Sponsored by Ferrero Foodservice
Operators can sweeten their summertime sales of ice cream, milkshakes, and other refreshing treats with branded mix-ins that their customers love.
Such items are staples on the menus of restaurants and treat shops around the country, helping attract customers of all ages. Partnering with a well-known brand such as Butterfinger can help operators appeal not only to young consumers who love the idea of a dessert that includes one of their favorite candy products, but also to older consumers who love the nostalgia of a dessert that brings back childhood memories.
“Some dessert trends don’t go out of style,” restaurant technology provider Toast says in a recent report on trends in restaurant desserts. “Classic, familiar flavors continue to be popular with a large section of consumers and provide a nostalgic comfort to many. This is proven by the fact that simple desserts like cookies, cakes, brownies, and ice cream are best sellers in both bakeries and restaurants.”
The report cites research from Datassential showing that 60% of restaurant operators say the desserts they offer help drive profits.
Meanwhile, research from Circana supports the popularity of Butterfinger® Pieces as a dessert topping or inclusion in foodservice. Butterfinger is a top five branded chocolate candy mix-in within broadline foodservice distribution1. In addition, Butterfinger is the fastest-growing among the top seven chocolate mix-ins brands within broadline distribution to quick-service hamburger restaurants2.
Butterfinger on the menu
The brand has an ongoing presence on the menus of restaurant chains including Dairy Queen and Friendly’s, where it is featured in frozen desserts such as the Butterfinger® Blizzard® Treat at Dairy Queen and the Butterfinger® Friend-z® at Friendly’s. At Dairy Queen, the Butterfinger® Blizzard® Treat is made by blending Butterfinger® Pieces with DQ® vanilla soft-serve. Meanwhile, Friendly’s blends Butterfinger® Pieces with its own premium ice cream, and also offers Butterfinger® Pieces as an optional topping for sundaes.
Last summer, burger and frozen-custard chain Culver’s added a Dark Chocolate PB Crunch, made with Butterfinger® Pieces, to its Flavor of the Day lineup, which rotates into the menus of each of Culver’s 970-plus locations around the country. In addition to the Butterfinger® Pieces, the dessert features Dark Chocolate Fresh Frozen Custard, and a ribbon of gooey peanut butter.
It was introduced together with another new flavor, Lemon Berry Layer Cake, which includes Culver’s signature Creamy Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard layered with mixed berries, a ribbon of tart and tangy lemon, and butter cake pieces.
Baskin-Robbins has also incorporated Butterfinger® Pieces into special, limited-edition ice cream flavors, while Walt Disney World Resort has featured Butterfinger® branded desserts that could be featured year-round, including the Butterfinger® Cupcake.
Get creative with branded mix-ins
Operators can also create their own Butterfinger® dessert treats this summer. Consider frozen beverages such as the Triple Decker Candy & Cookie Milkshake, which in addition to Butterfinger® Pieces and Mini bars, also includes Baby Ruth® Pieces and Mini bars, Crunch® Pieces and Mini bars, and Keebler® Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, and Oatmeal Cookies.
In addition, operators can incorporate a layer of celebrity nostalgia with the Elvis-inspired Peanut Butter, Banana, and Bacon Milkshake made with Butterfinger®. This treat taps into consumer demand for sweet-and-savory flavor combinations.
Other ideas for frozen desserts that appeal to today’s on-the-go consumers include the hand-held Frozen Cookie Poppers with Butterfinger®, which combine Butterfinger® Pieces with finely chopped Keebler® Sugar Cookies and peanut butter ice cream, served on lollipop sticks with dipping sauce.
For more dessert inspiration featuring Butterfinger® and other Ferrero Foodservice brands, visit https://www.ferrerofoodservice.com/us/en/our-recipes.
