Cookies & Beer, Together at Last

Chocolate Dipped Madeleines taste just right with an amber ale’s rich caramel and hop notes.

You know you’ve secretly wanted cookies and beer together, but elegant desserts like madeleines, French almond cakes, and biscotti always get served with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk. Now’s the time to jump out of that rut. Alameda bakery Donsuemor has brewed up some inventive new couplings to help you celebrate Oktoberfest in style. Working with a Reno Tahoe–area brewmaster, these baking pros have identified ideal combinations of cookies and beer that span the seasons and translate across different brands. Enjoy this video from Donsuemor and the Brewer’s Cabinet, and try these pairings with your favorite local brews:
 
Pumpkin Spice Madeleines with a Brown Ale
Upgrade your pumpkin spice latte. When the soft accents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices start mingling with pumpkin in this fluffy, soft cookie, you’re going to want to reach for a creamy rich, big and bold brown ale. Just add an extra 30 minutes to your cardio workout at the gym and life will be in perfect balance.

Traditional Madeleines with a Blonde Ale
The buttery vanilla cake notes of the traditional madeleine are a great complement to a crisp, light, and refreshing golden ale, especially one in a German or Czech style. On one of those hot East Bay October afternoons, this combo could both satisfy and refresh.

Chocolate Dipped Madeleines with an Amber Ale
That traditional madeleine dipped in chocolate will pair so nicely with the rich caramel and hop notes of an amber ale. Go ahead and try it…  we won’t tell…

Lemon Zest Madeleines with IPA
Lemon zest lends its special note of virtue to the butter, salt, and vanilla flavors in this fluffy, soft cookie. In that elevated mood, it’s only natural that you would be drawn to the simple golden hues and dry citrus and toasty notes of your favorite pale ale with its big, beautiful aroma of hops. 

French Almond Cake, paired with a Double IPA
With flavors of almond, amaretto, caramel, and even butterscotch, this French almond cake is in harmony with the malt and hop balance of many double IPAs, especially those with citrus and pine notes. It’s a pairing you might even risk bringing out when your most sophisticated friends drop by after dinner. 

Read more about Donsuemor’s bakery treats: here

And if you’re looking to celebrate Octoberfest in true Oakland-style at a family-friendly craft beer festival— complete with breweries, wineries, a homebrew competition, vendors, and entertainment— look here: oaktoberfest.org. It’s on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30, 11am–6pm at MacArthur and Fruitvale in Oakland.

French almond cake complements the malt and hop balance of many double IPAs. Photos courtesy of Donsuemor.