The focus on healthful indulgence knows no boundaries, and even the chocolate category’s manufacturers are answering the consumer call for sweets mixed with nutritious ingredients. Walnuts are the perfect pairing in fudge, chocolate bars, sweet and savory trail mixes and clusters. The tree nut offers product developers the opportunity to formulate chocolates with subtle nuttiness that satisfy with a crunchy and smooth texture.
Globe Newswire names walnuts as a top inclusion in chocolate confectionery product innovation, which is becoming increasingly popular as consumers want more innovative and nutritious choices. “Consumers are no longer satisfied with any chocolate candy, instead they seek products that are good for them.” The focus on indulgence with added benefits like texture and plant-based are inspiring chocolate manufacturers to turn to walnuts as an ingredient that consumers will feel good about eating.
These made-with-walnuts products are the perfect examples of permissible indulgence new product development:
Chocolate Walnut Fudge, Cassi’s Fudge
Taking recipes from a home kitchen to start a family candy company, Cassi’s Fudge uses simple, fresh, wholesome ingredients in a slow cook process to create rich, creamy walnut fudge.
Walnut Caramel Clusters, John Kelly Chocolates
Combine walnuts with buttery caramel, chocolate and a sprinkling of sea salt and you have the ultimate confectionery cluster. John Kelly’s four-piece box allows consumers to eat one cluster at a time for a small guilt-free indulgence.
Fudge Brownie Minis, Made in Nature
Eight individually-wrapped brownies from Made in Nature are unbaked, plant-based and densely decadent. Walnuts are mixed with fruit paste, cassava syrup, cocoa powder, maple syrup, sea salt and dark chocolate, resulting in only 100 calories per serving.
Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Blend Trail Mix, The 72 Chocolate Collection
Open up a bag of Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Blend Trail Mix and you’ll find walnuts, blueberries, cranberries, raisins and dark chocolate. The Cleveland-based company uses all-natural ingredients in its products, and this mix is gluten-free, non-GMO and keto-friendly.
Confectionery product developers ready to formulate the next indulgent treat mixed with walnuts can learn more at walnuts.org.
