Confection Connection: The Sweet Combination of Walnuts and Chocolate

Midyear trend predictions in the confectionery category mark both a nostalgic trip down memory lane and an exciting look at what’s ahead. No surprise, chocolate remains king of sweets for the foreseeable future. However, chocolate alone is not going to cut it anymore. Consumers want excitement and innovation. Consumers want walnuts! These tree nuts are the perfect pairing for chocolate whether you need an inclusion, subtle nuttiness or simply the perfect texture.

Madeline Bills, cocoa ingredient development and innovation manager at ofi, told Confectionery News that the ability to collaborate across five business units, including nuts, “means we can help confectioners by co-creating natural, functional ingredients that are compatible, complementary and deliver a punch when it comes to taste.” The ofi nuts team is working on using various nuts ingredients — whole nuts, butters, milks and oils — within innovative sweet and savory applications. And ofi isn’t the only one.

The National Confectioners Association’s 2022 State of Treating report notes that confectionery is a “powerful and important category, delivering significant contributions to retailer sales and profits, setting new sales records and growing at a faster clip than most other categories.” Americans are reengaging with seasonal celebrations, and they also are seeking confections that aid in emotional well-being. The report is based on consumer studies by NCA and 210 Analytics conducted in November 2021 of a national sample of 1,525 consumers between the ages of 18 and 75. Stats of note:

• $21.1 billion: total chocolate sales
• $36.9 billion: total confectionery sales
• 9.2%: chocolate dollar sales growth
• 78% of adults believe it is fine to occasionally treat with chocolate or candy
• 47% of consumers occasionally purchase confectionery items they personally deem to have a “better-for-you” profile, though that definition varies among demographic groups
• 88% of consumers share chocolate and candy with family and friends at least half of the time they purchase it
• 9 in 10: number of consumers interested in learning about a brand’s environmental commitments and social responsibility practices on the label, the brand’s website or on social media
• 66%: number of Americans who have researched candy gifting, baking with candy or other inspirational confectionery ideas on social media

Walnuts are making the connection between chocolate and a better-for-you ingredient. After all, one ounce of walnuts offers 18 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 13 grams of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) — the plant-based omega-3. Let’s take a look at a few made-with-walnut confections that have proven the powerful pairing of walnuts and chocolate.