Top 5 Predicted Dessert Trends of 2022

Let’s take a look at the biggest dessert trends and treats we think will be satisfying all sweet tooths in 2022.

Food brands have embraced combining chickpeas with chocolate across a range of dessert recipes in an attempt to provide modern consumers with more variety and health-conscious dessert options.

The classic Middle Eastern dish, hummus, has become a phenomenon in the last decade, becoming a common ‘refrigerator staple’. If you only think of hummus as a savoury meal, think again because dessert hummus is now available! Adding chocolate to hummus gives a dessert-like twist to a conventional savoury dip and can be paired with fruit, pretzels and sweet biscuits. Dessert hummus, as well as chickpea-based ice cream, milkshakes and brownies are finding growing appeal not only among vegans but also those searching for healthier alternatives as a sweet treat.

Cheeky Chickpea

Chocolate Hummus served with crisp apple and coconut flakes as a sweet treat. 

Food brands have embraced combining chickpeas with chocolate across a range of dessert recipes in an attempt to provide modern consumers with more variety and health-conscious dessert options.

The classic Middle Eastern dish, hummus, has become a phenomenon in the last decade, becoming a common ‘refrigerator staple’. If you only think of hummus as a savoury meal, think again because dessert hummus is now available! Adding chocolate to hummus gives a dessert-like twist to a conventional savoury dip and can be paired with fruit, pretzels and sweet biscuits. Dessert hummus, as well as chickpea-based ice cream, milkshakes and brownies are finding growing appeal not only among vegans but also those searching for healthier alternatives as a sweet treat.

Mmm Mochi

The balls of sweet rice dough provide an abundance of delightful colour and flavour combinations.

At a time when people are itching to travel, Mochi inspired desserts can transport us internationally via our senses. Australians have always been fans of Asian cuisine, but lately, there has been a significant rise in Eastern influences, notably in the dessert world. Lighter, fluffier, and fresher flavours are replacing highly sweet and rich desserts. Traditional Mochi is made from a sweet bean paste coated with mochi dough to create an equally sweet and chewy delicacy. Mochi is a versatile and distinctive component in Japanese cuisine, and its latest version as a frozen delicacy is now receiving its due. In 2022 there will be mochi ice cream, doughnuts and pancakes. A mochi to satisfy everyone!

OMG Oat

  Dairy-free deliciously creamy, classic and smooth oat milk ice cream. (Photo: Nourished by Caroline) 

The growing popularity of oat milk has prompted companies to use this ingredient as a base for their desserts. Beyond providing a similar flavour and texture to genuine milk-based products, the use of oat milk as a base for desserts such as panna cottas and custards keeps dessert companies at the forefront of the latest trends. People are increasingly being enticed away from dairy and seeking alternatives which don’t compromise on flavour or nutrition such as oat milk. Indulging in oat-based ice-creams, chocolates, yoghurts and creams will become more common in 2022 as oats are set to have a decadent makeover. Oats will appear in sweet treats from the supermarket shelves to the freezer and fridge. Watch this space…

Matcha on the Menu

Matcha’s rich taste acts as the perfect flavour to hero in a variety of desserts. 

The matcha craze has swept around the world, exploding in popularity. Matcha isn’t limited to being infused in hot or cold beverages. Its rich and complex flavour allows it to be perfectly integrated into a range of desserts and customers aren’t just seeking to buy matcha in-store, they are craving for it to be featured on menus across a range of cafes and restaurants. Matcha flavour can be added to make incredibly delicious waffles, macarons, cupcakes, pastries and mousses. Even iconic brands such as KitKat have embraced matcha. The possibilities are truly endless!

The distinct creamy flavour matcha delivers isn’t the only reason consumers are going nuts. Its extensive list of health benefits, including being loaded with antioxidants, a great source of energy, promoting weight loss and other health properties, make it a highly desirable and marketable ingredient for any dessert.

Carob Comeback

Expect to see carob paired with chocolate in snacks, bars and baked goods.

Carob is set to make a comeback next year, like it or not. Carob made a name for itself amongst traditional chocolate lovers as chocolate’s poor cousin. To overcome this, brands have tried to persuade consumers that carob was a healthier alternative. Despite these efforts, the carob revolution did not take place. Many people doubted that anything would ever be able to replicate the flavour of chocolate. However, carob is currently seeing a new spike in popularity due to its nutritional benefits and natural sweetness. Redefining itself as a collagen supportive ingredient, carob is now viewed as a standalone product that consumers enjoy for both its distinct flavour and health benefits. It may never replace chocolate entirely, but if brands want to be ahead of the carob trend, they definitely don’t want to wait.