New takes on sweet and savory transcend the trendy salted caramel flavor.

Today’s sweet and savory desserts contain a much wider range of ingredients, such as herbs and spices. According to Chicago-based Technomic’s 2023 “Flavor Consumer Trend Report,” 41% of consumers say they would like restaurants to offer foods that feature a combination of flavors. And sweet and savory flavor combinations are the most appealing of flavor blends, with 53% of consumers surveyed saying they find sweet-savory flavor combos appealing or extremely appealing, up from 48% in 2021, according to the report.

By the Numbers

Chicago-based Datassential compiled a chart demonstrating the percentage of restaurants that offer sweet/savory desserts. Below are the top-growing ingredients based on four-year growth. 

Equipment & Supplies for Sweet/Savory Desserts

• Convection Oven
• Mixer
• Immersion blender
• Mortar and pestle
• Funnel
• Baking pans, molds and rings
• Sifters and strainers
• Cutters
• Spatulas
• Knives
• Culinary tweezers

Concept Close-Up

Sweet potato cheesecake from Henley within Kimpton Aertson Hotel.Five sweet and savory dessert combinations were highlighted in Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ “Culinary + Cocktail Trend Forecast.” The Kimpton culinary and beverage team says guests can expect to see a rise in sweet and savory combinations, such as carrot mochi and chocolate smoked salt croissants with alternate sugars like date-based sugar, beet sugar and coconut sugar growing more prominent on its menus in 2024.

Examples of sweet/savory desserts on Kimpton Hotel menus:

Sweet Potato Cheesecake 

Henley

Kimpton Aertson Hotel 

Nashville

Inspired by the classic sweet potato cheesecake, the twist here is the use of white sweet potatoes, which are not as sweet and have a nuttier flavor. Additional notable flavors in this dish: house-made cherry vanilla jam, Biscoff crumble and coffee ice cream with a cinnamon/chicory flavor. The dish is topped with crispy fried sweet potato strings and citrus lace.

Valrhona Chocolate Torte

Finch & Fork

Kimpton Canary

Santa Barbara, Calif.

A decadent, gluten-free chocolate torte with a twist, this dessert features blackberry, black pepper Chantilly and lemon curd.

Seasonal Baked Alaska 

Bambara 

Kimpton Monaco Salt Lake City

This flavorful dessert features a sweet potato cake, pecan praline ice cream and bourbon.

Olive Oil Cake from Panzano

Kimpton Monaco Denver

A light, airy olive oil and orange shortcake served with pistachio cream and crumble.