A system and method for applying a reduced sugar coating to a food product is provided using a natural whitening system. The methods include preparing a foam and then maintaining that foam through a spray nozzle to coat a food product with a spray-applied foam that mimics the appearance of a high sucrose frosting or icing.

The invention relates to low density ready-to-spread frosting compositions and related methods. Icing and frosting are terms conventionally used to identify spreadable, semi-solid confectionery products that are applied as toppings to sweeten and decorate baked goods such as cakes, breads, cookies, and the like. Generally, icings and frostings can be categorized into several basic types depending in part on whether a particular product contains fat (generally shortening) or not, and whether or not the product is aerated.

The invention relates to low density ready-to-spread frosting compositions and related methods. Icing and frosting are terms conventionally used to identify spreadable, semi-solid confectionery products that are applied as toppings to sweeten and decorate baked goods such as cakes, breads, cookies, and the like. Generally, icings and frostings can be categorized into several basic types depending in part on whether a particular product contains fat (generally shortening) or not, and whether or not the product is aerated.

An air-stable edible solid foam product includes at least one sweetener. In some embodiments, the air-stable edible solid foam is free of a whipping agent, and the foaming occurs by vacuum expansion. In some embodiments, the air-stable edible foam product includes at least one proteinaceous whipping agent derived from a plant source and the foaming occurs by whipping. A method of enhancing a beverage includes contacting a solid foam beverage enhancer including at least one sweetener and at least one flavoring agent to the beverage and disintegrating the solid foam beverage enhancer in the beverage within a predetermined period of time. Methods of making an air-stable edible solid foam product are also disclosed.

An air-stable edible solid foam product includes at least one sweetener. In some embodiments, the air-stable edible solid foam is free of a whipping agent, and the foaming occurs by vacuum expansion. In some embodiments, the air-stable edible foam product includes at least one proteinaceous whipping agent derived from a plant source and the foaming occurs by whipping. A method of enhancing a beverage includes contacting a solid foam beverage enhancer including at least one sweetener and at least one flavoring agent to the beverage and disintegrating the solid foam beverage enhancer in the beverage within a predetermined period of time. Methods of making an air-stable edible solid foam product are also disclosed.

In one embodiment, a confectionary comprises 50 to 75 wt. % erythritol, 0 to 75 wt. % of at least one additional sweetener, at least one stabilizer, water, and a first active ingredient. The water may comprise 0.5 to 3 wt. % of the confectionary. The water may have a water activity of from 0.3 to 0.5. The confectionary may be aerated such that the density of the confectionary is 0.05 to 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter.

In one embodiment, a confectionary comprises 50 to 75 wt. % erythritol, 0 to 75 wt. % of at least one additional sweetener, at least one stabilizer, water, and a first active ingredient. The water may comprise 0.5 to 3 wt. % of the confectionary. The water may have a water activity of from 0.3 to 0.5. The confectionary may be aerated such that the density of the confectionary is 0.05 to 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter.

An apparatus (300) for aerating a food product, (200, 300) comprising a housing (10) with an inlet (100) for the food product and an outlet for the aerated food product, and, within the housing (10), first and second pairs (210, 220, 240) of a rotor and a stator each having complementary toothed rims orientated in opposition in the axial direction, and a gas injector (1) for injecting, at an upstream position relative to the first pair (210, 220) of a rotor and a stator, a gas in the food product to be aerated, wherein a further inlet (310) is provided for injecting, at a position between a pair (210, 220) and an adjacent pair (240) of a rotor and a stator, an additional composition to be mixed with the food product.

A filling head comprising: a housing having a lower nozzle exit, a first material inlet, a second material inlet and a reciprocatable piston movable within the housing; the piston having a) an outer wall and upper and lower ends; b) a first internal material flow channel connecting an entry in the outer wall to an exit in the lower end, c) a second internal material flow channel connecting an entry in the outer wall to an exit in the lower end, and; wherein the exit of the first channel is annular, surrounding the exit of the second material flow channel; the piston, housing and inlets being positioned and dimensioned such that the piston in relation to the housing has: (1) an upper position wherein material flows from both first and second inlets are blocked by the piston outer wall; (2) a mid position wherein the first material inlet is in communication with the first internal material flow channel entry but the second material inlet is blocked by the piston outer wall; (3) a lower position wherein the first material inlet is in communication with the first internal material flow channel entry and the second material inlet is in communication with the second internal material flow channel entry.

The present invention relates generally to the field of aerated fat-based confectionery material. One aspect of the invention provides an aerated fat-based confectionery material having a continuous lipid phase and a porosity of between 1 and 80%, wherein, at a temperature at which the lipid phase has a solid lipid content between 0.1 and 80, the fat-based confectionery material comprises gas bubbles having at least 50% of their surface occupied by crystals, the crystals comprising a glyceride selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, esters of monoglycerides, esters of diglycerides and combinations of these. Further aspects of the invention are a confectionery product comprising an aerated fat-based confectionery material and a process for forming an aerated fat-based confectionery material.