There is described an edible particulate material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight based on total weight of the material of a processable, microbially released, flavour acceptable bran-like material, characterized by the following parameters: (i) mean particle size by volume (Vol. MPS) of from 5 to 100 microns; (ii) volume particle size distribution (Vol. PSD) characterized by the parameters: D.sub.90,3 less than or equal to 350 microns, and D.sub.50,3 less than or equal to 50 microns, and optionally D.sub.10,3 less than or equal to 15 microns, (iii) mean particle sphericity as measured by a S.sub.mean of greater than or equal to 0.75; (iv) where processable means has oil holding capacity (OHC) of from 0.7 to 1.5; (v) where microbially released means material has common microbes below given limits (preferably free of common microbes) (vi) where flavour acceptable denotes a lipase activity (LA) and a peroxidase activity (PA) both less than or equal to 2 U/g optionally a low degree of roasted flavour notes as defined herein. The bran as described may added to foodstuffs for example be used as a bulk ingredient to replace sugar and/or to provide filling and/or coatings having improved hiding ability when used as layers in multilayer foodstuffs.

In an illustrative embodiment, systems for designing and producing customized food products include receiving a request to design a customized food product containing a printed edible medium. The systems may calculate, based on product inventory at a preferred bakery, a preparation lead time for the food product where the product inventory includes availability of printed edible media substrates. The systems may present customization user interface screens that provide customization options for the food product. The systems may convert customization option selections made at the customization user interface screens into decorating instructions for the food product and transmit the decorating instructions to the bakery. The systems may determine a position in a preparation queue for the food product based in part on attributes of pending food product orders in a preparation queue at the bakery.

A system and method for applying a reduced sugar coating to a food product is provided. The system uses separate applications (simultaneous or sequential) of a non-sucrose carbohydrate syrup from a first applicator and a sucrose syrup from a second applicator. The dual applications of the syrups are applied without an active drying step between applications. The process results in a coated food product with reduced clumping and a desired crystallized appearance even with the reduced levels of sugar.

A waffle cone coating assembly is disclosed. The waffle cone coating assembly includes a fountain assembly disposed within a basin. The fountain assembly includes a tube having an upper end spaced from the basin and a nozzle disposed at the upper end of the tube. The nozzle includes a plurality of coating outlets. A flange is disposed below the nozzle and includes a diameter greater than a diameter of the nozzle. A coating material is recirculated from the basin through the plurality of coating outlets and returns to the basin.

The present invention relates to a confectionery comprising a core and an outer surface bounding the core, wherein at least part of the outer surface of the core is coated with a coating agent, characterized in that the coating agent comprises apple wax. The invention further relates to a process for producing a confectionery, to the confectionery obtainable by this process, and to the use of apple wax.

There is described an confectionery composition comprising edible particulate material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight based on total weight of the material of a processable, microbially released, flavour acceptable bran-like material, characterized by the following parameters: (i) mean particle size by volume (Vol. MPS) of from 5 to 100 microns; (ii) volume particle size distribution (Vol. PSD) characterized by the parameters: D90.3 less than or equal to 350 microns, and D50.3 less than or equal to 50 microns, and optionally D10.3 less than or equal to 15 microns, (iii) mean particle sphericity as measured by a Smean of greater than or equal to 0.75; (iv) where processable means has oil holding capacity (OHC) of from 0.7 to 1.5; (v) where microbially released means material has common microbes below given limits (preferably free of common microbes) (vi) where flavour acceptable denotes a lipase activity (LA) and a peroxidase activity (PA) both less than or equal to 2 U/g and optionally a low degree of roasted flavour notes as defined herein. The bran-like material used in the confectionery compositions may added as a bulk ingredient to replace sugar and/or to provide confectionery fillings and/or coatings having improved hiding ability when used as layers in multilayer confectionery products.

There is described an confectionery composition comprising edible particulate material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight based on total weight of the material of a processable, microbially released, flavour acceptable bran-like material, characterized by the following parameters: (i) mean particle size by volume (Vol. MPS) of from 5 to 100 microns; (ii) volume particle size distribution (Vol. PSD) characterized by the parameters: D90.3 less than or equal to 350 microns, and D50.3 less than or equal to 50 microns, and optionally D10.3 less than or equal to 15 microns, (iii) mean particle sphericity as measured by a Smean of greater than or equal to 0.75; (iv) where processable means has oil holding capacity (OHC) of from 0.7 to 1.5; (v) where microbially released means material has common microbes below given limits (preferably free of common microbes) (vi) where flavour acceptable denotes a lipase activity (LA) and a peroxidase activity (PA) both less than or equal to 2 U/g and optionally a low degree of roasted flavour notes as defined herein. The bran-like material used in the confectionery compositions may added as a bulk ingredient to replace sugar and/or to provide confectionery fillings and/or coatings having improved hiding ability when used as layers in multilayer confectionery products.

The invention relates to a composition for coating a frozen confectionery comprising a coating having a coating composition comprising, expressed in weight % (based on the total weight of the coating), 40-60 wt. %, preferably 43-60 wt. %, more preferably 45-50 wt. % of total fat in the coating, 30-50 wt. % of ground whole nuts having a particle size below 80 microns, preferably 10 to 73 microns, and wherein the total fat in the coating composition comprises 40-60 wt. % of liquid fat and 60-40 wt. % of hardening fat based on the total fat. The invention also relates to a method for making the coating composition.

Fat continuous confections, such a crèmes and crème-type fillings, and methods of making thereof are provided. The fat continuous confections have a high insoluble dietary fiber content and do not include sugar alcohols. The fat continuous confections have a crème-like smooth and continuous texture and have a reduced fat content/calorie content, providing consumers with a desirable taste and organoleptic properties and also satisfying today's health-conscious consumers.

The invention is related to a sugar-reduced food cream composition comprising fat, sugar and starch, wherein the starch is native starch having an average particle size between 20 μm and 30 μm, preferably between 22 μm and 28 μm, even more preferably between 23 μm and 26 μm, with a D90 smaller than 40 μm, preferably smaller than 36 μm. The invention also relates to a method of preparation of a sugar-reduced food cream composition comprising the steps of: selecting a recipe of a food cream composition comprising fat and sugar, replacing between 25% to 40%, preferably 25% to 35%, more preferably about 30% by weight of the total sugar content of said food cream composition by native starch having an average particle size between 20 μm and 30 μm, preferably between 22 μm and 28 μm, even more preferably between 23 μm and 26 μm, with a D90 smaller than 40 μm, preferably smaller than 36 μm.