September 10, 2025 – Five main areas to bear watching when analyzing trends in desserts and ice cream: indulgence plus nostalgia, tradition plus wellness, eco-friendly packaging, sensory inclusions, and diverse flavors.
Combining Indulgence with Nostalgia and Affordability
Ice cream brands can win over consumers by fusing affordability, indulgence, and nostalgia. Affordability is a key theme today. Ice cream trends show that consumers are likely to welcome products that are both high in quality and priced well. One way to stand out is by featuring nostalgic flavors in a contemporary product and telling the story behind the product. The younger generations — Gen Z and Millennials – want new experiences, but some also are eating less ice cream for health reasons. These new experiences in ice cream can take the form of variety plus novelty in a way that is high-quality, indulgent, and affordable. Consumers globally hold high values regarding food that is affordable and accessible for all, so they are likely to be sensitive about affordability. A winning combination could be a high-quality, affordable ice cream that is accessible in a brand that can compete with value offerings in supermarket brands. Emotions matter too. Desserts and ice cream can bring joy and nostalgia, especially if flavors are familiar and traditional. Storytelling that evokes childhood memories will appeal emotionally.
Combining Indulgence with Tradition, Texture, and Wellness
Desserts and ice cream with bold and global yet traditional flavors attract consumers. This applies to plant-based desserts and ice cream too, with consumers expecting rich texture, familiar flavor, comfort, and real and authentic ingredients. Creamy textures and honest ingredients can satisfy the consumer of plant-based ice cream and desserts. On the wellness side, consumer trends research conducted by Innova Market Insights shows growing interest in gut health. An indulgent product enriched with probiotics for gut health benefits could be appealing since digestive and gut health is the topmost desired benefit of functional food and beverage products. Dessert trends highlight how global flavors contribute to depth, with products communicating both heritage and uniqueness.
Communicate Benefits through Ice Cream and Dessert Packaging
Ice cream and dessert packaging delivers the product, keeps it fresh, and can have eco appeal. Packaging must be designed to protect texture and maintain overall quality. Innovative functional features like insulation, temperature-resistant materials, and domed lids and insulation protect the conventional or e-commerce ice cream or dessert during transportation and boost its shelf appeal. Packaging must help ensure product quality throughout the transportation process. Packaging that is compostable, recyclable, or reusable will resonate with consumers as being sustainable. Compartmentalized packaging – dome lids, multiple compartments, anti-condensation features – is well-suited to ice creams and desserts that have multiple layers and textures as a way to protect their crunch and swirls. Ice cream trends show that such packaging communicates quality and sensory appeal and can justify premium positioning.
Please Consumers with Sensory Satisfaction
Consumer trends research shows that consumers want indulgence through real, functional, and sensory ingredients such as real fruit chunks, fruit purees, botanicals, and crunchy inclusions. Some ice cream and dessert products enhance texture and multisensory appeal with playful, sensory additions that include chewy jellies, crispy layers, and crunchy toppings. Ice cream and dessert brands can appeal to consumer emotions and meet their changing expectations with better-for-you indulgent additions in combination with satisfying textures. One area of interest to consumers is sugar reduction, with large numbers reporting in consumer trends research that they are actively limiting their sugar intake. Also, many consumers globally report that they prefer desserts and ice creams with health benefits such as added protein and fiber. Ice cream or dessert trends show that brands that enhance textures in a way that excites, and delights consumers can strengthen their emotional ties and create impressions that go beyond just the indulgence of the ice cream or dessert.
Take Consumers on a Flavor Journey
The modern-day consumer with the modern-day palate enjoys journeys through flavor. Consumer flavor preferences in desserts and ice cream are evolving, calling for products that add excitement to the familiar. One way to achieve this is with contemporary twists to refresh classic flavors, for example, tropical vanilla instead of traditional vanilla or burnt caramel instead of traditional caramel, in a way that elevates the ice cream or dessert. Botanicals or tea flavor notes in ice cream and dessert can deepen the flavor and bring sophistication to a product. Consumer trends research conducted by Innova shows that many consumers want new experiences in taste and flavor and could be excited and engaged emotionally by bold flavor combinations and new taste discoveries.
Opportunities in Ice Cream and Desserts
Brands have numerous opportunities to strengthen their position in ice cream and desserts. Consumers want to balance wellness with indulgence, so brands can add health benefits, reduce sugar, or swap for plant-based ingredients. Snacking is on the rise so smaller ice cream and dessert options that are convenient for on-the-go could be appealing. Functional ingredients such as adaptogens, probiotics, and sleep supporters can fuse health with indulgence. Technology, including analytics and AI, can help personalize and individualize desserts and ice cream and tailor them to the consumer. Packaging protects products, their quality, and their distinguishing features. Next generation insulation and temperature protection packaging can help ensure freshness and maintain texture. Clean label ingredients, processing, and label language support transparency and authenticity. Modern twists on familiar flavors appeal to changing consumer tastes. Ice cream and dessert trends highlight that brands can seek unique flavor and texture pairings to make products memorable.
This article is based on Innova’s Innovation in Desserts & Ice Cream – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more