What Goes With Cinnamon Rolls?

The principle

A cinnamon roll is sweet, rich and soft. Anything you serve with it should be at least one of these: salty, acidic, bitter or crisp. Add another sweet soft thing and the plate goes flat.

Savory pairings

• Breakfast sausage or thick-cut bacon. Salt and fat against sugar; the classic for a reason.
• Sharp cheddar. Odd on paper, excellent in practice.
• Soft scrambled eggs. Mild and creamy, keeps the roll from being the only thing on the plate.
• A frittata or quiche. Turns a tray of rolls into an actual brunch.

Fruit

Citrus segments, berries with a squeeze of lemon, or sliced apples with a little salt. Acid is what you are after — skip the syrupy fruit salad.

Dairy

Greek yogurt or crème fraîche alongside a warm roll is a genuinely good move. Both are tangy enough to reset your palate between bites.

For a dessert plate

Vanilla ice cream, salted caramel, toasted pecans, or a spoon of tart berry compote. See the à la mode recipe for the full version.