In the U.S., where diners of all generations possess an insatiable sweet tooth, chefs have leveraged nearly every opportunity to incorporate sweeteners—like brown sugar, maple syrup and honey—into new menu items. Yet when it comes to pearl sugar, those crunchy chunks of compressed sugar crystals are often confined to one application: Belgian Liège waffles.

It’s worth noting there are two types of pearl sugar: Swedish and Belgian. While they are often used interchangeably, smaller Swedish pearl sugar is mainly used as a topper for baked goods, while larger Belgian pearl sugar tends to be baked into desserts (like Liège waffles).

In Datassential’s menu database, almost every item featuring pearl sugar is a variation on a Liège waffle. This ranges from multiple chicken and waffle entrées to The Commissioner Burger served at Tampa, Fla.-area social club Gigglewaters, which layers a pearl sugar-waffle on top of a Wagyu beef patty enrobed with Gouda. Cubes of the restaurant’s signature “butcher block bacon” go over the waffle, dropping into its nooks and crannies.

But pearl sugar is more than a one-trick pony, adding both sweetness and crunch to foods in a manner that other sweeteners can’t match. At a time when textural contrast is in greater demand than ever, pearl sugar can be a unique and multi-functional ingredient in the breakfast, dessert and beverage toolkits.

Pearl sugar-encrusted waffles find a play in traditional breakfast set-ups but can also stretch into savory dishes, offering a whimsical look and textural counterpoint.

Nine Sweet Menu Ideas

1. Crispy Croissants: Over-the-top croissants are on-trend. Add crunch factor by sprinkling pearl sugar in between dough layers or on top.
2. Plated Desserts: Upscale, plated desserts often benefit from a final crunchy element to contrast with tender ingredients like cake and ice cream.
3. Coffee Crunch: Crunchy toppers (think sprinkles) often increase consumer purchase intent scores for coffee beverages and frozen drinks, according to Datassential.
4. Bread Carriers: For a sweet-and-savory breakfast sandwich carrier, add pearl sugar to the dough.
5. Cocktail Rimmers: Sugar rims are a cocktail classic—a craggy pearl sugar rim can be a striking addition to modern drink builds.
6. Breakfast Bowls: From oatmeal to chia bowls, a finish of pearl sugar adds eye candy, sweetness and crunch.
7. Breakfast Classics: Think beyond Liège waffles, incorporating pearl sugar into favorites such as pancakes, cinnamon rolls, French toast and muffins.
8. Snack Mixes: In upscale bar snacks the addition of pearl sugar delivers an unexpected pop of sweetness.
9. Topping Bars: Include pearl sugar as an option at D.I.Y. topping bars, offering guests customization of treats like yogurt bowls or ice cream sundaes.