Cream cheese plays the hero in fan-favourite desserts and sweet treats like rich cheesecakes, parfaits, bars and shakes. It’s also an essential element in a myriad of builds, adding its creamy decadence to frostings, fillings and layers. Philadelphia Cream Cheese is the standard bearer, offering top quality and reliable consistency. In fact, it’s the number-one market leader in both retail and foodservice, boasting an impressive 98% brand awareness1.
Today, innovation in flavour combinations makes the dessert category especially appealing to consumers. Here, we home in on cream cheese-centric sweets, showcasing modern flavour play presented in beloved profiles.
Whether crafting cheesecakes, parfaits, layer cakes, shakes or cake pops, adding modern, on-trend flavours keeps your menu exciting. Here are six of the fastest growing ingredients in the dessert category today 2:
Still making their way into the trends cycle, consider these emerging flavour combinations when creating modern versions of classic desserts:
With just a few high-impact touches, move your desserts into holiday signatures.
Decorate cheesecake and mousse with in-season fruits like pomegranate seeds, Cara Cara orange or candied kumquats.
Create festive patterns with melted chocolate by drizzling it over the cheesecake. Use white chocolate and tint it with food colouring for a holiday theme.
Swap the traditional graham cracker crust for one made from gingerbread cookies or gingersnap crumbs for a warm, spicy twist.
Crushed peppermint candies or candy canes scattered over top or mixed into the cheesecake filling can add a minty flavour and a holiday pop of red and white.
Candied pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts can provide a pleasing crunch and a touch of sweetness to desserts.
Infuse cheesecake filling, mousse or frosting with holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves or pumpkin pie spice to evoke the flavours of the season.
Flavoured cheesecake emerges as the
reigning dessert, closely followed by
plain cheesecake, which also ranks
among the top six desserts on
menus today3. To ensure your
cheesecake is king, source
Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Get the cream cheese that your guests know & love! Philadelphia Cream Cheese is unrivaled among consumers.
1 Source: Brand Health Survey, Jan 2023, Morning Consult / Direct Link 52 Weeks Ending March 2023
2 Base: 4,036 Menu Items across 691 operators (full sample) in Q2 2022-Q2 2023, Source: Technomic Ignite Menu national food trends data
3 Base: 4,036 Menu Items across 691 operators (full sample) in Q2 2022-Q2 2023 Source: Technomic Ignite Menu national food trends data