Are raspberries the new “it” food? Just ask the Girl Scouts.
The venerable organization, long known for its annual cookie-sales drive, has announced the newest entrant to its array offerings — Raspberry Rally, which is billed as a “thin, crispy” cookie, with a chocolate coating, that is similar in style to the classic Thin Mints, but instead “infused with raspberry flavor.” It will be available when Girl Scout cookie season commences next January, although the organization says Raspberry Rally will be sold only online at girlscouts.org.
The fact that the Girl Scouts have gone the raspberry route doesn’t come as a surprise to chefs and other food professionals, however. They say the fruit has been trending of late — and for good reason.
Raspberries “are a very versatile fruit,” said Sam Mason, a New York pastry chef who is based at the soon-to-open Press Club Grill. He points to the fact that they bring elements of both sweetness and tartness to the table — and that they pair exceptionally well with anything cocoa-related. “They cut the richness of the chocolate,” he added.
Jason Hall, executive chef of Cathédrale, a New York dining spot, also said raspberries have a nostalgic appeal. Think of such beloved sweet treats as thumbprint cookies or a linzer torte, which are both often made with raspberry jam.
“You don’t have to explain them to anybody,” said Hall of such raspberry-based desserts. And the raspberry tart he added to his menu this summer has been an especially big seller, he said.
Veteran food writer Aly Walansky also notes that the raspberry’s reach goes beyond the sweet side. The fruit can be used in a salad for lunch, or as a glaze for a dinnertime roast. Plus, Walansky said, raspberries are rich in antioxidants — they are often considered a “super food” — and are generally available year-round.
“People keep buying it and restaurants keep putting it on their menus,” Walansky said.
Indeed, raspberries, which in the U.S. are grown primarily in California, Oregon and Washington, are seeing documented sales growth. A 2022 report from market researcher IRi noted that in-store sales for the fruit increased 1.8% for the 52-week period ending March 20 and online sales increased 2%.
Learn more about the Girl Scouts and their Raspberry Rally cookies here, where you can also enter to win a sweepstakes to try the new treat.