Cookies are making a comeback post-pandemic, thanks to consumer trends and product developers who are seeking ways to reinvent this classic baked good.
We saw a dip in the cookie market after, prior to and at the onset of COVID-19. According to Baking Business, consumers weren’t indulging in this snack because it was seen as more of a treat or dessert. But, consumers are slowly making their way back to the crunchy, gooey, soft baked goodness, due in part to trends like dessert charcuterie boards, personalized cookie gift boxes/kits, and comfort food. Further, products that promote healthful indulgence and cleaner labels are winning with consumers.
These days, traditional cookies are all the rage, but there’s also a fusion happening of a familiar product mixed with new twists. Product releases that promote a thinner, more wafer-like cookie are gaining traction. They provide fewer calories, a smaller portion size, and give a perception of less being more; basically, consumers are satisfying a craving, but with a certain type of cookie, they’re feeling less after-snack guilt.
Thanks to honey’s all-natural sweetness, manufacturers who opt for Mother Nature’s sweetener crumble a little less and drive the market even more.