Top 21 Desserts that Go with Chili

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Looking for a dessert to go with the chili you've got simmering? Look no further! I've put together this round-up so you can find the perfect dessert for your tasty stew. Whether you're making it for your mom, your spouse, or your friends, these desserts will be crowd-pleasers and will match perfectly with your chili.

What desserts go with chili?

Pumpkin Bars, Dark Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Whiskey Salted Caramels, Brandy Old Fashioned Cake, Banana Split, Caramel Ice Cream, Peach Blackberry Upside Down Cake, Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter Cookies, Apple Pie, Cherry Crisp, Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Cider Bread, Chocolate Cake, Apple Squares, Glazed Donuts, Caramel Bread Pudding, Angel Food Cake, Peach Cobbler, Brookies

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Pumpkin Bars

Chili is a warm, hearty food. I usually make it in the fall, so I LOVE to make pumpkin bars at the same time, because fall desserts pair perfectly with chili! Pumpkin bars are essentially everything tasty about fall, rolled into one bite. You make a pumpkin cake batter, bake it, then cover it in cream cheese frosting. But the awesome thing is they're made in bar-form so they're ULTRA easy and simple. Count me in! Find the recipe here.

stack of brownies with powdered sugar on top

Dark Chocolate Brownies

Dark chocolate brownies go with just about everything. What I love about brownies is how easy they are! Chili is a DELICIOUS unassuming dish, and it's the same with brownies! They're tasty and crowd-pleasing, but not pretentious. The perfect dessert to pair with chili. Find the recipe here.

Chocolate chip cookie bars stacked on top of each other.

Similar to the brownies above, chocolate chip cookie bars are a dessert that NO ONE will turn down. These are made with brown butter, which brings out the caramel-y notes in the cookies. Chili is so delicious with caramel-y desserts, because they're both so warm and inviting! Find the recipe here.

Whiskey Salted Caramels

Whiskey salted caramels are such a fun little dessert for if you're feeling adventurous! The caramel is so sweet and warm, the salt balances out the sweetness, and the whiskey brings an incredible depth of flavor that you just don't get from regular caramel. If you pair this dessert with your chili, your guests are certain to be impressed! Find the recipe here.

Brandy Old Fashioned Cake

Brandy old fashioned cake is the perfect dessert if you want to surprise your guests with something they've never had before. The cocktail-inspired cake goes great with chili! The brandy cake is deep and spicy, the orange frosting brings a sweet zestiness, and the cherry juice provides a little kick to round out the cake. Find the recipe here.

Banana Split

Ahhh, the classic banana split. This is such a nostalgic dessert, it goes so well with chili (and just about everything else)! Unassuming and simple, you can provide the bananas, ice cream, and toppings separately so your guests can pick-and-choose and make their sundae their own! Find the recipe here.

Caramel Ice Cream

This caramel ice cream is a dessert that goes great with chili. The caramel is sweet and rich, and works so well with the sweet ice cream base. The heartiness of the chili is complemented so well by the richness of this ice cream. Find the recipe here.

Peach Blackberry Upside Down Cake

An incredibly interesting dessert, this peach blackberry upside down cake is a perfect pair for your chili. The cake is not too sweet, so the peaches and blackberries really shine. I like to describe the cake itself as a giant pancake (which in my book, makes it OK to eat this cake for breakfast). Yum! Find the recipe here.

Brown butter rice krispie treat on a plate

Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

You may be seeing a trend- the best desserts that go with chili are warm, inviting, and relaxed. These brown butter rice krispie treats fit the bill! They're super tasty, and are such a fun play on a nostalgic favorite. Plus, making your own marshmallows will make you feel like a rockstar! Find the recipe here.

Peanut butter cookie with a bite out of it

Peanut Butter Cookies

Such a classic, peanut butter cookies are ultra-tasty, super simple, and crowd-pleasers. They go so well with chili because the peanut buttery goodness plays off of the spices in the chili. It doesn't get much better! Add in some cornbread and you'll be set. Just don't expect any leftovers! Find the recipe here.

Apple Pie

Don't even get me started on the combination of apple pie and chili. It is EVERYTHING THAT IS RIGHT IN THE WORLD. If the Good Lord blessed a food combination, it would be apple pie and chili. Find the recipe here.

Cherry Crisp

This is one of the most simple, crowd-pleasing desserts that always makes it onto my menu for gatherings. I love this recipe because it's not what first comes to mind when people think of dessert, but once you make it, it'll become a staple. The oatmeal-based crust and topping make this dessert pair well with chili. Find the recipe here.

Strawberry Shortcake

Picture this: it's a warm evening in early-September. The end of summer is upon us, and you're making your first bowl of chili for the year, but you're not quite ready to give up summer yet. Enter, this strawberry shortcake. Tasty and super fun, the strawberries will help you celebrate summer one last time while your chili rings in the fall. Find the recipe here.

Apple Cider Bread

Mm apple cider is the ultimate fall drink, so apple cider bread must be the ultimate fall bread! This bread is topped with cinnamon-sugar, giving it an awesome crunch. Add a pat of butter to the bread and you've got yourself a tasty and easy dessert to go with chili. Find the recipe here.

Chocolate Cake

You just can't go wrong with chocolate cake! This one is paired with a cream cheese frosting that is out-of-this-world good. And have you heard of Mexican hot chocolate, which is essentially spicy hot chocolate? That's evidence that chocolate and chili go super well together. Yum! Find the recipe here.

Apple Squares

Apple squares are delicious squares of apple-y goodness that will remind you of a sweet-glazed apple pie. However, this crust won't keep ya down like a pie sometimes will! Plus, this makes a recipe for a crowd, so if you're having a lot of guests, this is the perfect dessert to go with your chili! Find a recipe here.

Glazed Donuts

If you are more of a cook rather than a baker, you could definitely go the glazed-donut route! Though bakers may want to take a crack at making them themselves (try out this recipe!), you can also just swing by your favorite local donut shop or Krispy Kreme to have an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert that goes well with chili! Find the recipe here.

Caramel Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is so underrated. It's my favorite dessert to get when I'm at a fancy restaurant. The caramelized, crunchy edge that gives way to a gooey, ultra-flavorful center, all covered in a caramel sauce? I'm DROOLING. Find the recipe here.

Angel Food Cake

Angel food cake is perfect for a lighter dessert to go with chili. Sometimes chili can be really heavy, so a pairing with angel food cake, whipped cream, and raspberries can be just what you need to get a dose of sweetness in without being overwhelming. I usually just pick up my angel food cake from the grocery store, but if you're feeling adventurous, try out this recipe!

Peach Cobbler

I'm a Georgia transplant so I may be biased, but peach cobbler is one of the best simple but stunningly delicious desserts. Try to find fresh peaches, but if you can't, you can definitely use canned. Make sure you have a good recipe that will make the top crunchy and not gooey- I like this one!

S'Mores

This list wouldn't be complete with a reference to s'mores. After all, s'mores are the ultimate fall dessert. With marshmallows roasted over a fire and good friends to share laughs with, you'll have the best chili pairing if you make some s'mores! Here's a link to how to make the best s'mores.

Did you make any of these desserts to go with chili? I want to know! Post it on social media, tag @battersandblessings, and add #battersandblessings so I can see your creation 🙂

What other dessert pairing ideas do you need? Are you interested in seeing more of these posts, or want me to post about them on social media? Let me know in the comments!