A Wisconsin Guide to Halloween Candy and Cheese Pairings

MILWAUKEE, WI — Halloween in Wisconsin means dressing warm, dressing up and walking your neighborhood in search of just as much candy as you buy at the store to hand to other kids back at your house.

But what if it were a little more fun on the candy side?

This season, embrace your Wisconsin roots and remember that everything is better with cheese. The folks at Meijer say that cheese — yes, cheese — can make for a delightful pairing with Halloween candy.

Wisconsin Patch thought this may have been a silly idea — until we tried a couple on our own and were surprised at how some of the pairings performed.

Here were Meijer's recommendations:

Candy Corn and Manchego: Manchego’s sweet hazelnut flavor is amplified by the sweetness of candy corn’s rich marshmallow and warm vanilla notes.

Sour Candy and Goat Cheese: Boasting a bright, acidic taste, goat cheese is a perfect match for gummy worms similar tangy and acidic flavor profile.

Peanut Butter Chocolate and Gruyere: The savory and toasted nut qualities found in Gruyere enhances the sweet, nut flavors of a peanut butter chocolate.

Red Licorice and Brie: Known for its lighter tones of cream and butter, brie cheese compliments the iconic strawberry flavor.

Milk Chocolate and Habanero Cheddar: No tricks – just treats with this combination. Same as how drinking a glass of milk calms the effects of spicy food, milk chocolate lets us enjoy the delicious flavors of habanero cheddar without stinging our taste buds. Plus cheddar’s milky and buttery qualities compliment milk chocolate’s creamy and smooth taste.

Caramel Corn and Blue Cheese: Opposites do attract. Blue cheeses, known for their salty side, need a sweet companion found in caramel corn. While lessening the intensity of blue cheese’s flavor, caramel corn’s sweetness provides a satisfying finish. For some extra magic, add bacon to the mix.