When it comes to fruit, we all intuitively know some flavor combinations that work well. Apple and caramel? Check. Pineapple and rum? Of course! But, when you start to dig deeper, you can discover some amazing and truly unique flavor combinations.
When I am experimenting in the kitchen, I love to try and find these unique flavor pairings. After stopping by the farmer’s market to see what fruit is in season, I like to think about what spices and flavors might pair well with that fruit. Oftentimes, the best pairings can be a bit unexpected. To me, this is what makes food and baking so exciting! There is always something new to discover and try out.
To help you out with your baking, I’ve created the ultimate fruit flavor pairing chart. Honestly, the reason behind making this chart is a bit selfish—I wanted a resource that I could refer to while experimenting with new recipes. After searching online, I struggled to find any resources out there that showed all these great flavor pairings. I hope this chart helps you out and empowers you to make even more delicious desserts in your kitchen!
For ease of access, you can customize the chart below to whatever works for you. You can modify the number of entries shown, as well as press the ‘Next’ button at the bottom to load more rows. In addition, you can use the search bar at the top right to look up a particular item. As time goes on, I will continue to update this chart so it can keep being a great resource for you!
Fruit Flavor Pairing Chart
| Fruit | Herbs and Spices | Nuts | Spirits | Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Apricot, cherry, cranberry, currant, lychee, mango, orange, pumpkin | Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, star anise | Almond, chestnut, pecan, walnut | Brandy, kirsch, Madeira, rum, vermouth | Caramel |
| Apricot | Apple, coconut, lemon, orange, peach, pineapple, plum, strawberry | Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, | Almond, hazelnut | Amaretto, brandy, kirsch, orange liqueur | Caramel, vanilla |
| Banana | Blueberry, cherry, coconut, lemon, lime, mango, orange, papaya, pineapple | Cinnamon, ginger | Hazelnut, walnuts | Brandy, calvados, Madeira, rum | Caramel, chocolate, coffee, molasses |
| Blackberry | Apple, apricot, blueberry, lemon, mango, peach, plum, orange, raspberry, strawberry | Cinnamon, clove, ginger, mint | Almond, hazelnut | Brandy, champagne, orange liqueur | Vanilla |
| Blueberry | Fig, lemon, mango, peach, watermelon | Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, lavender, mint, nutmeg | Hazelnut | Orange liqueur | Honey, vanilla |
| Cherry | Apricot, lemon, nectarine, peach, plum | Cinnamon, sage, thyme | Almond | Amaretto, bourbon, brandy, Grand Marnier, kirsch, rum, vodka | Caramel, chocolate, vanilla |
| Coconut | Banana, guava, lime, lychee, mango, passion fruit, pineapple | Basil, cilantro, Kaffir leaf, lemongrass, mint | Almond, brazil nut | Rum | Caramel, chocolate, honey, vanilla |
| Grape | Apple, lemon, pear, raspberry, strawberry | Ginger, mint, rosemary | Almond, hazelnut, pecan, walnut | Brandy, rum | |
| Grapefruit | Banana, coconut, lemon, lime, melon, papaya, pineapple, pomegranate, raspberry, strawberry | Basil, ginger, mint, rosemary, thyme | Campari, gin, Grand Marnier, rum, tequila, vodka | Caramel, vanilla | |
| Lemon | Cherry, coconut, nectarine, peach, plum | Basil, cardamom, ginger, mint, rosemary, thyme | Almond, hazelnut | Rum, vodka, orange liqueur | Vanilla |
| Lime | Apple, papaya, plum, strawberry | Ginger | |||
| Mango | Apple, banana, coconut, melon | Cilantro | Caramel, vanilla | ||
| Melon | Blackberry, strawberry | Cilantro, ginger, lemongrass, mint | Champagne, Cointreau, curaçao, port, sake, tequila | Vanilla | |
| Orange | Banana, cherry, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, persimmon, pineapple, pomegranate | Basil, cilantro, clove, ginger, mint, nutmeg, rosemary | Almond, hazelnut, walnut | Amaretto, brandy, tequila, vodka | Chocolate, coffee, vanilla |
| Peach | Apricot, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, lemon, plum | Basil, cinnamon, cloves, ginger | Almond, hazelnut, pecan | Bourbon, brandy, Cassis, champagne, Grand Marnier, Kirsch, rum | Brown sugar, caramel, honey, vanilla |
| Pear | Apple, raspberry | Cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary | Almond, chestnut, hazelnut, pecan, walnut | Brandy, port, crème de cassis, Grand Marnier, kirsch, rum, whiskey | Caramel, chocolate, vanilla |
| Pineapple | Banana, coconut, lime, mango, orange, raspberry, strawberry | Basil, cilantro, cinnamon, ginger, rosemary | Macadamia | Brandy, orange liqueur, rum | |
| Pomegranate | Apple | Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, mint | Port, tequila, vodka | ||
| Raspberry | Apricot, nectarine, peach, plum, rhubarb | Cinnamon, ginger, mint, thyme | Almond, hazelnut | Brandy, champagne, orange liqueur, rum, tequila | Chocolate, vanilla |
| Rhubarb | Apple, apricot, nectarine, peach, plum, strawberry | Ginger | |||
| Strawberry | Apple, banana, melon, peach, pineapple, rhubarb | Coriander, mint | Almond, walnut | Brandy, champagne, elderflower liqueur, rum, sake | Chocolate, honey, vanilla |
I really hope you found this fruit flavor pairing chart useful! If you enjoyed this post, you should read the 10 baking tips I wish someone told me a long time ago. There are some important ones that will help bring your baking game to the next level!
Over to you: what flavor combinations do you like to use in your recipes? Let me know in the comments below!
2 comments
I see you have peach in the second column, however it’s not listed in the first column.
Thank you so much for letting me know! I just updated the chart so that peach is in the first column – I hope that helps 🙂