What Dessert Goes With Mac & Cheese? 10 Best Choices!
Doing some meal planning for the week ahead, and need ideas for what dessert goes with mac and cheese? I’ve got you covered!
Mac and cheese is surely one of the most popular comfort food dishes in the world.
Suitable as a main course in its own right or served as a satisfying side dish, it has everything you could want when you’re in the mood for good old fashioned home cooking.
Tender pasta and a deliciously cheesy creamy sauce, baked in the oven until piping hot… You really can’t beat it!
Sometimes though, you need a sweet treat to round things off…
What dessert goes with mac and cheese?
Some of the best desserts to serve after mac and cheese include apple pie, chocolate fondant cake, coconut and lime loaf, Georgian peach cobbler, Louisiana crunch cake, and pecan pie. Read on to get more ideas and find the best recipes so you can get started!
1. Apple pie
A classic American dish like mac and cheese surely deserves a classic American dessert, which is why you should definitely consider making an apple pie – or apple crisp, as it’s sometimes known!
It’s good at any time of the year, though it’s particularly special in the autumn months when apples are in season and you can pick them fresh in your local area.
Serve with your choice of cream, ice cream, or custard. If you’re cooking for guests, you could even offer a couple of choices so everyone is happy.
This ultimate apple pie recipe comes highly recommended.
You’ll use Bramley apples and homemade shortcrust pastry, and it’s the kind of dessert that kids and adults alike will adore.
2. Chocolate fondant cake
Everyone loves chocolate cake, right?
You might think that a rich and satisfying dish like mac and cheese would pair best with a light dessert, but sometimes, it calls for something that can hold its own and be big and bold enough to create a running theme between your main course and your starter.
This chocolate fondant cake recipe is decadent and fudgy, and it can be ready in just 40 minutes. You’ll need just 5 basic ingredients, making it super simple.
An interesting fact about this cake is that ‘fondant’ means ‘melting’ in French, and that’s so fitting!
It oozes with chocolatey goodness, and even though it’s rich, you’ll have a hard time turning down a second helping.
3. Coconut and lime loaf
A coconut and lime loaf cake makes for a beautiful and traditional pudding, and it’s such a good choice for what dessert goes with mac and cheese.
Best of all, you can make it in advance and simply slice up when you’re ready to serve.
Though it’s delicious when it’s warm from the oven, waiting a little while will let those beautiful zesty flavours to develop a little further.
In fact, you can even freeze it for up to three months for the ultimate in convenience.
4. Chocolate icebox cookies
Icebox cookies are such fun to make, and they’re a great way to get the kids involved with the meal.
You’ll simply form your dough into a log before chilling in the fridge, then slice up into rounds once you’re ready to bake.
These are a good option for what dessert goes with mac and cheese when you want to offer something sweet for your guests, but you don’t want to make a decadent and rich pudding.
If everyone is full after the main course, they can take a few cookies home with them to enjoy later!
This chocolate icebox cookies recipe is my favourite.
If you like, you can get a bit creative and add a decorating process at the end.
Add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or coloured icing!
5. Georgian Peach cobbler
Peach cobbler is a classic Georgian dessert, thanks to the fact that the fruits grow so beautifully in the area. In fact, it’s sometimes known as the Peach State!
For this reason – and the fact that it’s absolutely delicious – a sweet cobbler is a fantastic choice of dessert for a mac and cheese dinner.
This peach cobbler recipe is one of the easiest treats that you’ll ever stumble across, and you’ll need to just four ingredients to make it.
The crispy topping is a real delight, and you can add a little cinnamon if you like.
6. Louisiana crunch cake
Louisiana crunch cake is a Southern staple when it comes to baking and sweet treats, so of course it has to be considered when you’re planning a dessert for mac and cheese!
It’s sweet and slightly tangy with a nutty topping, and has unbelievably tasty flavours including coconut and vanilla.
Though it’s pretty easy to make and is suitable for beginner bakers, it always looks super impressive on the table, and your guests will definitely appreciate the effort you’ve made.
7. Chocolate cobbler
If you’ve never heard of a chocolate cobbler before then brace yourself, because you’re in for a real treat!
It’s another Southern classic that chocolate lovers will absolutely adore, and it’s fudgy, rich, and completely addictive.
You’ll find it difficult to resist digging straight into the pan with a massive spoon.
It’s self saucing so you don’t really need to add anything to the side, but it’s really good with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
8. King cake truffles
King cake is super popular during carnival season, and though it’s an incredible dessert in its own right, I love these king cake truffles which are a fun twist on the more traditional option.
A little booze is added in the form of bourbon, but you can leave it out if you prefer.
You’ll need just a small selection of staple ingredients including Oreos, cream cheese, white chocolate, and coconut oil.
9. Pecan pie
Another classic American dessert that pairs perfectly with mac and cheese is pecan pie.
What I love most about this one is that it’s so versatile.
It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight or for a casual family meal, but it’s also impressive enough to be served at a dinner party or even at a special occasion such as Thanksgiving.
If you want to shake things up a bit, you could add some chocolate chips on top!
Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
10. Black bottom pie
This traditional Southern dessert consists of a rich and dark cocoa base, a layer of chocolate custard, and a topping of rum mousse and whipped cream.
It’s thought that its name is derived from the dark, swampy lowlands that can be found along the Mississippi river.
Try out this black bottom pie recipe, which is perfect for entertaining and can be ready in an hour, plus chilling time.
Choosing the best dessert for mac and cheese
A bold and satisfying dish like mac and cheese deserves a fabulous dessert, and you have plenty of options, whether you want to prepare something quick and easy, or spend a little more time creating a Southern style classic.
Some tasty choices include:
- Apple pie
- Chocolate fondant cake
- Coconut and lime loaf
- Chocolate cobbler
- King cake truffles
- Louisiana crunch cake
Which of these desserts will you be trying first?
Love a sweet treat after a meal? You might also enjoy desserts to serve after risotto!
