Dessert will be the star of the table this festive season, according to new Woolworths research that’s found three in four surveyed Australians (75%) view dessert as the highlight of their Christmas meal. 

Ready to meet this demand, Woolworths is delivering a lineup of over 60 Own Brand dessert products throughout the holiday season. Headlining the collection are the new Gold Dubai-Inspired Chocolate & Pistachio Tarts and a Gingerbread Cheesecake.

“This year, we put a lot of work into creating a curated range that recognises great food looks different for everyone,” says Woolworths Food Company Head of Innovation Jackie Fourie.

“It means providing convenient solutions to suit all tastes and budgets, from great value classics like our traditional mince pies right through to the premium products in our Gold range. 

“We’ve tried to push the boundaries of indulgence with more premium products in our Gold range that use bespoke flavours like the Pavlova Wreath with Atherton Tablelands Vanilla and our Davidson Plum & Gin Fruit Mince Tarts, ensuring hosts can serve up high-quality, sweet showstoppers for any occasion.”

Blending old and new

According to Woolworths, this years’ Own Brand collection blends nostalgia with modern twists to cater for a wide range of dessert desires:

• Viral hits. The Gold Dubai-Inspired Chocolate & Pistachio Tarts were inspired by the social media trend. Working with pastry chefs, the tart features carefully toasted kataifi pastry, a hand-filled topping, and crushed pistachios for a crispy texture.
• Trending flavours. Following “soaring” interest in caramelised biscuit, the new Gold Caramelised Biscuit Pudding 600g joins the returning Caramelised Biscuit Trifle 1.2kg to keep the flavour momentum going.
• Modern classics. Nearly three in five surveyed Australians (57%) said they would prefer a modern twist like gingerbread cheesecake over traditional gingerbread, showcasing “strong appetite” for the new Woolworths Gingerbread Cheesecake joining this year’s lineup.
• Beloved favourites. Classics remain “front and centre”, including the popular matured Christmas puddings, traditional mince pies, and the Gold Pavlova Wreath with Atherton Tablelands Vanilla.

“We start working on Christmas 18 months in advance, collecting customer feedback and looking to local bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and global retail leaders for inspiration and trends,” says Ms Fourie.  

“We then run sessions with our talented chefs to refine our concepts and work with industry experts to continuously improve the quality of our Christmas classics and bring these products to shelves for customers.”

Selected products are available in stores now, with more to come later in the season.