Fall Flavor Frenzy: 5 Must-Try Pumpkin Spice Treats

 

Thanks to Starbucks and their iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (also known as PSL), the arrival of fall is now synonymous with the warm, inviting flavors of pumpkin spice. This delightful blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves has transcended the beverage world and found its way into an array of treats and confections.

Let’s dive into some delicious ways to satisfy those PSL cravings now through November with creative pumpkin spice-inspired confections!

Photo credit: Amy’s Gourmet Apples

Pumpkin Spice Caramel Apples

Why not elevate the classic caramel apple with a pumpkin spice twist? For a limited time only, Amy’s Gourmet Apples dips a granny smith apple in caramel, before coating it in white chocolate. Lastly, the bottom is coated with graham cracker crumbs and topped off with a drizzle of orange chocolate for a seasonal spin.

Photo credit: Lore’s Chocolate

Pumpkin Seed Bark with Sea Salt

Get inspired by the flavors of fall with a pumpkin seed chocolate bark. Lore’s Chocolates sprinkles crispy, candied spiced pumpkin seeds and sea salt on top of dark chocolate. Put your own twist on this idea by adding chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or even candy corn. Your customers will love this festive treat!

Photo credit: Speckled Hen Chocolate Company

Pumpkin Spice Truffles

Craft rich, creamy pumpkin spice truffles by blending chocolate ganache with pumpkin puree and spices. RCI member Speckled Hen Chocolate Company makes a pumpkin truffle with real pumpkin, cream, butter, chocolate, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg all piped into an adorable mini chocolate pumpkin shell. 

Don’t have bite-sized pumpkin moulds? Consider rolling your pumpkin truffles in graham cracker crumbs or crushed pecans for an extra crunch.

Photo credit: Trolley Treats

Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

Add a twist to popcorn by drizzling it with white chocolate and sprinkling pumpkin spice seasoning on top. Trolley Treats adds pumpkin candies to their festive fall popcorn mix. This sweet-and-salty treat is perfect for movie nights or cozy fall gatherings. Package it in festive bags for a fun, shareable snack!

Photo credit: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company

Pumpkin Pie Peanut Butter Cups

If you love pumpkin and you love peanut butter, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate fall! Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company blends natural peanut butter with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices to make the ultimate fall confection. This concept could also be applied to a peanut butter meltaway recipe. Consider adding a sprinkle of crunchy graham cracker crumbs as a finishing touch.

These confectioners are embracing the pumpkin spice trend in creative ways, offering a variety of delicious options to satisfy consumers’ fall cravings. So go ahead, indulge in the flavors of autumn and make the most of this pumpkin spice frenzy!

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Trend Alert: Make Your Own Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar

 

If you’ve spent any time at all on social media lately, you’re probably familiar with the Dubai chocolate bar with its mesmerizing green filling. This viral treat has captured the attention of chocolate lovers and foodies, making them eager to try it. Adding to their allure, Dubai chocolate bars aren’t widely available across North America, prompting some eager fans to drive for hours just to try them.

What are Dubai Chocolate Bars?

Dubai chocolate bars are inspired by the rich culinary heritage of the Middle East, combining high-quality chocolate with exotic ingredients such as saffron, rose water and pistachio. These bars are often beautifully designed and colorful, making them visually appealing as well as delicious. They capture the luxury associated with Dubai, appealing to consumers looking for unique, gourmet sweets that offer a taste of culture.

The viral nature of these products has caught the attention of retailers everywhere. Many stores report selling out regularly, showcasing just how popular these bars have become. The buzz around Dubai chocolate bars is amplified by social media, where stunning visuals and unique flavor combinations inspire consumers to seek them out. This trend is a golden opportunity for candy makers looking to capture market share and engage new customers.

Instagram.com /@peterbrookewp

RCI member Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park, Florida is embracing this trend, and for good reason: creating your own Dubai chocolate bar can elevate your brand and satisfy the growing consumer appetite for unique, gourmet experiences. Click here to see how Peterbrooke Chocolatier makes it.

Photo credit: Kemnitz Fine Candies

RCI member Kemnitz Fine Candies, based in Plymouth, Michigan, sells their version of the Dubai Bar with toasted phyllo dough, pistachio cream and tahini inside a crisp milk chocolate shell.

Making your own Dubai chocolate bars lets you stay on trend and show that your brand is all about creativity and luxury. These attractive bars are great for marketing, as customers love to share their finds online. Embrace the trend and let your chocolate bars take consumers on a delicious journey to Dubai!

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How to Make Holographic Chocolate

Upgrade your confections with a cool, glimmering hologram. For this week’s blog post, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate shares a simple technique that gives chocolate a dazzling, rainbow effect without the use of colored cocoa butter or pigments.

How does it work?
A diffraction sheet is made of plastic which consists of micro-etchings, which are tiny grooves that causes white light to disperse into a rainbow of colors. When liquid chocolate meets a diffraction sheet, the chocolate takes on the sheet’s micro etchings as it solidifies. These etchings in the chocolate replicate the dispersion effect of the sheet and separate white light into individual colors, which gives the lovely rainbow effect. When selecting a diffraction sheet (also known as a gradient sheet), the greater the number of lines, the more of an opportunity for the light to diffract and give a stronger iridescent look. Diffraction sheets can be found from a number of online retailers, such as Amazon.

How to do it?
There are a few ways to make this dazzling design.

The first, is using a magnetic transfer mould. Place the diffraction sheet into your transfer mould, similar to how you would use cocoa butter transfer sheets or other traditional design applications. Once placed, proceed to pour tempered chocolate into your mould. Be sure to knock the air out of the mould to ensure a seamless transfer of the design. When the chocolate cools, the liquid will mould around the micro etchings allowing the rainbow shimmer to be present on your chocolate.

Another method is to apply chocolate directly to the diffraction sheet. The easiest way to utilize the sheets directly is to slightly melt the top of an already moulded or enrobed product, place the melted side onto the diffraction sheet and let it cool. This way you can design items that have already been completed, like chocolate chip bottoms or chocolate enrobed cookies. Chocolate can also be poured directly onto the gradient sheet. When slightly cooled, the diffraction sheet can be bent or curled to add a shimmer to chocolate curls or tubes.

As discussed above, you aren’t transferring the design but instead, transferring the grooves into the chocolate. Because of this, the sheets can be used multiple times. As long as the micro etchings are clear, the design can continue to be moulded onto the product. Gently wash the sheet with soap and water after use. Make sure that the sheet is completely dry before the next use. A dry wipe down can also be completed between batches.

How can it be applied?
There are an endless number of ways to apply this shimmering design. Moulded truffles, chocolate curls, and enrobed treats can be elevated with holographic effects. The possibilities are only limited to your glittering imagination!

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Using Honey in Confections: The Benefits & Drawbacks

While honey has been used as a natural sweetener for centuries, it has recently been gaining popularity as a trend to watch in a number of categories, including the confectionery industry. Candy & Snack named honey as a naturally occurring sweetener flavor trend in 2023 and a real food ingredient that fulfills a sweet craving in a pure form. And according to Prepared Foods, candy that is naturally sweetened is a “key growth area” for 2023. 

If this leads you to question whether or not to add honey to your confections and chocolates, RCI member Hector Camargo Jr. with ChocolatesU, LLC helps shed some light on the query. Keep reading for an overview of the benefits of using honey in your confectionery creations, as well as some potential drawbacks to keep in mind.

Drawbacks to Using Honey

Cost
Honey is expensive. You can expect to pay between four to 10 times more per pound for honey compared to other sweeteners like glucose syrup and refined sugar.

Variability
Honey is a natural product, which means variability is the name of the game. Physical properties (color, moisture), chemical properties (pH, mineral content, impurities) and most importantly taste, can all vary with the seasons and flowers the bees choose to visit. Your perfect honey ganache can suddenly have an off, bitter note or your prized honey caramel could go grainy and gritty at random intervals leaving you guessing at the cause. Mineral content changed? Is the pH off?

Temperature Sensitivity
Honey is also temperature sensitive. Too hot and it flows everywhere; too cold and you might as well take a nap and wait for the spring thaw. Crystallization can occur during storage, especially if your storeroom is cold. And while the crystallization is easily reversible with gentle heating, it could put a kink in your production plans for that day.

Risk of Counterfeit
All this is assuming you are using real honey. That’s right, counterfeit honey is a real thing. Without a reliable, trusted source, you could be paying a premium for pricy sugar syrup.

Not Vegan Friendly
And finally remember, honey is NOT vegan (unless you know a fair-trade bee colony that accepts purchase orders).

Benefits of Using Honey

Shelf-Life
Honey does not go bad. The oldest known sample of honey was found in an ancient Egyptian tomb dated at 3,000 years old and is supposedly still edible. Honey’s low water activity and low pH (around 4) makes it, and the items made with it, resistant to spoilage and mold.

Invert Sugar
Honey is an amazing invert sugar syrup and can be used directly as a confectionery ingredient. Like other invert sugars, honey helps control crystallization and creates a smooth mouth feel. Honey is hygroscopic, so it reduces the water content in confections while prolonging shelf life. Honey’s humectant properties also keep chocolate fillings and fudge supple and baked goods tender.

Flavor
Honey has a unique flavor, but that can be as prominent or as muted as you wish depending on the type of confection you are creating. 

All-Natural Sweetener
Honey is a customer delight. Sweeten with cane, coconut, or palm sugar and patrons will respond with a yawn. Honey, however, connotes the idea of “natural” to consumers. Even if honey is not the exclusive sweetener in your products, it will hold a certain cache with your customers and differentiate you from competitors.

Honey is costly and can be a challenging ingredient. It requires some patience and experimentation to use successfully. Whether or not you opt to start using a spoonful of honey in your confections, we hope this week’s blog post was insightful.

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Trend Alert: Barbie-Approved Treats

 

It’s a Barbie™ world! Fans of all ages are tickled pink for the new Barbie movie! Here’s some ideas and inspiration for creating your own Barbie-approved treats.

Credit: TikTok / Savannah’s Candy Kitchen

Barbie’s Candy Salad
While the only thing actually reminiscent of a salad is the bowl it is served in, this shockingly sweet combination of pink candies and gummies coined “Barbie Candy Salad” has created quite the buzz on social media.

Invite customers to build their own candy salad mix by gathering all your Barbie-inspired treats for a pink-a-tastic display. RCI member, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen created this TikTok video to illustrate how fans can visit their store to make the “Ultimate Barbie Mix.”

Credit: Sarris Candies

Chocolate Princess Barbie
She really can be anything…even chocolate! Sarris Candies has crafted a moulded chocolate Princess Barbie, complete with sugar roses and a pink bow. And that box is everything!

Credit: River Street Sweets

When it comes to Barbie-themed treats, pralines probably aren’t the first thing that come to mind. This is why we love this Facebook post from RCI member River Street Sweets! With some strategic hot pink, a glitter starburst and pink roller skates they have transformed their signature pralines into a treat so sweet Barbie, herself, wouldn’t be able to resist!

With the popularity of the new Barbie movie, we don’t think the Barbie craze is going to fizzle out anytime soon! Look for ways to appeal to Barbie fans of all ages to continue celebrating this iconic doll through watch parties, birthday parties and other celebrations! Whether it’s a pop of pink or a generous sprinkle of (edible) glitter, presentation goes a long way!

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Trend Alert: Pistachio

Pistachios are not new to the confectionery world, but as you may have noticed this little green nut has been popping up in everything from coffees to cocktails, candy bars and even scented candles. Trend reporters, like Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), have identified the pistachio as the “up-and-coming nut of the moment.” 

Photo credit: Snickers, Lindt, Starbucks

According to OFI, “The pistachio is experiencing growth and taking center stage as an inclusion in many new confectionery products. Whether it’s whole kernels, pieces, powders or pastes, the pistachio is piquing people’s interest.”

In a 2022 flavor insight report, FONA reports almond, cranberry and chocolate as the top flavors paired with pistachio. Other popular flavors to pair with pistachio include caramel, white chocolate and matcha. There are many confectionery applications for pistachios including truffles, nougat, fudge, toffee, brittle, bark and more.

If you already make confections featuring the pistachio, now would be a good time to make a splash with a retail display or social media posts.

Not only do pistachios add a familiar and well-loved flavor, they can offer a nice burst of green color.

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Caramel Twists & Pairings: 3 Variations of Caramel to Try

 

Consumers’ flavor preferences are divided between two trends. One based on comforting and nostalgic, more traditional flavors and the other on novelty, experimentation and intensity. These are not mutually exclusive; consumers will migrate between the two based on individual needs and external factors, shared Chiara Calcagnini and Eva Teyssier with Barry Callebaut in an article written for RCI’s Kettle Talk magazine.

Experimental: Caramel with a Twist

Consumers love to try out new flavor combinations. A caramel flavor with a twist can provide enough of a familiar ground to persuade them to take the plunge towards novelty flavors or ingredients. Twists also bring new life and interest to offerings that may otherwise be overlooked because they’ve been seen so many times before.

Twists and pairings

Caramel pairs wonderfully with a variety of different inclusions to create multi-sensorial experiences. Combinations with healthier inclusions like seeds, nuts and dried fruits are especially appealing for consumers. All sorts of caramel twists including combinations with cocktail-based flavors, rosemary and sea salt, cocoa nibs, etc. can bring your caramel creations to a next level and create an elevated and premium perception. Caramel also has incredible potential to satisfy various eating occasions and consumer needs. For example, caramel and caramel products are the perfect solution for the rising trend of on-the-go consumer snacking.

In the spirit of exploring new and creative twists on caramel, we’re sharing 3 variations of caramel flavors to try this fall.

Photo credit: Shotwell Candy Co.

Old Fashioned Cocktail Caramels

If a caramel walked into a bar—a swanky, retro bar—it might walk out tasting like Shotwell Candy Co.’s “Old Fashioned” Cocktail Caramels. Described as “buttery soft caramel, infused with aromatic bitters, barrel-aged bourbon, and orange extract.”

Photo credit: King Arthur Baking Company

Salted Rosemary Caramel Sauce

For herbaceous twist on your class caramel recipe, add a hint of fresh rosemary. This recipe for salted rosemary caramel sauce calls for boiled apple cider to add a more refined flavor and also recommends straining the caramel to remove any remaining pieces of rosemary.

Sweet tip: Speaking of caramel sauce, if you have a great caramel recipe and aren’t currently making caramel sauce, this could be a natural variation which would give your customers another way to enjoy your caramel.

Photo credit: Love & Olive Oil

Dark Chocolate Cocoa Nib Caramels

Especially if you already have chocolate caramels in your wheelhouse, adding cocoa nibs is sure to elevate your recipe with welcome texture and crunch elements. Check out this recipe from Love & Olive Oil.

Adding a twist to your caramel creations can elevate them from ordinary to interesting and even trendy, especially for younger consumers.  If you’re interested in learning more about the science of crafting perfect caramels, click here to get notified when registration opens for RCI’s Caramels, Toffees & Brittles education course in Orlando, Florida February 21-23, 2023.

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Trend Alert: Chocolate Fidgets

If you have children, fidget toys have likely infiltrated your home. Designed to help with focus and attention, fidget toys come in many shapes, sizes and colors. You may already sell fidgets in your store—if they sell well, that’s all the more reason to make edible versions. If you don’t currently sell fidgets in your store, this could be a missed opportunity to target consumers shopping for youngsters.

Fidget Spinners

In the midst of the fidget spinner craze a few years ago, RCI member Vande Walle’s Candies began making what they called “Fidget Non-Spinners.” During her Candy Clinic presentation, Tess Vande Walle explained, “They don’t spin, but they taste better!” To create a replica, Vande Walle’s filled the packaging from an actual fidget spinner toy with colored white chocolate. There are, however, a number of inexpensive moulds on the market to make chocolate fidget spinners.

Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog

Pop Its

More recently Pop Its—flexible silicone toys akin to Bubble Wrap—began popping up in retail shops, birthday favor bags and school playgrounds everywhere. These wildly popular fidgets are available in a seemingly endless variety of colors, shapes and sizes from sparkly pink mermaid tails to rainbow striped cars. Like the Beanie Babies of yesteryear, many kids aspire to collect them ALL.

Photo credit: Facebook.com / Anderson’s Candies

The already popular toy took a sweet turn when TikTokers started filling them with candy and melted chocolate. See for yourself in this video by HelloWondeful. RCI member, Anderson’s Candies, took advantage of the trend by creating their own versions just in time for Easter. We love this idea because it not only provides a treat to eat, but also a toy to keep and enjoy!

While anyone could create this on their own with a couple ingredients from the grocery store, confectioners can highlight the superior quality of your chocolate and get creative with different fillings. Although M&M candies seem to be a popular choice on TikTok, consider filling the cavities with peanut butter meltaway, caramel, roasted nuts or other popular fillings before capping it off with chocolate. Better yet, why not use a variety of fillings to create a mystery of sweet surprises? Note: Look for Pop Its made with FDA approved or food-grade silicone.

Photo credit: Etsy / Cherry Bay Cakes

With lots of holiday themed Pop Its on the market, this trend could also make for great holiday gifts for kids. We like how Cherry Bay Cakes created an Easter themed chocolate Pop It with pastel M&Ms and a custom tag that reads, “Hope you have a poppin’ Easter!”

Keeping a pulse on trends with kids’ toys are a great way to identify ways to appeal to consumers looking to buy treats for the kids and kids-at-heart in their lives. 

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Candy for Breakfast: Breakfast Cereal Sweets

Unleash the inner childlike wonder with comforting and nostalgic breakfast-cereal sweets! Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about cereal that says, “made with whole grains” on the box. We’re talking about the sugary cereals that we had to beg our moms for in the grocery aisle. Victory couldn’t be sweeter…until now!

The Kerry Group identified nostalgia as one of the key trends influencing the food and beverage sector in 2022. Nothing quite brings you back to the Saturday mornings of watching cartoons as a kid, like a bowl of sugary cereal…and wouldn’t you know it, National Cereal Day is March 7!

Photo credit: Compartes Cereal Bowl Chocolate Bar, Kit Kat® Fruity Cereal Candy Bar, Exquisito Chocolate Cerealously Amazing Chocolate Bar

There’s no doubt candy brand Kit Kat® recognized the feelings of nostalgia consumers have toward breakfast cereal with its limited-edition Kit Kat Fruity Cereal candy bar released in June 2021. Studded with crunchy cereal and colorful mini marshmallows, Compartés Cereal Bowl Chocolate Bar is one of the luxury chocolate brand’s most popular chocolate bars, which retails at $9.95. As if cookies for breakfast weren’t indulgent enough, Exquisito Chocolates combines toasted white chocolate with Cookie Crisp™ cereal for a “Cerealously Amazing” chocolate bar, which retails for $8.

Photo credit: Breakfast Cereal Fudge, Paper & Stitch; Cereal Chocolate Bombs, Etsy and ProudLaTina; Magic Mix, The Baker Mama

Chocolate bars may be the more obvious approach to the breakfast cereal trend. For ideas more outside the cereal box, infuse cream or condensed milk with fruity cereal to create a cereal milk fudge. Adding iconic cereals like Lucky Charms™ and Froot Loops® to hot cocoa bombs or a sweet snack mix is an easy refresh for existing products. Try substituting nuts for cereal to put your own sweet spin on a brittle, cluster or a chocolate and caramel turtle.

Photo credit: Sugarfina

As for some marketing inspiration, we’re loving these playful graphics created by Sugarfina to launch their “Candy For Breakfast” campaign in 2018. With the addition of a colorful background and some thoughtful props, you could easily recreate a similar look of your own to create excitement about your products.

Now we’re giving you permission to take a stroll down the cereal aisle (not that you need it), fill your shopping cart with all your childhood favorites and start creating!

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Trend Watch: Shoppers Looking to Treat Themselves this Holiday Season

43% of Americans will be adding themselves to their shopping list this holiday season.

According to the 2021 holiday shopping trend report by Sitecore, gift giving for the upcoming holiday season will experience a significant shift toward shoppers self-gifting as a form of therapy after another stress-filled pandemic year.

Here's some ideas of gifts for customers to treat themselves (from left to right): Rheo Thompson Candies offers a collection of customers' favorite sweet and salty snacks; treat yourself to new holiday decor, filled to the brim with chocolates from Marie's Candies; the gift of solid chocolate ornaments from Enstrom Candies help customers count down the days to Christmas with a sweet and decadent treat each day.

When executing your marketing and merchandising plans this holiday, consider ways to appeal to consumers looking to treat themselves. Just as you might feature a thoughtful selection of “gifts for Dad,” curate a collection of customer favorites labeled as “gifts for me” or “treat yourself.” Include options ranging in prices for the cost conscious to those wanting to lavish themselves in luxury. Promote self-gifting ideas on social media, your website and with in-store signage.

Additionally, consider pampering your loyal customers, who may be thinking of everyone but themselves leading up to the holidays by hosting a “treat yourself” giveaway.

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