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Author: Jennifer Matten

Raise Your Spirits w/ Non-Alcoholic Bevvies

By blog, Dessert Enhancement, Interesting Facts Comments Off on Raise Your Spirits w/ Non-Alcoholic Bevvies

Something for everyone, from functional to flirty. Non-alcoholic beverages are on the rise. According to NielsenIQ, sales of non-alcoholic beverages jumped 32% in the past year, while non-alcohol spirits have grown 114% during the same period.

Pairing beverages with dessert enhances the after-dinner experience, complementing a slice of pie or contrasting the cheesecakes flavor. Coupling something bold and new with a classic – tried and true – is a great way to embrace trends while catering to your guests curiosity and cravings.

Popular Pairings for Every Stage of the Menu Adoption Cycle

New York Cheesecake with Golden Milk

New York Cheesecake (0021) paired with Golden Milk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Cheesecake Xango (7944) paired with Mexican Hot Chocolate

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie (0620) paired with Earl Grey Tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon Crumb Cake (EZ8 1526) paired with Spieced Mint Iced Tea w/ Lyre's Italian Spritz (non-alc spirit)

Cinnamon Crumb Cake (EZ8 1526) paired with Spieced Mint Iced Tea w/ Lyre’s Italian Spritz (non-alc spirit)

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Let’s hear it for desserts that go crunch.

By blog, Caramel Desserts, Chocolate Desserts Comments Off on Let’s hear it for desserts that go crunch.

The allure of  “sweet” is what ultimately sells a patron on dessert. But don’t underestimate the importance of texture as well when it comes to enticing those post-meal impulse purchases.

Think about the universal appeal of crunchy textures. Now imagine how crunch can add even more cravability to your decadent dessert offerings. The fact is, texture is a key driver for taste perception and is predicted to become even more important to consumers.1

Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Bande

A sweet-salty Georgia peanut butter crisp, creamy milk chocolate frosting and a gleaming lid of house-made sea salt caramel with brownie cake.

What’s more, the words “crisp” and “crunchy” are associated with a more sensory food experience.2 That gives you the perfect opportunity to elevate the appeal of your dessert offerings beyond the allure of luscious flavor alone.

Sweet Street answers the call for crunchy desserts with several crave-worthy offerings—some with the word “crunch” built right into the name. Our Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie, for instance, is an irresistible combination of browned butter, white chocolate, pretzel bits, sea salt and HEATH® toffee pieces. And our Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Bande takes a tried-and-true flavor combination to a whole new place.

There are many other ways to satisfy your patrons’ cravings for crunching, including our “soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside” Crispy Bread Puddin’ Bites, our blissfully bite-sized Toffee Crunch Blondie and our refreshingly unique Peppermint Stack.

Add an irresistible combination of luscious flavor and crunchy goodness to your dessert menu with offerings from Sweet Street.

 

®The HEATH trademark is used under license.

1Innova Market Insights

2Sloan Trends

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As American as Apple Pie and as luscious as Sweet Street.

By blog Comments Off on As American as Apple Pie and as luscious as Sweet Street.

As the trees start to turn colors and the weather cools, Americans can choose between watching the pennant race in baseball or cheering on their fantasy football team each week. These traditions are as “American as apple pie” as the idiom goes.

Pie, now with its own holiday fittingly held on 3/14 each year, is “the most traditional American dessert” as repBig Apple Pieorted by the National Pie Council. And, the apple pie doesn’t fall far from the tree…according to Technomic’s The Desserts Consumer Trends Report, 55% of those surveyed would consider purchasing pie from a restaurant or other foodservice location after dinner.

“Desserts are still huge, but it’s all about the classics,” said Cathy Nash Holley, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Flavor & The Menu. “People are experimenting more with their dinner instead of at the end of the meal”. This trend is making traditional flavors like apple and cherry consumers’ pie and cobbler preferences, but richer pies like chocolate, cream and pumpkin are still very appealing, according to Technomic’s The Desserts Consumer Trends Report.

Sweet Street offers several pie options to satisfy patrons pie hunger—everything from fruit pies such as Caramel Apple Granny® and Big Apple Pie to candy bar pies such as The Big Blitz with SNICKERS® BAR Pie. Key Lime Pie will satisfy fans of tart treats while OREO® Cookie Bash and Chocolate Toffee Mousse are perfect for chocolate loving patrons.

 

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Raising the bar: Sweet Street takes chocolate to decadently different places

By blog Comments Off on Raising the bar: Sweet Street takes chocolate to decadently different places

Have you heard the news? Americans love chocolate. And in other top stories, the sky is blue and the ocean is wet. Yes, forgive us for stating the obvious. But the numbers are truly remarkable when you take a closer look.

According to data from Euromonitor, Americans will consume almost 18% (or around $18.27 billion worth) of the world’s chocolate confectionery by value in 2015. Two of the biggest drivers of this total are Valentine’s Day, with an average of $400 million worth of chocolate purchased by sweethearts in the U.S. and around the world; and Halloween, which sees 90 million pounds of chocolate enjoyed by trick-or-treaters (not to mention sweet-seeking moms and dads).

As you can imagine, the numbers translate favorably to foodservice as well. Chocolate still holds the number-one position in top dessert flavors by a substantial margin in both LSR and FSR operations.1

So what does this continued love affair with chocolate mean for you? A tried-and-true way to build incremental dessert sales. But just like any romance, you need to spice things up every now and then to keep the fire burning with your patrons.Just Chocolate Skillet Cookie

At Sweet Street, we offer many luscious ways to bring new excitement to chocolate. Our Choc’late Lovin’ Spoon Cake® is a giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist chocolate-drenched chocolate cake. And our Molten Chocolate Cake is an individual dessert designed to be served warm, unleashing a rush of molten chocolate to your customers’ wild delight.

Beyond traditional cake offerings, Sweet Street dresses up chocolate in seductive new forms as well. The Just Chocolate Skillet Cookie and Sandy’s Amazing Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie are both as visually appealing as they are decadent. And our Brownie Bites are the perfect blend of bittersweet chocolate chunks, chips and HERSEY’S® KISSES® in fudgy, deep chocolate.

Finally, why not feature the Peruvian Swirl Cacao Bande made with single-origin, sustainably grown Peruvian chocolate. It’s the perfect way to give your patrons another great reason to love chocolate.

1Technomic’s 2013 Center of the Plate Trend Report
The HERSEY’S® and KISSES® trademarks are used under license.

 

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Feast your eyes. Dramatic presentation can drive dessert sales.

By blog Comments Off on Feast your eyes. Dramatic presentation can drive dessert sales.

The classic dessert cart (or tray) is a shining example of the power of visual stimulation. Slowly it makes its way around the dining room floor, tempting onlookers with a colorful and artistic array of decadent possibilities. And the better the desserts look, the bigger the opportunity to add impulse sales.combo plate

The fact is, visual presentation is proven to have an impact on how diners perceive the taste and value of a particular food, according to a study conducted by a team at Oxford University. That’s great news for operators who take full advantage with dramatic dessert presentations.

And the best part? Sweet Street has been dialing up the drama with dessert for over 36 years—appealing to both the eye and palate with luscious temptations. We can help you make the kind of impact that’s sure to thrill your patrons and drive sales.

When planning your menu, it’s always best to strike a balance of the most popular dessert flavors: chocolate, citrus, fruits & nuts and cheesecake. It’s no surprise that each of these makes its own unique visual impression.

For rich and indulgent appeal, chocolate is clearly king. One look at our Choc’Late Lovin’ Spoon Cake®, Molten Chocolate Cake and Just Chocolate Skillet Cookie says, “you are in for a decadent experience unlike any other.”

Meanwhile, brightly colored desserts promise a lighter and often more tart dessert experience. A classic example is our Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande, which tantalizes with its marble-like burgundy swirl in Greek yogurt mousse.

 

Additional Bandes from Sweet Street feature the colors and textures that patrons crave. From the lemony appeal of our Minted Lemonade Bande, to flakes of toasted coconut on our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande, to candied hazelnuts atop our Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Bande made with Nutella®, these offerings are skillfully crafted for stunning presentation.

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Sweet gets savory—salty, sweet and lusciously good to eat.

By blog, Individual Desserts, Salted Caramel Desserts Comments Off on Sweet gets savory—salty, sweet and lusciously good to eat.

The phenomenon of opposites attracting is never more evident than when salty and sweet get together. The irresistible combination has been interpreted in various dessert offerings for years—most notably in the form of salted caramel, which was developed by a French pastry chef in the early 1980’s.

In recent years, the popularity of salted caramel has skyrocketed. Research from CCD Innovation indicates that the incidence of salted caramel desserts on menus has increased 675% from 2010 to 2014.

We at Sweet Street have done our own luscious explorations of salty and sweet dessert offerings, many of which begin with salted caramel. Our Salted Caramel Individual Cheese is a classic dessert favorite that appeals to patrons. Plus, its convenient serving format makes it a great choice for picnics, pool parties and other summer gatherings.

For our caramel, we cook sugar until dark amber, then we stir in fresh whipping cream and butter. It's blended into the graham crumb crust, folded into a layer of the cheesecake batter and then salted and dolloped on top. Bruleed for a golden caramelized edge.

For our caramel, we cook sugar until dark amber, then we stir in fresh whipping cream and butter. It’s blended into the graham crumb crust, folded into a layer of the cheesecake batter and then salted and dolloped on top. Bruleed for a golden caramelized edge.

Another savory treat that’s perfect both for restaurant patrons and on-the-go customers is our Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie. It’s hand-mixed with browned butter, white chocolate pretzel bites, sea salt and HEATH® toffee pieces for a taste that’s simply out of this world.

Of course, the possibilities go beyond salted caramel as well. Our Sweet & Salty Blondie Bites are stuffed with butterscotch and chocolate chips, walnut pieces and shredded coconut. They get their savory kick from an unexpected source: kettle-fried potato chips. And for the full-on savory experience, explore our line of handcrafted pretzels.

The appeal of salty sweet desserts is certainly far reaching. But it’s still a good idea to offer a variety of flavor profiles to satisfy every patron taste. With summer in full swing, why not try our Summerberry Stack®? It features bright berries strewn across citrus-flecked cake for a cool, tart treat.

 The HEATH trademark is used under license.

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The flavors of summer are calling.

What flavor comes to mind when you think of summer? Maybe it’s the refreshing tartness of a glass of lemonade. Or perhaps it’s the bursting freshness of ripe fruits and berries. Now imagine these flavors dialed up in indulgently luscious desserts, and you’ve got even more reason to look forward to warmer weather.

Sweet Street helps you celebrate the season with treats that go hand-in-hand with rising mercury. Our Summerberry Stack is a natural place to start. It features bright berries strewn across citrus-flecked cake aswirl with cool, tart key lime pie and creamy white chocolate mousse. And what would go better poolside than a piece of Piña Colada Cake?

Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande

Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande

Sweet Street Bandes are also ideal for carefree summer days. Our Minted Lemonade Bande features an exotic Meyer lemon curd with a sprightly lemon mousseline. Our Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande tempts with an intoxicating compote of sweet vine-ripened blackberries mellowed with California cabernet. And our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Basil Bande delights with crème brulée mousse, bright strawberry compote and a savory touch of our basil glaze.

Speaking of savory, don’t forget that summertime can also be a great time for heartier fare—particularly with Father’s Day coming in June. Our Black Angus Hot Dog Handcrafted Pretzel pays homage to a staple of the ballpark. And our pre-proofed Classic Butter Croissant or Multigrain Croissant is the perfect way to begin a full-flavored sandwich.

Top it all off with the pièce de résistance of decadent desserts, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie with REESE’S® Peanut Butter Cups, and the living is decidedly delicious in the summertime.

 

The REESE’S trademark is used under license.

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Cakes are made to be celebrated.

By Bandes by Sweet Street, blog, Cakes To Be Celebrated, Chocolate Desserts Comments Off on Cakes are made to be celebrated.

What is it about cake that seems to make it synonymous with celebration? The modern tradition of enjoying cake on birthdays is believed to have originated in Germany during the 1,400’s. And brides and grooms have celebrated with cake on their wedding day for at least as long.

It makes perfect sense when you think about it. The sweet, baked goodie is a festive treat that can put a smile on anyone’s face. And its common “sheet” preparation method is ideal for sharing among large gatherings of people.

Of course, the appreciation of cake goes far beyond these traditional celebrations. According to Technomic, cake is the most frequently menued type of baked dessert at the Top 500 full-service restaurants. As you might expect, chocolate leads the charge. Technomic research shows that 62% of consumers would happily order chocolate cake for dessert. But that’s only the beginning of the sweet possibilities.

Sweet Street offers a variety of luscious desserts that celebrate the joys of cake. Our newest dessert line, Bandes, is offered in the traditional sheet-cake format—with flexible slicing options to meet a variety of price points and serving occasions. The decadent choices include our tropically enticing Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande and the contemporary appeal of our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Basil Bande. Even those who have eliminated gluten from their diets can get in on the lusciousness with our Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Bande.

Traditional 9-in. round cakes are also available to delight dessert lovers. Our Salted Caramel Vanilla Crunch features layers of caramel and creamy custard, while our Four High Carrot Cake is layer upon layer of dark, moist carrot cake. And did we mention that chocolate is a popular cake choice as well? The Choc’late Lovin’ Spoon Cake® is our homage to this king of all dessert flavors, with a giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist, chocolate-drenched chocolate cake.

A giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist, chocolate-drenched chocolate cake.

A giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist, chocolate-drenched chocolate cake.

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Ripe for the picking: explore decadent fruit desserts from Sweet Street

By Bandes by Sweet Street, blog, Fruit Desserts Comments Off on Ripe for the picking: explore decadent fruit desserts from Sweet Street

A leisurely stroll through the produce aisle at the grocery store is a sensory experience unlike any other. Bright colors. Fresh aromas. And the allure of flavors that range from tangy, to tart to sweet. That’s the refreshingly fundamental goodness of fruit.

No wonder why fruits of all varieties are such a popular choice to feature in desserts. The fact is, in the hands of an inspired chef, zesty fruit flavors are dialed to the nines and bursting with freshness. And when paired with traditional dessert ingredients that are rich, creamy and buttery, the combination becomes simple irresistible. The appeal of desserts that include fruits and other “non chocolate” ingredients continues to grow, according to QSR Magazine. These innovative offerings can help give operators an edge through their dessert menu.

With spring in the air, and a bounty of fresh fruits available for the picking, now is the perfect time to explore all of the luscious fruit desserts offered by Sweet Street.

A great way to begin is with the tropical allure of our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande. It features moist coconut cake cradling a layer of caramelized pineapple and salted caramel. Paradise found! And blackberry lovers will delight in our Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande, featuring the creamy tartness of Greek yogurt mousse ribboned with an intoxicating compote of sweet vine-ripened blackberries mellowed with California cabernet.

The possibilities continue with our Peachberry Crumble, with a refreshing peach blueberry compote sitting atop a moist lemon semolina cake ribboned with tart lemon curd. And what exploration would be complete without perhaps the most iconic dessert fruit of them all: the strawberry. Our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Basil Bande is a delightful combination of crème brulée mousse, bright strawberry compote and an unexpected savory touch of our contemporary basil glaze.

Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande

Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande

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Sweet Street takes caramel to a whole new level of cravable.

By blog, Caramel Desserts, Salted Caramel Desserts Comments Off on Sweet Street takes caramel to a whole new level of cravable.

The debate over how to pronounce caramel may rage on forever. Is it CAR-mull? Or CARE-uh-mell? Either way, one thing’s for sure: caramel is a hugely popular treat that mixes perfectly into a host of decadent dessert possibilities.

To fully appreciate the magic of caramel, let’s start with a brief chemistry lesson. According to Wikipedia, the process of caramelization consists of heating sugar slowly to around 340°F. This process removes water from the sugar and causes the molecules to break down. The sugar then reforms into a new compound with a characteristic color and flavor. Cooking the sugar at just the right temperature for just the right amount of time is critical in order to create the desired color and sweetness.

At this point, science gives way to art. When you introduce additional flavors such as milk/cream, butter, chocolate, vanilla, salt, etc., you can create soft caramels or caramel sauce—aka the building blocks of sweet masterpieces. And the widespread appeal of caramel creations among dessert lovers is undeniable. Salted caramel in particular is mentioned as a flavor to watch in 2015, according to Restaurant Business.

Sweet Street appreciates the gooey goodness of caramel too, and we’ve created enticing new ways to celebrate it. Our Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie is hand-mixed with browned butter, white chocolate, pretzel bites, sea salt and HEATH® toffee pieces for an amazing salty sweet experience. And a graham crumb crust makes the perfect host for the rich cheesecake and caramel flavors in our Salted Caramel Individual Cheesecake.

We’ve also taken the appeal of salted caramel to our new line of Bandes. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Bande is a sophisticated rendition of America’s favorite pairing—chocolate and peanut butter. Our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande is a tropical temptation featuring layers of moist coconut cake, caramelized pineapple and salted caramel.

Looking for even more ways to tempt patrons with exciting new twists on the dessert menu? Check out our new line of savory desserts featuring handcrafted pretzels.

 

Salted Caramel Skillet Cookie

Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie is hand-mixed with browned butter, white chocolate, pretzel bites, sea salt and HEATH toffee pieces. With pretzel salt and demerara sugar atop, each bite is dangerously better than the last.

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