Just Add Cider! A Guide to Pairing Cider With Portland’s Best Holiday Desserts
Expect more from your holidays! This time of year is thick with rich, decadent desserts, and Portland has an incredible array of unique, delicious and locally made options. And a palate-cleansing pint of Portland Cider is the perfect way to wash them down! Add a spritz of fun and fizz to your favorite holiday treats—try our pairings below, or invent your own! There’s really no wrong way to cider.
1. Cranberry Mule + Cheese & Crack’s Limited Edition Ambrosia Salad Sundae
Step up your dessert game with this delightful duo. The tart cranberries and gingery kick of our Cranberry Mule cider perfectly complement the sweet, nostalgic creaminess of Cheese & Crack’s Ambrosia Salad Sundae. This is not your grandma’s ambrosia salad, and it deserves a proper pint alongside!
2. Santa’s Sauce + Nico’s Strawberry Ice Cream (Pro Tip: Add Graham Cracker Dust!)
Our Santa’s Sauce cider, bursting with warm holiday spices and Northwest apples, transforms Nico’s strawberry ice cream into a holiday masterpiece. The fruity sweetness of the ice cream melds with the spiced cider for a magical pairing. Pro tip: Sprinkle graham cracker dust on top for a festive crunch that takes this dessert to the next level.
3. Imperial Dry + Eggnog Cake Bread from Great Harvest Bread Co.
The crisp, dry finish of our Imperial Dry cider cuts through the richness of Great Harvest’s Eggnog Cake Bread for a balanced dessert that’s not overly sweet. This pairing brings out the subtle nutmeg and rum-like notes in the bread while keeping your palate refreshed and ready for the next bite.
4. Original Gold + Blue Star Gingerbread Old Fashioned Donut
Our most-celebrated cider is at its best with classic flavors! And our friends at Blue Star Donuts have nailed the holiday theme with their gingerbread old fashioned donut. Original Gold cider’s balanced sweetness and crisp apple finish play off the wintry spice and molasses notes in the donut, creating a festive pairing full of traditional taste in every bite and sip.
5. Pacific Berry + Lauretta Jean’s Chocolate Ganache Brownie
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! The tart, fruity notes of Pacific Berry cider are the perfect match for Lauretta Jean’s decadent chocolate ganache brownie. The cider’s bright berry tang cuts through the richness of the brownie, making this pairing a standout on any dessert table. You could share this with your favorite person, but we wouldn’t blame you for keeping it to yourself…
6. True Brut + Pumpkin Pecan Pie Chocolates from Creo Chocolates
This pairing will have you marveling at how Creo managed to cram two dessert favorites into a single bite! True Brut cider alongside Creo’s Pumpkin Pecan Pie chocolates is an elegant holiday indulgence. The cider’s ultra-dry, Champagne-like effervescence balances the creamy, nutty sweetness of the chocolates, making this a sophisticated pairing for any festive occasion.
Whether you’re sipping by the tree or toasting with loved ones, there’s a Portland Cider for every moment of your holiday season. Cheers to delicious pairings and a season filled with joy!