Self-expression, disruptive flavors and ingredients and new takes on the traditional are just some of the concepts Nestlé's Toll House brand is conveying to consumers to make this year's baking season special. The brand is announcing its 2015 seasonal baking trends to help home bakers discover creative new recipes and inventive ways to use Glendale, Calif.-based Nestlé USA's variety of baking products.
Demographic trends such as an increase in multicultural families and smaller households are influencing how America bakes, according to Nestlé. With more self-taught, culinary adventurous consumers, the practice of baking is evolving to include ingredient-driven sophistication, more customization and personal interpretation of classic recipes.
"The definition of baking now includes a variety of ingredients, flavors, and ways to bake," explains Lucien Vendôme, director of culinary innovation at Nestlé USA. "Nestlé Toll House chocolate chip cookies will always be an American favorite, but by infusing them with Tahini [for example], we're reinventing a classic recipe with a modern flavor profile. Consumers are actively redefining traditional baking, and Nestlé Toll House wants to be part of that journey by inspiring home bakers to achieve their baking aspirations."
This year's key trends discovered by Nestlé Toll House and its pastry chef partners from around the country include three main drivers:
Speed Scratch: Beautiful baking creations don't only have to come from trained pastry chefs. Bakers can tap into pastry creativity and have success by leveraging proven baking shortcuts. Premade dough simplifies preparation, Nestlé says, reducing inconsistencies and allowing bakers to explore ingredient variety. Craft of Baking Author, Karen DeMasco, shows examples to impress with her Pistachio Pinwheel Cookie recipe, which features Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie bar dough, ground pistachio nuts, lemon zest and a hint of honey and lemon.
Farmers Market Inspired Baking: Home bakers eager to use seasonal ingredients to bring out the best flavor in their baked treats can access to farmers markets year 'round. The markets offer plenty of options for creating desserts with a distinct seasonal flavor. Celebrating harvest colors, pastry chef Michael Laiskonis inspires creativity with an Autumn-themed cookie recipe that teams Nestle Toll House Harvest Apple refrigerated cookie dough, Hot Cocoa refrigerated cookie dough, Pumpkin Spice Morsels and fresh apples.
Tradition Reinvented: Multicultural families are on the rise in the U.S., and home bakers can connect with their heritage by updating treasured desserts. The memories behind classic recipes are timeless, but if bakers are looking to create new traditions, Secrets of Baking Author Sherry Yard gives the classic sugar cookie an ethnic twist in her recipe for Alfajores. Corn flour is kneaded into Toll House refrigerated sugar cookie dough, then the baked cookies are sandwiched with dulce de leche filling and flavored with hints of spice and honey for a Latin-inspired flair.
For recipe details and more dessert ideas using Nestlé Toll House products visit www.tollhousebakingtrends.com.
