what dessert goes with ham

7 Heavenly Desserts That Pair Perfectly with Baked Ham

Baked ham is a beloved main course for holidays, gatherings, and Sunday dinners. After enjoying the salty smoky, savory ham entrée you’ll want a sweet treat to finish the meal. But what dessert goes best with ham?

The key is finding options that balance and complement the strong flavors of the ham without overpowering it. Here are 7 sensational desserts that go great with ham.

Fruit Pies

Classic fruit pies are a fantastic choice with baked ham. The tart sweetness of the fruit filling provides the perfect counterpoint to the salty savoriness of the ham. Apple, peach, cherry, and berry pies marry beautifully with ham, especially if they have a nice buttery, flaky crust. The different textures of the crust and fruit also pair well with sliced ham. Fruit pies are familiar and comforting, just like a holiday ham dinner.

Pecan Pie

Another nostalgic dessert that’s delicious alongside ham is pecan pie. The gooey roasted pecan filling with corn syrup and spices melds wonderfully with smoky, savory ham. The crunch of the toasted pecans also balances the tender texture of the ham. When making or buying pecan pie to serve with ham, go for one with a crispy, buttery crust and plenty of nuts in the filling. It’s sweet but not overly so, allowing the ham to shine.

Cheesecake

Creamy cheesecake makes a luscious ending to a meal featuring baked ham. The lush, velvety texture provides a nice contrast to the sliced ham. While plain cheesecake complements ham well, consider flavors like chocolate, salted caramel or lemon that pair nicely with pork. Top it off with fruit compote or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Cheesecake is rich enough to feel special but doesn’t overshadow the ham.

Spice Cake

Warm aromatic spice cakes flavored with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg make a lovely complement for glazed holiday hams. The familiar baking spices mirror those often used to season the ham, while the sweetness balances the hearty meat. Try cakes like gingerbread, cinnamon coffee cake, or pumpkin spice cake with ham. Top it off with whipped cream or caramel sauce. It’s a simple but very satisfying dessert.

Coconut Cake

Light and fluffy coconut cake is another fantastic option for ham dinners. The tropical essence of coconut has a natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with savory, salty ham. Look for coconut cakes with plenty of coconut milk and shredded coconut in both the cake and frosting. The tender texture aligns well with sliced ham. For special events, display a tiered coconut cake next to the baked ham as a stunning centerpiece.

Banana Cake

Craving something even simpler? Humble banana cake is a great choice for ham meals. The moist tender crumb soaks up flavor from the ripe bananas. While easy, it has enough sweet banana taste and soft texture to complement the bold ham. Consider adding chocolate chips, walnuts, or a cream cheese frosting. Warm it up and top it with ice cream for an easy crowd-pleasing dessert.

Freshly Baked Biscuits

Warm biscuits right out of the oven make an unexpected but delicious pairing with ham. Try sage sausage biscuits, bacon-cheddar biscuits, or biscuits stuffed with ham slices and cheese. The biscuits soak up the savory ham juices while providing a new texture. You can also simply bake plain biscuit rounds and top them with sliced ham, brown sugar, butter, or honey. Enjoy the biscuits on the side or split them open to make mini ham sandwiches.

Finding the Balance

When deciding what dessert to serve after baked ham, it helps to consider balance. You want a sweet treat that accentuates the ham but doesn’t compete with it. Lighter fruit desserts, mildly flavored cakes, and nutty or creamy options tend to work best. Avoid strong flavors or extremely dense, rich desserts that overtake the ham.

With choices like fruity pies, spice cakes, creamy cheesecake and warm biscuits, you can craft a memorable meal from start to sweet finish. Pick a dessert that harmonizes with ham’s distinctive savoriness for perfect pairing.