Let’s be honest: Cookies really don’t need to be paired with anything to taste great. But after hearing (and tasting) head baker Tom Gumpel’s surprising suggestions for what to sip with his latest creations, we had to share them with you. From our classic Chocolate Chipper to some of Tom’s new seasonal specials, here’s what to match with what - and, of course, dunk.
The Cookie: Toffee Nut Cookie
The Drink: Earl Grey Tea
Why They’re Perfect Together: “This tea is flavored with bergamot and its citrus notes work really well with the toasted nuts and rich caramel flavors in the toffee,” says Gumpel. “It’s complex and really good.”
The Cookie: Mint Chocolate Crinkle Cookie
The Drink: Peppermint Caffe Mocha
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Although they have similar flavor profiles, their contrasting textures and temperatures take this to another level,” he explains. “It’s a fantastic pairing.”
The Cookie: Gingerbread Man Cookie
The Drink: Gingerbread Latte
Why They’re Perfect Together: It’s the same strategy as with the previous combo: similar flavor profiles, but in two different forms. If you like gingerbread, this is a double shot.
The Cookie: Chocolate Chipper Cookie
The Drink: Low-Fat Strawberry Smoothie
Why They’re Perfect Together: Instead of dunking this traditional cookie in milk like everyone else does, Gumpel suggests enjoying it with a smoothie. “It’s a classic play on strawberries and chocolate that tastes almost like a sundae,” he says.
The Cookie: Shortbread
The Drink: Lemonade (or Pumpkin Spice Latte)
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Because this cookie is so buttery, it needs to be paired with a leaner drink,” Gumpel explains. “In warmer locales, a nice iced lemonade actually goes great with shortbread. But when it’s cold and you want to warm yourself, the caramel notes of the pumpkin latte complement it well.”
The Cookie: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
The Drink: Low-Fat Black Cherry (or Wild Berry) Smoothie
Why They’re Perfect Together: “Oats and fruit always go well together,” say Gumpel.
Kid Favorite!
The Cookie: Sugar Cookie
The Drink: Hot Chocolate
Why They’re Perfect Together: This cookie has milk chocolate coated candies on top, so matching it with a steaming cup of hot chocolate that has whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup works really well. It’s not overpowering; it’s perfect.
(Taken from the Panera website: http://www.mypanera.com/storiestips-view.php?id=55)
I mean seriously? We already know that an unsweetened iced tea is the way to go, so these must be second choices or back-ups. Peppermint Mocha with a peppermint chocolate cookie? A Gingerbread Latte and gingerbread cookie? Talk about flavor overload. I mean we already know that an unsweetened iced tea is the way to go. Did a three old learning to match pick out the pairings? The explanations of the odd pairings are awesome too.
