Dessert menus can often be forgotten and become boring and dated, resulting in missed opportunities to delight guests and boost check averages. Don’t let this happen to your restaurant. The dessert menu is a great place to incorporate trends and seasonal dishes. Get inspired by some of today’s hottest trends and give your dessert menu a refresh in time for spring.Breakfast-Inspired Desserts: Pastry chefs across the country are creating dishes inspired by the first meal of the day. We are seeing desserts with flavors, shapes, and foods often associated with breakfast. This trend is going farther than waffles and pancakes, which have often been enjoyed as part of either meal. Pastry chefs are getting creative with sweet concoctions such as cereal-flavored panna cotta, Poptart Ice Cream sandwiches, and bacon-infused ice cream garnished with Cap’n Crunch and Rice Krispies. Check out this article for more information on this trend.Berries: As Spring approaches, fruit and berry-focused desserts are popping up on menus nationwide. These light and bright desserts are a welcome change after a cold winter. Blueberries are the most popular option and are a great addition to desserts such as tarts, cakes, and cobblers. While blueberry pastries and desserts are delicious on their own, they are especially wonderful when paired with a hint of lemon. Read more on berry desserts here.

Milk-and-Cookie Shots: The Cronut Creator has done it again! Chef Dominique Ansel released his newest creation: The Milk and Cookie Shot. It’s a cookie molded into a shot glass and filled with cold vanilla-infused milk. The cookie is even crisp on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. This is a great example of how classic desserts and flavor combinations can be refreshed and made completely new and exciting. Read more about milk-and-cookie shots here.