Quick answer: Pair Christmas cookies with sweet or fortified wines that are at least as sweet as the cookie: gingerbread with Tawny Port, sugar cookies with Moscato d’Asti, chocolate chip with Ruby Port, shortbread with late harvest Riesling, peanut butter blossoms with Madeira and peppermint bark with Brachetto d’Acqui. Sparkling Demi Sec is a festive all purpose choice.
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Milk and cookies are for Santa. For the grown ups, a cookie and wine pairing is one of the most fun holiday party ideas around. Set out a plate of classic Christmas cookies, open a few dessert wines and let guests taste their way through. Here are the best matches and how to host your own cookie and wine tasting.
What Is the Rule for Pairing Wine With Cookies?
The wine should be as sweet as the cookie or sweeter. A dry wine next to a sugary cookie tastes sour and thin. Then match intensity: light, buttery cookies want light, fresh wines, and dark, spiced or chocolate cookies want richer, fortified wines.
What Wine Goes With Each Christmas Cookie?
| Christmas Cookie | Best Wine | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Gingerbread and gingersnaps | Tawny Port | Nutty caramel notes love ginger and molasses |
| Sugar cookies | Moscato d’Asti | Light bubbles and peach fruit keep buttery sweetness fresh |
| Chocolate chip | Ruby Port | Dark berry fruit with chocolate is a classic |
| Shortbread | Late harvest Riesling | Honeyed apricot and bright acidity cut through butter |
| Snickerdoodles | Off dry Gewürztraminer | Spicy, floral notes echo cinnamon sugar |
| Peanut butter blossoms | Madeira | Toasty, nutty and sweet with peanut and chocolate |
| Linzer cookies | Brachetto d’Acqui | Fizzy red berry fruit matches the jam center |
| Peppermint bark | Brachetto d’Acqui | Strawberry fruit and bubbles refresh after mint |
| Biscotti and almond cookies | Vin Santo | The traditional Italian match for dunking |
| Rugelach and fruit filled cookies | Sauternes | Honey and stone fruit complement apricot and raspberry |
How Do You Host a Christmas Cookie and Wine Tasting?
- Pick 4 to 6 cookies and a matching wine for each.
- Pour small tastes of about 2 ounces. Dessert wines are rich, so a little goes a long way.
- Label each pairing with a card so guests know what to try together.
- Taste from light to rich: sugar cookies and Moscato first, chocolate and Port last.
- Offer water and plain crackers to refresh the palate between pairings.
- Let guests vote on their favorite pairing for a fun party game.
Small dessert wine glasses and a tiered serving tray make the tasting look special. Most dessert wines come in half bottles (375 ml), so you can offer several without overspending.
Can You Pair Christmas Cookies With Red Wine?
Dry reds are tricky with sweet cookies, but a few combinations work. Zinfandel, with its jammy fruit and spice, can handle gingerbread and molasses cookies. Ruby Port is the safest red for chocolate. If you want a dry red, choose cookies that are less sweet, like dark chocolate biscotti or cheese crackers.
What Else Goes on a Holiday Dessert Board?
- Dark chocolate squares and chocolate covered pretzels
- Candied pecans and spiced nuts
- Blue cheese with honey for Port lovers
- Dried figs, dates and fresh berries
Pair the evening with our hot chocolate and wine pairing ideas, our wine and chocolate pairing guide or a pot of mulled wine. Shop Moscato d’Asti or Port at Wine.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wine goes with Christmas cookies?
Sweet and fortified wines pair best. Try Tawny Port with gingerbread, Moscato d’Asti with sugar cookies, Ruby Port with chocolate chip and late harvest Riesling with shortbread.
What wine goes with gingerbread cookies?
Tawny Port is the best match. Its caramel, toffee and nut flavors complement ginger, molasses and warm spice. Zinfandel works if you prefer a red table wine.
What wine goes with sugar cookies?
Moscato d’Asti is the best match for sugar cookies. Its light bubbles, low alcohol and peach and orange blossom flavors balance buttery sweetness.
Does dry wine go with cookies?
Usually not. Sweet cookies make dry wine taste sour. Choose a wine at least as sweet as the cookie, such as Port, Moscato, Madeira or a late harvest white.
How much wine do I need for a cookie and wine tasting?
Plan on about 2 ounces of each wine per guest. A 375 ml half bottle of dessert wine serves about 6 tasting pours.
