What’s trending in 2022: From mooncakes to shocking orange Rice Krispies and Oreo O’s Overnight Oats
Championing unique women
Ruffles has added an extra edge to its signature ridges with the roll out of Ruffles Ridge Twists.
This is an entirely new flavour experience: featuring the same iconic Ruffles ridges that fans know, but with a light, airy twist. The potato spirals come in two flavours – Double Cheddar and Smoky BBQ – the latter being the signature flavour of Ruffles’ newest Chip Deal athlete, Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson.
Wilson – a four-time WNBA All-Star, 2020 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player, 2018 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year and Olympic gold medallist – joins NBA All-Stars LeBron James and Jayson Tatum in the star-crossed Ruffles partnership.
In addition to signing Wilson, the long-standing Official Chip of the NBA (North America’s National Basketball Association) is championing women in sports and taking on the mantle of Official Chip of the WNBA (US Women's National Basketball Association). The 2022 WNBA season marks the first year of this multi-year partnership, further showcasing the brand’s continued commitment and involvement within hoops culture.
As the potato chip brand known for its iconic ridges, Ruffles has inspired fans to own their ridges and the things that make them unique. Wilson is no stranger in that motivation, today being one of the most promising players in women’s basketball.
Ruffles Ridge Twists Smoky BBQ (featuring Wilson on the packaging) and Ruffles Ridge Twists Double Cheddar are rolling out in select retailers across the US, available in 5.5oz bags for $5.59 and 1.75oz bags for $2.29.
Celebrate the moon
NYC-based Kitsby – a café and culinary kit company founded by first-generation Taiwanese American Amy Hsiao – is sharing the Asian custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival with Americans.
Derived from the custom of honouring the moon to thank it for the autumn harvest, the festival is celebrated by numerous Asian countries each year on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar – this year being 10 September.
And each year, Kitsby is known for producing one of the most sought-after snacks of the season: mooncakes.
“Growing up in an Asian American family, we waited excitedly for relatives to bring mooncakes to our Mid-Autumn Festival gatherings because my parents had craftily tricked me into thinking that mooncakes can only be eaten if they were gifted to you by someone,” said Hsiao.
“Perhaps that’s why now I’ve both ‘rebelled’ by making my own, and embraced the tradition of gifting mooncakes.”
This year, Kitsby is going one step further, by hosting a Night Market Celebration to ring in the holiday on Thursday, 8 September (5pm-11pm).
The Market will feature a feast of flavours, such as Chef Chris Cheung’s Dragon Candy, Homiah’s kuih (bite-sized sweet snacks usually made from glutinous rice) and Lunar Hard Seltzer’s Asian-flavoured drinks.
Kitsby’s will also be on hand with its complete artfully designed and beautifully packaged lineup of mooncakes – both traditional and contemporary.
- All Star Large Mooncake Box Set ($50): Traditionally crafted mooncakes featuring two-week-cured skins and salted egg: Black Sesame, Taiwanese Green Tea, White Lotus Paste and Pineapple.
- Teochow Spiral Mooncakes ($40): Kitsby’s modern take on the traditional are ‘thousand layer mooncakes feature 64 thin, crispy layers of pastry.
- Lunar Mini Mooncake Set ($40): Alcohol-infused mooncakes in collaboration with fellow AAPI brand Lunar Hard Seltzer.
“My favourite mooncake is our White Lotus Paste, because it reminds me of cutting a traditional mooncake into eight pieces to share with my cousins – whoever got the most yolk in their pieces would be the luckiest for the year.
“Traditional mooncakes are best enjoyed alongside a high-quality tea, which is why we include loose-leaf tea in the mooncake sets. That said, I’m really enjoying the novelty of pairing this year’s Lunar collaboration mooncakes with their corresponding hard seltzer flavours.”
Mooncakes are available online and in-person at the Kitsby Café and Night Market Celebration.
Back to the future
Post Consumer Brands is capitalising on the consumers’ desire for food nostalgia and newfound fun in the kitchen with a range of make-at-home recipes that hark back in time, centred on its much-loved breakfast cereals.
Pebbles
This Flintstones-inspired favourite has been capturing the hearts of all age groups and bringing joy to American breakfast tables since 1971.
Capturing the rice cereal’s crispy crunch, the team at Post has boosted the trusted trail mix with Cocoa Pebbles, baking it into a convenient on-the-go bar for time-poor consumers.
Festive heart-shaped rice crispy treats blend the unctuousness of marshmallows with Fruity Pebbles cereal for equally fun snack.
Oreo O’s
A classic breakfast staple of the 00s that brings in the iconic Oreo cookie taste to create the perfect nostalgia overload.
Oreo O’s Overnight Oats
- ½ cup oats
- ⅔ cup milk
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- Oreo O’s cereal
Mix everything together except cereal. Place mixture in fridge overnight to meld and blend. The next morning, stir in the Oreo O’s or layer like a parfait.
Honeycomb
Introduced in 1965, this uniquely shaped cereal is made with corn, oats and real honey. Fun fact: did you spot Honeycomb in the most recent season of Stranger Things? Talk about a throwback.
Crunchy Honeycomb Cereal Squares combines the sweetness of the cereal with a salty crunch from peanut butter, popcorn and salted peanuts.
Honeycomb Monkey Munch is the pimped up version of rice crispy cakes smothered in chocolate.
Not quite what it seems
Following a $36m Series A investment round, Voyage Foods has rolled out its peanut-free spread.
The California-based food-tech company is focused on transforming natural ingredients into nutritionally identical versions of the world’s best loved foods.
The Peanut-Free Spread ($4.99) is everything fans love about traditional peanut butter, just without the nuts. Made from wholesome and natural ingredients free from top allergens, its suitable for everyone and safe for use in school lunches.
It’s also non-GMO, gluten- free, vegan and a good source of protein. Can be used in baking, as a spread, or enjoyed right out of the jar.
The company is also planning to shortly release a Cacao-Free Chocolate and a Bean-Free Coffee, all available online.
For the snack lover
General Mills has debuted a new raft of snacks, including a limited edition Dunkaroos Orange Sherbet Frosting, a favoured nostalgic snack designed to prolong the summer.
Available for a limited time at all 7-Eleven and Speedway locations across the US, as well as selected retailers, for an RRP of $2.39
The producer is encouraging consumers to take a moment to indulge in Lärabar. Offering all the indulgence of a candy bar, but made with just seven whole food ingredients or less, the melt-in-your mouth bite is available in three sweet treats: Double Chocolate Truffle, Chocolate Peanut Caramel Truffle and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.
Available at retailers nationwide for an RRP of $8.69 (6-count) and $10.49 (8-count).
Nature Valley Crunchy Dipped are designed to satisfy any sweet cravings without the guilt. The crunchy granola squares contain no artificial flavours, colours or high fructose corn-syrup and come in three variants: Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate and Salted Caramel.
Available at retailers nationwide for an RRP of $4.79.
Annie’s Organic Dipped Caramel Granola Bars might be a weighty name, but they’re light on the waist. Certified organic, the bars are made with only 7g of sugar per bar (also in a peanut-free facility). Available nationwide for an RRP of $4.90.
Thinking outside the box
Popcorn Kitchen has been at it again to improve the UK’s popcorn experience – with a rather natty streamline delivery box for online orders.
From September, popcorn aficionados will be able to toss aside any stress of missing the delivery person, only to receive the ubiquitous ‘sorry we missed you’ post-it note.
Popcorn Kitchen’s luxury delivery pack also doubles as a gift box to spread the love.
Each pack contains two generous portions of the producer’s four bestsellers – Lemon Drizzle, Salted Caramel, Choc Orange & White Choc Raspberry – along with a 10% voucher off your next order.
Available online for an RRP of £20.
All things nice
It’s that time of year again when Americans go on the hunt for their favourite seasonal kryptonite: Pumpkin spice.
And making sure they’re right there to answer the cravings is Honey Mama, with its not-so-basic Pumpkin Spice bars – back for the second year thanks to popular demand.
Honey Mama’s take on fall features an indulgent yet nourishing bar packed with organic sprouted pumpkin seeds, natural orange essential oil, Saigon cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice for an earthy and nutty flavour profile.
Best of all, according to the producer, the spices in this bar activate the body’s metabolic system, allowing snackers to get the best out of the season.
The bars are available online and in Whole Foods across the US.
On the plant side
Cheryl’s Cookies – part of the 1-800-FLOWERS.com family of brands – has added its first vegan cookie collection to its growing assortment of hand-crafted baked goods, including cookies, brownies and cakes, including gluten-free, sugar-free and kosher options.
Launching with four variants – Vegan Sugar Cookie, Vegan Marshmallow & Chocolate Chunk Cookie, Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie and Vegan Frosted Cut-Out Cookie – each is crafted with the finest vegan ingredients, without butter or eggs.
Available for shipping across the US, the cookies are available in a variety of gift boxes, with prices ranging from $14.99-$49.99:
- Vegan Cookie Sampler
- Vegan Bow Gift Box
- Vegan Happy Birthday Gift Box
- Vegan Enjoy Gift Box
“At Cheryl’s Cookies, our following of loyal fans inspire us to continuously expand our offerings with innovative products,” said Kara Jaggers, VP of Merchandising, Cheryl’s Cookies.
“Vegan baked goods are growing in popularity with health-conscious shoppers and we are incredibly excited to launch this better-for-you assortment. A great deal of love, care, and fine-tuning went into the creation of this assortment and we can’t wait for our customers to try every flavour.”
For the spookiest season
Introducing new Kellogg’s most shocking cereal – Rice Krispies Shocking Orange – guaranteed to be a new favourite ingredient for Halloween.
From jack-o-lantern sweets to candy corn treats, Halloween is one of American’s most popular treat-making moments, so Snap, Crackle and Pop have made it easier to scare up spooktacular creations.
Shocking Orange features the same original taste and crisped rice cereal crunch of the original, just with a wallop of colour. Great tasting in a breakfast bowl or in treats – just substitute Original for Shocking Orange in any Rice Krispies recipe/
“We love seeing the scary-delicious treats families dream up with Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal for the Halloween season and beyond,” said Sadie Garcia, director of Brand Marketing at Kellogg Company.
“Our new Shocking Orange cereal offers the classic flavour and crispy crunch of Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal, plus, the festive colour of the fall. From breakfast creations to treats and tricks, we cannot wait to see what kind of creativity this product will inspire.”
Available at retailers nationwide for an RRP of $4.49 for a 7.50-ounce box and $5.49 for a 12-ounce box.
