FOLSOM, CA — Retail bakers looking to innovate in the healthy indulgence space — one of the top retail baking trends in 2023 — may not need to look too far past their own storeroom. Walnuts, a go-to ingredient in many bakeries, have long been a consumer favorite because of the taste and texture they impart to bread, muffins and other baked goods. They’re also packed with healthy attributes that can help meet consumer demand for better-for-you treats.
“Walnuts, with their creamy, rich flavor and fat profile really play well with a lot of different, indulgent baked goods,” said Jennifer Olmstead, senior director of US marketing and communications for the California Walnut Board, one of the sponsors of the Craft to Crumb Great Ingredients Giveaway, along with Farmer Direct Foods. “But they also have a wealth of health benefits, too. Research shows that nine out of 10 consumers know walnuts are a healthy food.”
Walnuts are the only existing tree nut that is a good source of the plant-based omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which can only be obtained by consuming foods.
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