SAN FRANCISCO — Year after year, Pinterest offers a peek at what’s on the rise across various industries, including food, through its “Pinterest Predicts” trends report. The annual collection of emerging trends is curated by analyzing user searches and the visual content they engage with.
For bakery owners, keeping an eye on which trends are gaining traction can help inform innovation and prep them for what customers may be seeking in 2026.
A taste of 2026 trends
Three of the 21 trends outlined by the social media platform had ties to food: Cool Blue, Gimme Gummy and Cabbage Crush.
Denoted by the cool-toned hue, Cool Blue is an emerging color to keep an eye on, particularly with Gen Z and millennials. Though predominantly seen in different beverages, the icy shade can easily be incorporated into frosting and glazes for various baked goods.
The Gimme Gummy line item nods to the vibrant, squishy confectionery getting its moment in the food space and beyond. Bakers can include motifs such as gummy bears in their designs or even top cakes and cupcakes with the sweets for a multi-textured experience. In terms of flavors, Pinterest noted a 60% uptick in searches for yokan, a Japanese dessert made from red bean paste, agar and sugar. This figure supports the thread of customer interest in international flavors.
While not a common ingredient in the baking industry, the namesake ingredient of the Cabbage Crush trend could lend design inspiration for bakers and pastry chefs. With vibrant green and purple tones, the roughage can provide a unique opportunity to craft surreal goods that nod back to the produce.
Aesthetics to keep in mind
As seen in previous iterations of the Pinterest Predicts report, being aware of trends in other disciplines, such as fashion and home decor, can place pastry chefs ahead of the curve on potential requests.
One standout is Vamp Romantic, a beauty trend popular with millennials and Gen Z that nods to gothic colors such as burgundy and purple.
The Laced Up prediction, also popular with these customer bases, nods to growing interest in the delicate doily in various industries, similar to last year’s Rococo Revived trend.
Leaning into the darker, more intricate themes outlined in other trends predictions this year, the Opera Aesthetic is defined by opulence, with motifs including drapery, roses and pearls.
Visit Pinterest for the full report.
