Everybody loves pizza. We have said it before and will say it again. But you know what else everybody loves is dessert. From chocolate cake to fruit-filled pies to creamy gelato and silky cheesecake, there is a dessert for everyone.
But you might wonder how you pair two amazing things like homemade pizza and desserts. Well, it is just common sense that these two great-tasting foods, pizza and dessert, should come together for the perfect pizza night.
Just like pairing soda, beer, and wine with pizza, there is a trick to pairing homemade pizza and desserts, and we are going to teach you how to bring these two together.
Key Takeaways:
- Life is short, and desserts are rich, so you should indulge in them when you want to. However, it is important to keep everything balanced and indulge mindfully.
- Pairing homemade pizza and desserts is a fun and delicious way to enjoy two amazing things together. Ice cream, brownies, pies, cookies, and healthy desserts are all great options to pair with homemade pizza.
- The pairing of pizza and desserts is subjective and based on personal preference. However, some suggested pairings include pepperoni pizza or Italian sausage pizza with ice cream, prosciutto and mushroom pizza with chocolate fudge brownies, and four cheese pizza with apple pie.
Table of Contents
Why You Should Eat Dessert
First and foremost, yes, you should eat dessert. Life is short, and desserts are rich, so let yourself enjoy them when you want to. We have a sweet tooth and always let ourselves have something sweet; life without pizza or desserts is just too sad to even think about.
But many people avoid desserts for fear of gaining weight or overindulging. And we get it: if being healthy is a concern or you are striving to see a lower number on the scale, you may need to be aware of your diet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have dessert.
Many nutritionists and dieticians say the same thing: you should never restrict yourself from eating your favorite foods because then you will feel deprived. So rather than limiting and avoiding tasty pizza and delicious desserts, keep everything balanced and indulge mindfully. This means don’t eat the whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s or an entire pizza by yourself every night.
We love dessert and want everyone to enjoy a tasty, sweet treat when they want to, and we are going to share some of our favorite homemade pizza and dessert pairings.
Pairing Homemade Pizza and Desserts
We divided this section into types of desserts and pizza toppings and styles that would best pair together. The list is completely subjective and based on our flavor profiles and tastes. We also did an informal survey among friends and family to get some other input.
Ice cream
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. We love ice cream. We thank the heavens every day that we aren’t lactose intolerant because creamy ice cream and its Italian cousin, gelato, are the best way to close out the day.
Ice cream is pretty versatile, so you could really pair it with any homemade pizza. But if you want to balance out some of the milk from a heavy, cheesy pizza followed with a creamy dessert, we suggest avoiding pizzas with fresh mozzarella or burrata and instead pair pepperoni pizza or Italian sausage pizza with an ice cream or gelato finish.
The spiciness of the pepperoni or Italian sausage will cool nicely with a cold treat. If you like it really spicy, make Calabrese pizza with spicy nduja sausage.
If you are making homemade pizza, we suggest making your own ice cream, too. You can use an ice cream maker or an ice cream shaker ball to make amazing homemade ice cream.
- Pepperoni pizza or Italian sausage pizza and a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
- Margarita pizza with Chocolate Sunday.
- Hawaiian pizza with a banana split.
Brownies
Brownies and blondies are one of the first desserts we ever made as kids. They are easy to make and almost impossible to screw up. For brownies, a simple box recipe, and for blondies, some chocolate chips and cookie ingredients.
If you are having a pizza night with kids, trust us, these desserts will be a hit. Both are rich and decadent, so a pizza without heavy ingredients pairs nicely.
- Prosciutto and mushroom pizza pairs with chocolate fudge brownies
- Vegetarian or salad pizza pairs with Blondies.
Pies
The all-American dessert is the classic pie. It is one of the best desserts, from apple pie to berry-filled pies of the summer to holiday pies. Pies are simple, just like pizza. If you are having a simple pie with dessert, then you can make your homemade pizza more complex with tasty toppings.
If you want to try and make a homemade pie to go with your homemade pizza, check out the book Pie School to learn all about this classic American dessert and how to make it.
- Four cheese pizza pairs with apple pie.
- Pizza Capricciosa with marinated artichokes, olives, mushrooms, and ham pairs with berry pies like blueberry and raspberry.
- A Supreme pizza pairs with pumpkin pie.
- Meat lover’s pizza with ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon pairs with Coconut Creme Pie.
Cookies
Cookies are for kids, so the best pairing for homemade pizza and desserts is kid-friendly pizzas.
- Pepperoni pizza pairs with chocolate chip cookies.
- Hawaiian pizza pairs with oatmeal cookies.
- Macaroni and cheese pizza pairs with snickerdoodles.
- Mini meatball pizza pairs with Sugar cookies.
Healthy Desserts
Yes, healthy desserts are a thing, from sugar-free desserts to keto-friendly desserts. Some people don’t want to give up their sweet tooth in search of a sweet bod, so here are some healthy pizzas to pair with healthy desserts.
- Carb-free pizzas like eggplant pizza or portobello mushroom pizza pairs with Chocolate Peanut Butter Keto Bombs.
- Spring pizza with asparagus, green onions, and roasted red peppers pairs with sugar-free desserts.
Popular International Desserts
Pizzas with international flavors deserve tasty international desserts to accompany them. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Mexican pizza with ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos pairs with creamy flan.
- Classic Neapolitan pizza pairs with rich Tiramisu.
- Turkish pizza with ground lamb and spices pairs with flaky, sweet baklava.
- What would you pair with Polish Zapiekanki pizza?
What is your favorite way to pair homemade pizza and desserts?
