sodas create the best pairings as the sweetness helps balance the salty nature of the cheese while remaining subtle.
White Grape Juice
Just like soda, sparkling white grape juice has carbonation, so you get that same palate-cleansing action between bites of pastry. The refreshing, bubbly taste helps to cut through the salt content of the cheese which helps to further balance out the flavor. Finally, the tart, sweet flavor of the white grape juice is the perfect complement to the opposing notes found in the variety of herbs and cheeses in this pastry filling.
Emphasize the Fruity Flavors in the Strawberry & Cream Cheese Pastry
A Strawberry & Cream Cheese pastry has all the vibrancy and flavor that you love in a springtime fruit. This tart, juicy, and sweet fruit is what makes this pastry a best seller. It’s also what makes it tricky to find a drink pairing for. When choosing a beverage to serve with a Strawberry & Cream Cheese pastry, look for something that has a similar level of sweetness, acidity, and tartness to ensure the drink doesn’t overpower the pastry.
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea isn’t as strong as black tea or green tea. Due to all the natural flavors, a cup of hot or iced herbal tea will pair nicely with dishes that are slightly less sweet and more tart, like the Strawberry & Cream Cheese pastry. Chamomile, specifically, is a great choice. It is lightly flavored with subtle floral notes. It partners well with the strawberry’s sweet taste while also complementing the slight acidity of the cream cheese.
Lemonade
Strawberry and lemonade are a flavor combination that is enjoyed by people of all ages. The citrus flavor of the lemon intensified the sweetness of the strawberry without overwhelming the flaky pastry and rich cream cheese that makes this treat so delicious. It all blends together beautifully for a combination that is soothing and refreshing.
Complement the Complex Flavors in a Blueberry & Cream Cheese Pastry
Blueberries are an incredibly versatile fruit, pairing well with a variety of flavors. That’s why our Blueberry & Cream Cheese pastry is such a crowd pleaser. Since blueberries are sweet, tart, and tangy, the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing the perfect drink to complement your pastry. However, some spring drink pairings will complement this pastry better than others.
Lemon Ginger Tea
Lemon and blueberry, much like lemon and strawberry, are a perfect blend of flavors. The bright citrus flavor of the lemon balances the sweet berry flavor without competing for attention. Meanwhile, the spiciness of the ginger emphasizes the more tart and tangy notes in the blueberries and the cream cheese. It’s an explosion of delicious flavors that makes for the perfect afternoon spring snack.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
If you can’t get enough of all the great fruit that the season has to offer, this is the spring drink and pastry pairing for you. Strawberries are quite sweet while blueberries have a tangier flavor profile. The contrast elevates the flavors in each berry to give you the best of both worlds. Meanwhile, the mellow notes of the banana allow blueberry to be center stage while adding some pleasing undertones to round out this delicately sweet flavor experience.
Add Sweetness to the Tart Taste of the Raspberry Pastry
Raspberry is a unique fruit that has both a tart and sweet side to it. Which side you want to highlight the most will determine what drink you choose to pair with it. If you want to bring out the sweetness of the berry, you pair it with something rich. If you want the tart side to come through, you choose a drink that has more natural sweetness. The Raspberry pastry is already perfectly balanced, with a filling of real, tart raspberries that is topped with sweet icing, so you can choose which side of the flavor profile you prefer.
White Chocolate Mocha
White chocolate and raspberry are a dessert match made in heaven. The creamy flavor of white chocolate balances the tanginess of red raspberries without being too sweet. The rich, full-bodied flavor of the espresso further highlights the tartness of the raspberry while also emphasizing the subtle sweetness of the berry itself.
Orange Juice
If you really want to emphasize the tartness of the raspberry, citrus is the way to go. The juicy, freshness of orange juice helps sweeten the experience by offsetting the tartness of the red raspberries. It’s a great choice when you want to emphasize the raspberry’s sour note without making it overwhelming. So, grab a slice of Raspberry pastry, pour a glass or orange juice, and take your taste buds on a refreshing vacation this spring.
Learning how to master the art of spring drink and pastry pairings may be easier than you think. Hopefully, this guide allowed you to learn all the basics you need to serve the best drink and pastry combinations at any of your upcoming seasonal events. Now, go and enjoy all that spring has to offer, and don’t forget to stock up on all your favorite pastry flavors, so you can enjoy a delicious, buttery, flaky treat no matter where the season takes you.
