Frozen sweet baked goods offer caterers and consumers a number of benefits during the festive Christmas through New Year celebrations, which could account for the strong growth in the sector. In fact, according to Mintel, the value of the cakes, cake bars and sweet baked goods market in 2023 was up by 39% against 2018, taking sales to near £3.2 billion.
“Frozen food is a great option in saving money and time and reduce food waste to help busy kitchens deliver delicious food over and over again,” said Matthew Grenter, sales manager at Brioche Pasquier. “Pastry in particular is a time consuming and challenging task, and in current times of staff and skills shortages, buying-in excellent quality frozen desserts makes sense.”
All Inclusive
Mince pies are one of the most iconic sweet festive baked goods in Britain. Consumers in the United Kingdom eat around 19 mince pies at Christmastime, with estimates placing total annual consumption between 800 million and 1 billion mince pies across the country, according to DJS Research.
“A mince pie is the queen of festive bakes and quite rightly it reigns supreme at this time of year,” said Gordon Lauder, managing director of frozen food distributor Central Foods. “We distribute We Love Cake Vegan and Gluten-free Mince Pie (pictured above) which ensures that those with dietary requirements don’t miss out on these festive favorites.
“One of the great things about them is that they are individually wrapped to protect their gluten-free and vegan integrity, which helps operators to comply with Natasha’s Law. They can be used in a range of different foodservice settings, including grab ‘n go, travel, coffee shops and cafés, or unwrapped and served as a plated dessert with cream or ice cream for outlets operating a sit-down service. They also have a long shelf-life of 28 days once defrosted, which helps to reduce waste.”
As consumers focus more on their health, the demand for smaller portions has increased. Sharing desserts should appeal greatly to people looking for indulgence while minimizing caloric intake.
“Sharing desserts is simple to incorporate – simply add a note to menus suggesting two spoons,” said Tom Styman-Heighton, development chef at Funnybones Foodservice. “If operators don’t necessarily want to highlight this to encourage people to purchase their own dessert, serving staff can be instructed to suggest this option to diners on the fence when orderings – as one dessert sold is better than none after all.”
Funnybones’ chocolate-filled churros are ideal for sharing, as the bite-sized sweet treat makes it easy for diners to split a portion. Operators could also add an optional upgrade to come with a trio of dipping sauces to upsell this dessert to maximize sales.
“Similarly, gluten-free diners may be tempted by Funnybones’ GF and vegan-friendly Brownie Obsession,” added Styman-Heighton. “This dark and velvety dessert arrives frozen, eliminating the risk of unnecessary food waste. Defrost and serve it at ambient temperatures alongside teas and coffees, or heat in a microwave oven and finish with extra chocolate sauce for an indulgent dessert.”
Seasonal Indulgence
Special dessert fit very well into celebrations during the festive period. From choux pastries and tarts to macarons and pies, there are plenty of frozen sweet baked options available to meet consumer demand.
“At Christmas, everyone is tempted to indulge in a dessert so the demand for a festive treat will increase, putting additional pressure on catering teams to create something spectacular,” stated Fabien Levet, Pidy UK’s commercial manager. “At Symphonie Pasquier it’s all about taking classic French desserts and pâtisserie and adding a little ‘je ne sais quoi,’ – and our products do exactly that.”
Pidy’s frozen savarins, for example, are ideal for creating rum babas. Conveniently pre-soaked, restaurant operators can opts for a classic rum infused savarin – available in standard circular, mini, and square formats. Or they can choose an Irish Coffee version with whisky and coffee. For a non-alcoholic option, the range also includes a savarin in vanilla syrup.
“The sponges can be defrosted in a matter of hours and then be topped with whipped cream and fruit to create the iconic dessert, or more innovative flavor combinations to ‘wow’ customers,” added Levet.
Nothing looks more indulgent than French pâtisserie, making it the perfect option for a festive menu. Making pastry from scratch takes great skill and time, which is why frozen options are increasingly popular in the foodservice industry.
“We’ve seen orders for our Symphonie Pasquier Crème Brulée Tartelette start to increase as chefs are busy planning their festive menus,” said Matthew Grenter, sales manager at Brioche Pasquier. “The incredibly creamy, crunchy burnt sugar flavors of this famous custard in our signature pastry shell is hard to beat at Christmas.”
The hand-finished tartelettes simply need to be defrosted. Thereafter a sprinkle of brown sugar is added to the top and then a culinary torch is fired up to scorch the sugar. When cool, the sugar will give the legendary crack as is it tapped with a spoon to add a little drama to proceedings.
Traditional Flavors
Traditional flavors are synonymous with the holiday season, with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg heavily associated with this time of year. Therefore, utilizing these ingredients in dessert recipes is essential.
“Operators looking to incorporate seasonal flavors could consider adding Funnybones’ Pastel du Manzana to their winter menu,” suggested Styman-Heighton “Featuring a cinnamon spiced sponge studded with pieces of tangy seasonal apple and topped with dulce de leche caramel, this dessert combines many popular winter flavors but is also suitable to enjoy year-round.”
Conversely, flavors that embody the summer spirit can also be popular among customers to help drive away that winter chill, such as Funnybones’ Mexican Lime Cheesecake. This dessert is made with creamy avocado, enabling the use of less full fat cream cheese, so will appeal to health-conscious diners too. The cheesecake is then spiked with zingy, zesty lime for a refreshing note to end one’s meal on.
With the array of quality frozen sweet baked goods available, it’s easy for caterers to create a range of impressive desserts with ease during the busy holiday season.
