From cranberries to dates to a wide array of berries, fruits mixed with walnuts is a staple flavor pairing that satisfies a nostalgic craving most consumers have during the winter months. Food and beverage manufacturers can capitalize on these cravings by incorporating the inclusion pairing in everything from breads to salads to crackers to ice cream.
This year, walnuts and fruit were featured in product releases that marketed nostalgia while still being new and innovative.
Cranberry Walnut Loaf, La Brea Bakery
Toasted walnuts are blended with tart, slightly sweet cranberries to bring this walnut bread to life. There’s nothing artificial about this loaf — no artificial preservatives, ingredients or additives.
Fruit & Nut Sourdough Bread, Bread Alone Bakery
Walnuts are combined with organic golden raisins and organic dried apricots for a fruity sourdough porridge bread studded with currants.
Savory Fig & Thyme Crisps, Maine Crisp
This Natural Products Expo East NEXTY Award finalist is made with sweet figs and dappled with rich walnuts, nutty buckwheat and hemp hearts. Certified gluten-free, this delicious and crunchy product is wonderful for vegans.
Raspberry Cranberry Walnut Frisco, Salad Pizazz!
Glazed walnuts and raspberry-flavored dried cranberries add razzle-dazzle to any holiday salad mix, baked good, yogurt or popcorn bowl. There are no artificial flavors or colors in this product, which has only 30 calories per serving.
Syrian Date & Walnut French Ice Cream, Adirondack Creamery
Inspired by the Middle Eastern treat ma’amoul, a shortbread pastry filled with dates and nuts, Adirondack Creamery developed this new ice cream with walnuts and date paste.
Cranberry Crumble Ice Cream, Jeni’s
Walnuts, cranberries and brown sugar-oat crisp are wrapped into this ice cream to impart a taste of cinnamon-brown sugar streusel into the sweet-tart cranberry cream.
Ready to get nuttier than a fruitcake? Formulate your next walnut and fruit product with a little help at walnuts.org/food-professionals.
