In 2023, the global dessert market hit USD 65.35 billion and pushed dessert sales to about $70B, while online dessert delivery surged 25% and quick service restaurants captured 40% of dessert revenue. What stands out most is how quickly tastes are shifting at the same time, with low-sugar demand up 28% post-2020 and AI personalization boosting dessert sales by 15%. The mix of chocolate dominance and the rise of fruit, probiotics, and even 3D printed desserts makes these figures feel less like trivia and more like a clear signal for what comes next.
Key Takeaways
- 45% of consumers prefer chocolate desserts.
- 32% of millennials buy desserts weekly.
- 28% rise in demand for low-sugar desserts post-2020.
- AI personalization increases dessert sales 15%.
- 3D printed desserts in 20% high-end restaurants.
- Sustainable packaging adopted by 65% brands.
- The global dessert market was valued at USD 65.35 billion in 2023.
- The dessert market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.
- U.S. dessert market size reached $24.5 billion in 2022.
- Global ice cream production 14.6 billion liters in 2022.
- U.S. produces 4.3 billion liters ice cream annually.
- Chocolate used in 70% of dessert manufacturing.
- Global dessert sales reached $70B in 2023.
- U.S. supermarket dessert sales $18B annually.
- Online dessert delivery sales up 25% in 2023.
With the global dessert market growing to $70B in 2023, tastes are shifting toward chocolate, low sugar, and personalized options.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Preferences21 stats
01
45% of consumers prefer chocolate desserts.
02
32% of millennials buy desserts weekly.
03
28% rise in demand for low-sugar desserts post-2020.
04
61% of women prefer fruit-based desserts.
05
Gen Z favors Instagrammable desserts by 40%.
06
55% consumers seek gluten-free options in desserts.
07
Average American consumes 20 lbs ice cream yearly.
08
37% prefer homemade desserts over store-bought.
09
Dark chocolate desserts popular with 48% adults.
10
25% increase in keto-friendly dessert purchases.
11
52% families buy ice cream for occasions.
12
Plant-based ice cream chosen by 22% vegans.
13
41% seniors prefer traditional desserts.
14
Exotic flavors appeal to 35% urban consumers.
15
29% avoid nuts in desserts due to allergies.
16
Cheesecake top choice for 18% consumers.
17
64% pair desserts with coffee.
18
Organic desserts bought by 19% health-conscious.
19
33% impulse buy desserts at checkout.
20
Tiramisu favored by 15% in Europe.
21
47% prefer creamy textures in puddings.
Interpretation
Consumer Preferences Interpretation
Within consumer preferences, demand is clearly shifting toward healthier and shareable dessert choices, with 28% more people seeking low-sugar options after 2020 and 55% actively looking for gluten-free desserts while 40% of Gen Z also favors Instagrammable treats.
02 · Category
Industry Trends And Innovations21 stats
01
AI personalization increases dessert sales 15%.
02
3D printed desserts in 20% high-end restaurants.
03
Sustainable packaging adopted by 65% brands.
04
Functional desserts with probiotics up 40%.
05
AR try-before-buy for desserts boosts 25% sales.
06
Lab-grown chocolate in trials by 10 companies.
07
Zero-waste desserts trending in 30% menus.
08
NFT-linked limited desserts sold 1M units.
09
Molecular gastronomy desserts 15% fine dining.
10
CBD-infused desserts legal in 25 states.
11
Robot chefs produce 50K desserts daily in Asia.
12
Upcycled ingredients in 18% new products.
13
Voice ordering for desserts up 35%.
14
Hyper-local flavors in 40% new launches.
15
Edible packaging for desserts piloted by Nestle.
16
Metaverse dessert experiences attract 5M users.
17
Fermented desserts gain 28% market interest.
18
Glow-in-dark desserts viral with 100M views.
19
Blockchain traceability in 12% supply chains.
20
Personalized nutrition desserts via apps 20% adoption.
21
Insect protein desserts tested in EU markets.
Interpretation
Industry Trends And Innovations Interpretation
Dessert innovation is quickly becoming tech and sustainability driven, with AI personalization lifting sales by 15% and sustainable packaging already adopted by 65% of brands.
03 · Category
Market Size And Growth20 stats
01
The global dessert market was valued at USD 65.35 billion in 2023.
02
The dessert market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.
03
U.S. dessert market size reached $24.5 billion in 2022.
04
Europe holds 35% share of the global dessert market in 2023.
05
Asia-Pacific dessert market expected to grow fastest at 6.1% CAGR.
06
Global ice cream market size was $79.8 billion in 2023.
07
Chocolate confectionery market valued at $130 billion globally in 2022.
08
U.S. cake and pastry market at $12.3 billion in 2023.
09
Plant-based desserts market to reach $8.5 billion by 2028.
10
Global bakery desserts segment valued at $45 billion in 2023.
11
Premium dessert market in North America grew 7% YoY in 2023.
12
Online dessert sales market hit $15 billion globally in 2023.
13
Frozen desserts market size $52.4 billion in 2022.
14
Middle East dessert market projected to $10B by 2027.
15
Latin America dessert consumption up 4.5% in 2023.
16
Global pudding and custard market at $7.2 billion.
17
U.S. donut market valued $14.8 billion in 2023.
18
Vegan dessert market growing at 9.2% CAGR to 2030.
19
Australia dessert market size $3.5 billion in 2022.
20
Global sorbet market at $2.1 billion in 2023.
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
With the global dessert market at USD 65.35 billion in 2023 and forecast to expand at a 5.2% CAGR through 2030, the strongest growth signal comes from Asia Pacific, expected to grow fastest at 6.1% CAGR.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics20 stats
01
Global ice cream production 14.6 billion liters in 2022.
02
U.S. produces 4.3 billion liters ice cream annually.
03
Chocolate used in 70% of dessert manufacturing.
04
2.5 million tons sugar in global desserts yearly.
05
Bakery desserts output 12 billion units in EU.
06
India produces 500,000 tons sweetmeats annually.
07
Frozen yogurt production up 15% in 2023.
08
80% desserts use dairy ingredients.
09
Gelato production in Italy 500 million liters.
10
U.S. candy production 20 billion pounds yearly.
11
Plant-based dessert production doubled since 2019.
12
China bakery desserts 8 billion pieces annually.
13
Average dessert factory outputs 1M units/day.
14
60% desserts pasteurized during production.
15
Brazil produces 1.2 billion liters ice cream.
16
Waste in dessert production 5% average.
17
Automated lines produce 90% mass desserts.
18
Milk powder key in 40% dry dessert mixes.
19
France pastry production 2 billion units.
20
Organic dessert production 10% total in EU.
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Under Production Statistics, desserts are being made at massive scale with 14.6 billion liters of ice cream worldwide in 2022, alongside substantial inputs like 2.5 million tons of sugar used globally each year and bakery desserts reaching 12 billion units in the EU.
05 · Category
Sales And Distribution20 stats
01
Global dessert sales reached $70B in 2023.
02
U.S. supermarket dessert sales $18B annually.
03
Online dessert delivery sales up 25% in 2023.
04
Quick service restaurants 40% dessert revenue share.
05
Export of desserts from EU $5B in 2022.
06
Walmart top dessert retailer with 15% share.
07
Convenience store dessert sales $4.2B US.
08
Premium pricing boosts dessert margins 20%.
09
Asia dessert retail sales $25B in 2023.
10
Ice cream parlor sales average $500K/year.
11
Private label desserts 30% market share.
12
Seasonal sales peak 50% in summer for ice cream.
13
E-commerce platforms 12% of total sales.
14
Hotel dessert sales contribute 8% F&B revenue.
15
Discount stores 22% volume share desserts.
16
Global chocolate sales $120B in confectionery.
17
Takeaway dessert sales surged 30% post-pandemic.
18
Bakery chain sales $10B US desserts.
19
Impulse dessert sales 35% at POS.
20
Subscription boxes for desserts $1B market.
Interpretation
Sales And Distribution Interpretation
With global dessert sales hitting $70B in 2023 and online delivery up 25% that same year, the sales and distribution landscape is clearly shifting toward faster digital channels while U.S. supermarket sales remain a major $18B anchor.
report visual · Key figures
Consumer preferences for popular dessert options
Taste and lifestyle preferences vary widely across dessert choices (e.g., chocolate, fruit-based, gluten-free, and texture).
45%
45% of consumers prefer chocolate desserts.
61%
61% of women prefer fruit-based desserts.
55%
55% consumers seek gluten-free options in desserts.
47%
47% prefer creamy textures in puddings.
37%
37% prefer homemade desserts over store-bought.
29%
29% avoid nuts in desserts due to allergies.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Dessert Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dessert-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Dessert Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/dessert-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Dessert Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dessert-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
70 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
shopify.com