There are many flavor debates that people go through: none is as passionate as whether sweet and spicy belong together.  Fans of this combination say that sweet takes away some heat while creating an awesome flavor, so what recipes work best for that sensation?

Why Does This Work?

Sugar helps break down capsaicin, the ingredient in peppers that feels like heat.  This means we can handle more heat, and it becomes a pleasant warmth in our mouths.  

Beyond this, complex flavors like sweet heat are surprising and pleasing to our taste buds and can make every taste unique as we enjoy how different they are yet how perfectly they mix. You can also visit st petersburg donuts.

Sweet and Spicy Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are often a Christmas go-to, so why not spice them up?  Adding a spicy jelly instead of the classic boring flavors ensures that you’ll pleasantly surprise anyone who takes a bite.

You can make these either by baking sugar or shortbread cookies from scratch or by buying a mix or fridge pack, but be picky about your jellies!  The jelly makes a lot of the flavor of this treat, so you’ll want a pepper jelly that you can trust.  

Chocolate Sriracha Frozen Bananas

If you want a quick recipe that anyone can make in a couple of hours: this is it!  To create this, you’ll need hardening chocolate shell, like you’d use on ice cream, sriracha, ripe bananas, and popsicle sticks!

Cut the bananas in half, and skewer them through the thick portion of the banana with a popsicle stick.  Drizzle a thin line of sriracha down the length of the banana, and then coat both sides with chocolate shell.  Freeze for two hours, and then enjoy!  This creamy, spicy-sweet combination is a match made in heaven!

Hot and Chocolatey Brownies

Spicy brownies are one of the easiest sweet heat treats to introduce anyone into the world of spicy desserts.  The best way to do this is by adding some chili powder to the recipe, just enough to heat it up, and balance it out with a tablespoon of instant coffee.  

The coffee deepens the chocolatey flavor, so it’s not overpowered by the taste of chili powder, and the chili adds enough heat so that your brownies become a deeply satisfying and delicious treat.

Sweet and Peppered Jelly Donuts

Jelly donuts are popular year-round as a breakfast or dessert. However, pepper jelly donuts take this to another level by adding a little sweet heat into the mix.  Adding the perfect amount of zip to an otherwise overpoweringly sweet recipe, a spicy jelly changes this simple treat into something complex and wonderful.

Those who try it will come back for bite after bite, whether it’s breakfast or an after-dinner treat.

Sweet and Spicy are a Combination Made in Heaven

Although desserts are almost always sweet concoctions: it doesn’t have to be this way!  The sweet and spicy mix burns in the right way and makes our mouths water for another bite.  Try some of these delicious treats, and you’ll never look back.