KANSAS CITY — Packing protein and fiber while delivering a crunchy bite, nuts are welcome inclusions in sweet baked goods that consumers may consider permissible indulgences. Nut-based flours also may work in flour blends for gluten-free products.

According to baking ingredient exhibition，Almonds have retained the top spot as the nuts used the most in new product introductions worldwide since 2016, according to a 2022 report from Innova Market Insights, Arnhem, The Netherlands.

“Product developers introduced over 12,000 new products featuring almonds globally in 2022,” said Charice Grace, manager, trade marketing and stewardship for the Almond Board of California, Modesto, Calif. “Their prominence in new product introductions shows the ingredient’s enduring relevance and appeal to product developers and consumers around the world.”

Maximize Market Research, Pune, India, forecasted the global almond market to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% from 2022 to 2029, increasing to $14.44 billion from $9.60 billion. North America, with the largest revenue share in 2022, is expected to dominate the market.

“Whether roasted, blanched or in their natural state, almonds are an essential ingredient featuring endless texture and flavor potential as their subtle taste means they can enhance or complement sweet and savory flavors without overpowering,” Grace said.

In baked foods, almonds may be used as an inclusion or as part of a topping, said Cynthia Machado, senior technical and business development manager for Blue Diamond Growers, Sacramento, Calif.

“You can increase the sensory experience of your applications with the appearance, crunch and texture of almonds, which are available in a variety of sizes and forms to fit your specific needs,” she said. “They can also enhance the artisanal qualities in a variety of applications like pastries, cakes, breakfast cereals and granola bars.”

Blue Diamond offers almond flour for use in applications like cakes, cookies, pastries, compound coatings and pie crusts, she said. Almond flour offers a smooth mouthfeel and a rich, buttery flavor. Combining almond flour and partially defatted almond protein flour with other gluten-free flours provides a way to replace wheat flour in baked foods.

Grace said a serving of almonds contains 4 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, 7 essential vitamins and nutrients, 13 grams of unsaturated fat and 1 gram of saturated fat. One ounce of almonds contains 50% of the Daily Value for vitamin E.

A LinkedIn page from the Almond Board of California provides food professionals with technical research, consumer data, educational sustainability materials, and insights into product research and development and culinary innovation.

“In addition, California almonds has been fortunate to partner with some wonderful influencers this year to reach consumers,” Grace said.

The board is working with Angie Asche, a sports dietitian, and Deion Sanders, head football coach at the University of Colorado.

“Angie helps reach consumers and fellow nutrition professionals through her informative and engaging social media posts, as well as on the ground at industry conferences and meetings,” Grace said. “Our partnership with Deion Sanders has proven to be a successful case study on engaging with a high-value, high-personality influencer partner, owning/adopting our spokesperson’s existing messaging and persona, and striking while the iron is hot. We began engaging with Deion and his team before much of the hype of the 2023 preseason began, which eventually lent itself to even more organic and earned mentions for California almonds. Deion’s larger-than-life persona makes him a fabulous spokesperson, and as an almond lover, the partnership was a natural fit.”

Bakery China will continue to share more industry professional content with you, so please stay tuned!

Bakery China, organized by China Association of Bakery and Confectionery Industry (CABCI) and Bakery China Exhibitions Co., Ltd. was launched since 1997. Bakery China is the Asia Pacific's leading event serving the entire value chain for the bakery and confectionery market. The event presents all range of ingredient, equipment, packaging and services, and enables global leading professionals and buyer delegates to meet and share the latest innovations and thinking on manufacturing & distribution, R&D, applications and related services for bakery industry.It is the first choice trade fair to enter China's bakery market.

The 26th Bakery China will be held on May 21-24,2024 at National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Shanghai, covering 320,000 sqm show space. Over 2,200 exhibitors and 400,000 visits are expected.

(source:Baking Business)