Decadent desserts and drinks are balanced by better-for-you beverages that can help revelers reset their systems and rebuild immunity.
Seasonal launches recall flavors from holidays, winter past
The flavors and colors of fall and winter holidays tap into consumer nostalgia and the heightened need for shortcuts when baking cookies and rolls is one thing too many in the prep for festivities.
For example, stuffing and rolls are two must-haves at most Thanksgiving meals, but both can be labor intensive if made from scratch and compete with valuable stomach space with the myriad of other sides. Pepperidge Farm’s new Farmhouse Stuffing Seasoned Rolls offer two sides in one. The rolls have tasting notes of sage and onion, according to the company, which adds they marry “the coziest flavors of the holidays in one light and fluffy bite.”
Thomas brings another must-have holiday side – cranberries – to the breakfast category with the return of Cranberry Bagels and Cranberry English Muffins. The limited edition products are available through Dec. 28.
Hot cocoa is a go-to for many Americans as the weather cools, and several snackmakers are tapping into its association with celebration and comfort by incorporating the flavor in unexpected ways. For example, Planters launched a limited edition Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Cashews that are kettle roasted with cocoa and marshmallow flavors to evoke “the essence of cozy mornings, warm mugs by the fire and festive memories,” according to the brand.
Pop-Tarts also launched a limited edition Frosted Marshmallow Hot Cocoa flavor, which also features “fun holiday prints” on the pastries, according to the brand.
Candy-brand Tamalitoz takes a slightly different twist on the beloved flavor by launching a churro chocolate caliente palomitaz – or popcorn swirled with spicy and sweet flavors and dusted with cinnamon, sugar and sea salt.
Easier entertaining: Simple solutions for intimate and large gatherings
From traditional Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinners to holiday parties and intimate gatherings for neighbors, friends and family – November and December often are filled with planned and impromptu get-togethers.
Several launches make it easier to feed a crowd – whether big or small – so hosts can focus more on their guests and less on logistics.
For example, La Terra Fina launched a trio of seasonal dip and spread flavors that can stand alone on a charcuterie board or be used as an ingredient in holiday recipes. The lineup includes Cranberry & Jalapeño Dip & Spread, which offers a tangy kick, Vanilla Bean Dessert Dip & Spread that pairs well with fruit, pretzels and cookies, and Mascarpone Honey & Jalapeño Dip & Spread for an on-trend ‘swicy’ snack solution.
A plant-based alternative is a threesome of cashew dips from Nuts For Cheese, including Dill Pickle, Artichoke & Jalapeño, and Roasted Red Pepper – all of which are dairy, soy, gluten and oil free. The addition of probiotics promise to promote health microbiome during a season when extra indulgences can cause indigestion. The dips will be available in Sprouts nationwide starting Nov. 1 and in Sobeyes in Canada beginning mid-October.
For those looking to offer guests a more substantial meal, Barilla is simplifying dinner prep with three Pesto sauces that can complement an array of dishes, including pasta, paninis, pizza, poultry and plenty more. The pestos are available in Sweet & Spicy Pepper Pesto, a Creamy Tomato Pesto, and vegan pesto that skips the typical cheese for those with dietary preferences or sensitivities. The new flavors launched exclusively in Kroger in mid-October and will be available in major retailers in 2025 for a suggested retail price of $3.99.
For guests who spend the night or hosts who need an easy breakfast solution after a night of fun or before a full day, Applegate launched Applegate Naturals Pancake & Sausage Sticks for an easy-to-prepare, protein-packed breakfast. The breakfast sausage wrapped in buttermilk pancake batter is served on a stick for an on-the-go “heat and carry” option that the brand says will appeal to adults and children alike.
To slack a thirsty crowd, Capri Sun made two flavors – Strawberry Kiwi and Fruit Punch – available in a larger 64-ounce format, which is equal to 10 pouches. The multi-serve containers are available nationwide at Walmart, Food Lion, Stop & Shop and Hyvee.
Winter warmers: Steaming mugs and bowls
As the days and nights become colder, consumers can stay warm with steaming soups and cozy cups of coffee thanks to new launches from A-Sha Noodles, Free Rein, Coffee mate and Laird.
Asian & Pacific American-owned noodle brand A-Sha Foods USA expands its ramen noodle soup selection made in partnership with the YouTube show Hot Ones with three new flavors: Taiwanese Tingly Pepper, Sizzling Chili Garlic and Fiery Hot Tonkotsu to complement the earlier debut of Sweet Chili, Garlic Chili and Smoky Chili ramen noodle soups. The soups are made with A-Sha’s patented air-dried, never-fried technology.
Free Rein Coffee Company partnered with Stetson to launch two limited edition Cowboy Coffee Kits for the holidays, which include a slow-roasted, small-batch Trailblazer coffee blend and two co-branded ceramic mugs. The kits are available with ground beans or pods for $70 each.
Coffee mate enters the relatively new cold foam creamer category with a line of flavors including Italian Sweet Crème, Nestle Toll House Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and French Vanilla Cold Foam creamers that it says have 25% less sugar and 25% more servings than competitors. Coffee mate Cold Foam will hit shelves in January for a suggested retail price of $4.68 to $5.49.
Laird Superfood brings back for a limited time its Peppermint Mocha instant latte coffee + creamer with adaptogens. The beverage blend includes maitake, chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps functional mushrooms with peppermint oil, cocoa, coconut milk powder and freeze-dried robusta coffee.
Better-for-you snacks and sweets
The holiday season is often a time for indulgence, but several brands are launching healthy and better-for-you snacks and sweets to meet demand for lighter options.
Bolthouse Fresh Foods introduces three fresh carrot products that make it easier for consumers to incorporate produce into meals and snacks. Carrot Shakers pair baby carrots with a seasoning pouch that consumers can open and pour into the package to infuse the carrots with Dill Pickle, Chili Lime or Ranch flavor. Carrot Side Dish Sizzlers pair “artisan-sliced” carrots with a sauce, including Garlic Herb, Sweet Honey Heat and Herb Vinaigrette. Soup n’ Stewin’ Carrots are pre-cut carrots that are ready to add directly to “hearty dishes” for easier prep.
Produce takes center stage for dessert in Fresh Del Monte Produce’s Del Monte Dessert Puddy Cups, in which fresh-cut fruit is combined with chocolate or vanilla pudding and garnished with a crunchy granola, graham crackers, chocolate chips or cinnamon streusel in single-serve 5.5-ounce packages. The pudding cups are available in Pineapple Streusel, Chocolate Berry Truffle, Mango Mix and Apple Crisp.
Everydaze launches a line of Essential C’s Konjac Jelly pouches as a low-calorie, “sweet yet healthy” snack with functional benefits, including a daily dose of vegan-friendly phyto collagen and vitamin C. The pouches use erythritol as a sweetener and are available in Peach, Mango, Watermelon and Green Grape.
Hemp food pioneer Manitoba Harvest enters the snack segment with the launch of Superseed Snack Clusters that blend hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia, flax and quinoa in crunchy clusters. Each serving has at least 5 grams of plant-based protein, 5 grams of omega-3 and -6, and at least 2 grams of fiber. They are available in Maple Cinnamon, Dark Chocolate and Smoky BBQ.
Pretzels are a popular go-to snack for parties, and Stellar Snacks launched a more inclusive option with the debut of its Grain-Free Thins collections. Made with cassava, chickpea flour and avocado oil, the thins are gluten- and peanut-free, and AHA-approved. They are available in Bruschetta, Truffle Pesto and Sea Salt.
Beverages to boost immunity, reset after revelry
Overindulgence can be a hallmark of the holidays and to help consumers reset, several beverage brands are launching drinks packed with probiotics and other functional benefits.
Everydaze’s Reset Kombucha Tea powdered beverage mixes are promoted as including probiotics and nutrients to support gut health and overall wellness and a healthy alternative to sugary sodas and juices with flavors including Strawberry Kiwi, Pineapple Passionfruit, Lemon Ginger, Peach, Green Grape and Grapefruit Black Tea.
Seal the Seasons launches an on-trend Blue Spirulina Tropical Smoothie Kit with locally grown, frozen and sold fruit that was inspired by Internet mentions such as singer Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short N’ Sweet’ smoothie collaboration with Erewhon and blue smoothie bowls on TikTok and Instagram.
Fermented dairy powerhouse brand Lifeway Foods launched 10 new organic kefir Flavor Fusions featuring globally-inspired flavors and all packed with 12 live probiotic cultures, protein and calcium. They include Pink Dragon Fruit, Passionfruit Lychee, Hot Honey, Guava Jackruit, Coconut Pineapple, Pistachio Rose Vanilla, Grapefruit Elderflower, Wild Blueberry Lavender, Taro Ube Latte and Matcha Latte. The new flavors are available in 8-ounce single serve bottles for on-the-go consumption.
