bake - May/June 2022 - 40

sweet goods
tart
cherries
Fruits have long provided a natural sweetness to a wide variety of baked
goods. One of the most versatile fruits in the bunch are cherries, which are
the star of the show in everything from cherry pie to Black Forest cake and
are deserving of the label as a superfruit.
Dried and frozen tart cherries, in particular, make great additions to products
as they bring a trending sweet-sour flavor profile, a halo of potential
health benefits, a pop of bright red color and added texture.
According to the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), tart cherries
are a sought-after ingredient for today's health-conscious consumers
who don't want to sacrifice on taste. They are able to add just the right
flavor profile to a range of foods and products. The ingredient has become
so popular that new tart cherry products have increased 113 percent during
the last five years, according to Mintel's Global New Products Database.
Sweet goods such as ice cream, muffins and nutrition bars are among the
items that lend themselves to tart cherries as an inclusion. An example of
this would be the Rustic Bakery Tart Cherry, Cacao Nib, & Almond Artisan
Crisps and Kashi Cherry Dark Chocolate Bar.
The health halo of this ingredient cannot be ignored. Tart cherries are
a superfruit with numerous nutritional benefits that appeal to consumers
who would feel better about purchasing indulgent foods with their inclusion.
The CIAB states that tart cherries are one of the natural food sources
of melatonin, with scientific research having explored the duration and
quality of sleep, insomnia and sleep efficiency following their consumption.
Other studies have determined tart cherry consumption benefits exercise
recovery, gout attacks, arthritis symptoms, heart health, blood pressure
and gut health.
Because tart cherries help elevate the eating occasion, they offer a more
premium quality to a finished product. Datassential Custom Research from
2020 found that more than half of consumers said they would spend more
for products made with tart cherries, with health-conscious shoppers even
more likely to pay extra.
Additionally, there has been a heightened focus on supporting local business
and agriculture in the US. Montmorency Tart Cherries are grown in
America, a meaningful quality for consumers who increasingly care about
food origins and want to support local agriculture.
Another key aspect of using tart cherries as an inclusion is their visual appeal.
Colorful produce varieties are trending on menus as consumers associate
bright colors with nutritional value. This in addition to the Instagramfriendly
look of red tart cherries makes them a hit for many different items.
With the numerous sensory benefits they provide, it's no wonder tart
cherries have emerged as a hot ingredient for product developers.
40 < MAY-JUN 2022 | bakemag.com
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