These days, mental and emotional wellness are getting as much attention as tending to our physical health. While consumers continue to see the wisdom of reducing their sugar intake, sweet treats are coming out from under their bad raps and enjoying renewed popularity. According to Mintel, “Many people turn to sweet treats when they feel anxious, and some studies show that sugar can act as a stress reliever by reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.” For the modern customer, not just any sweet item will do - consumers are evaluating their options, and need to feel that their choices for snacks and treats are, as Prue Leith of The Great British Bake Off often says, “worth the calories.”

This is an incredible opportunity for chefs and bakers to go all-out making incredible desserts, confections, and baked items with the best possible ingredients: high-quality, unique, flavorful, and produced and sourced in ways that are sustainable and support workers, farmers, and the environment.

Your customers are asking for a great deal from their snacks! They want superior flavor and unique experiences while maintaining their health and staying true to their values. While this may seem like a big ask, the tools and ingredients you need are not only accessible but affordable. And many are multitasking powerhouses that can enable you to create products that check all of the boxes.

Sugar-Free/Reduced-Sugar

It’s widely agreed that reducing our sugar intake is an important health goal. Reduced sugar can often mean compromised taste and texture, and this is something that neither artisans nor customers want. Improved research and product innovations mean that it’s no longer necessary to choose treats that are good-tasting OR good-for-you; creating delicious, indulgent low and no-sugar treats is now much easier. Sugar replacers, intensified focus on fruit-based ingredients, and new cooking methods have improved the low-sugar landscape for everyone.

Clean Label

There’s no official definition or set of regulations for “clean” food, but your customers know what it means to them: minimally processed foods with a short list of ingredients comprised of whole foods, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

People pursue a plant-based diet for different reasons: to improve their health, to reduce their carbon footprints, because of allergies or food intolerances, or some combination of these. While it’s true that in the past, vegan/plant-based treats haven’t measured up to their animal-based counterparts, this is no longer the case! Plant-based ingredients can offer the same flavor, texture, and workability as conventional products, so you can create treats everyone will love.

Premium Ingredients 
Eating mindfully means customers notice high-quality ingredients, getting the full effect of the complex flavor of ingredients like real vanilla bean, high cacao percentage, and single-origin couvertures.

Textures and inclusions
47% of consumers feel that confections with multiple flavors and textures are more premium. Add-ins such as toasted nuts or a swirl of gooey caramel create a unique and memorable experience. A fun garnish can add texture as well as visual appeal and increases the perceived value of your product.

Ingredients that reflect your customers’ values are key to their enjoyment of the product. Today’s consumer is looking for ways to lighten their impact on the environment while also supporting workers and farmers. 

The Cocoa Horizons foundation was created to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities through the promotion of sustainable, entrepreneurial farming, improved productivity, and community development, which protect nature and children.