The world of foodservice is ever-evolving, with industry trends fluctuating as tastes and preferences become more diverse. As diners’ palates are exposed to flavors of the world, bakeries are adjusting their data.com/en/platform/’ target=’_blank’>menus to stay at the top of the foodservice game. Bakery desserts are no exception, and bakeries have been creative in how they are representing classic recipes and desserts. From cronuts to custom cakes, here we will explore rising trends in the bakery foodservice industry.
Customizable Cakes and Cupcakes
As Americans’ preferences continue to shift towards healthier options and more flavors, custom cakes have quickly become more popular. Customized cakes offer a unique experience to diners who may not be interested in a traditional cake or cupcake. Bakeries are now offering guests the opportunity to personalize their own cakes, cupcakes, or pies, giving them the opportunity to create a unique dessert for their event or special occasion. Bakeries are going above and beyond by offering unique flavors such as lavender, mango-pineapple, and more.
Healthier Options
Healthier options in the bakery foodservice industry are still on the rise as more and more bakeries are introducing vegan, gluten-free, and all-natural options to their menus. Many bakeries are using alternative sweeteners such as agave or honey to add a natural flavor to their desserts, as well as offering healthier alternatives to traditional ingredients such as white sugar. As the health-conscious diner continues to grow, more bakeries have switched up their menus with oat flour, almond milk, avocado, banana, and quinoa-based options.
Hybrid Desserts
Hybrid desserts blend two different desserts into one, creating an entirely new, unique, and inventive dessert experience. Cronuts have become a popular example of the hybrid trend with the combination of a croissant and donut, but bakeries are becoming more and more creative with their own hybrid creations. Bakeries have even gone so far as to combine cupcakes, doughnuts, and pies. The possibilities in hybrid desserts are truly endless.
Quirky Soft Serve Ice Cream
Soft serve ice cream, with its endless possibilities for creativity, minimum cost, and ease of making and serving has become an extremely popular item on what seems to be every foodservice menu. Bakeries have even capitalized on this trend, offering unique, creamy flavors such as rosewater, café latte, and even cookies and cream. Soft serve has even become a key player in the hybrid dessert trend with combinations such as cupcake soft serve and doughnut soft serve.
Options for Every Dietary Preference
Diners have become more aware and conscientious about their dietary choices, so bakeries have taken the necessary measures to provide dessert options for every dietary preference. As vegan and gluten-free options have become popular on restaurant menus, so too has plant-based desserts in bakeries. Bakeries are providing customers with options that meet their dietary needs whether its vegan and dairy free cupcakes, bird’s milk (soy milk based) desserts, and vegan pies.
Final notions
Bakeries have come a long way, offering a wide variety of desserts that satisfy many preferences and dietary needs. From vegan and gluten-free to classic soft serve and custard flavors, bakeries are creating endless possibilities to delight diners’ palates. As the trends continue to shift, bakeries need to stay at the top of the trend curve and be creative with their menus to satisfy every customer.
