Walnut harvesting begins in late August, when the drying green hulls start to split (allowing the inshell walnuts to be removed), and continues until late November. As the walnut growing season draws to a close, we celebrate the culmination of months of hard work, product development and use of our favorite tree nut.
Walnuts are a remarkably versatile ingredient in the world of food and beverage — not only through flavor and functionality — but also as evidenced through one of the year’s biggest trends: newstalgia.
Trail Mix: Product developers blended traditional trail mix with a number of new flavor combinations and serving sizes, providing a crunchy and nutritious option for health-conscious consumers.
Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Snack Mix, Purely Sprouted
Dried apples, cinnamon and pumpkin seeds are combined with walnuts and marketed as a nutrient dense, superfood snack. No trans fat, 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein round out the benefits of this snack mix.
Baked Goods and Bars: Walnuts are perhaps most popular in the baked goods category, providing bakers a rich, nutty flavor and crunchy texture to work with. They’re highly appealing in this space, so much so that product developers have taken traditionally walnut banana bread and remixed it into on-the-go food bars.
Banana Bread Recovery Bar, Send Bars
Who knew a baked good could help with workout recovery? Now that Banana Bread is fashioned into a gluten-free bar, consumers who love feeling great before and during moments of energy needs may love this nosh. Walnuts, bananas, cinnamon whole dates, pea protein, hemp hearts, spinach and ashwagandha are included in this trendy take on a classic.
Dairy Alternatives: Walnuts as a dairy alternative in itself is newstalgic. Walnut milk is rich and creamy, suitable for drinking, cooking or adding to coffee, while walnut-based yogurts and cheeses cater to the growing demand for plant-based options.
Oat & Walnut Milk, PlantStrong
Walnuts, dates, oats and water combine for a whole, plant-based milk fortified with calcium, B12 and D3. Oat & Walnut Milk is non-GMO, gluten-free and eye catching — a cool, sunglass-sporting walnut graces the front packaging.
Nut Butters: Walnut butter is a creamy and flavorful spread that serves as a delicious alternative to traditional peanut butter. Permissible indulgence is blended with newstalgia in a huge way via walnut butters in 2024, thanks to craveable ingredients.
White Chocolate Walnut Butter, Nutty Novelties
The cookie dough of nut butters? This versatile, yummy spread with walnuts and white cocoa butter drops can be used as “icing” on baked goods like the aforementioned banana bread for a walnut-centered dessert or in place of cream cheese on bagels. It’s all-natural, gluten-free and has no cholesterol.
Want to develop a versatile, newstalgic product with walnuts? Head to walnuts.org for more ideas.
