--- title: "The Perfect Finish: Building a Dessert Menu That Complements Your Pizza Program" description: Mondelēz Chef Joel Minkoff on how pizza operators can create customizable, profitable desserts with familiar flavors, flexible portions and branded ingredients. image: https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/hubfs/strawberry-shake-meta.jpg --- [![Click to visit the Mondelez International Away From Home website](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/hubfs/mdla-afh-logo-horizontal.svg)](https://www.mondelezawayfromhome.com/) - [Trends](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com//topic/trends) - [Operations](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com//topic/operations) - [Culinary](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com//topic/culinary) - Subscribe # The Perfect Finish: Building a Dessert Menu That Complements Your Pizza Program Posted in [Desserts](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/desserts) on October 15, 2026 #### Share this post: - - - [![mini-cheesecakes](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mini-cheesecakes.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=mini-cheesecakes.jpg)](https://www.mondelezawayfromhome.com/culinary-center/individual-cheesecakes-made-oreo-cookie-425538/)[Individual Cheesecakes made with OREO Cookie Pieces](https://www.mondelezawayfromhome.com/culinary-center/individual-cheesecakes-made-oreo-cookie-425538/) For pizza operators, desserts aren’t just random add-ons; they’re an opportunity to increase check averages, encourage repeat visits and round out the guest experience. Forty-four percent of operators across segments cite adding desserts to their menu as a key driver of sales growth.1 Consumer preferences are also shifting toward flexibility: 54% are interested in mini desserts, and 61% ate their last dessert as a snack.1 In the following Q&A, Mondelēz Chef Joel Minkoff shares his expert insights on capitalizing on these and other trends to introduce customizable, margin-friendly dessert options that complement the core menu. **Q:** Pizza operators tend to be mindful of preserving the traditional Italian theme of the menu. How can restaurants use familiar brands like OREO, CHIPS AHOY!, RITZ or SOUR PATCH KIDS as the foundation for signature desserts that complement their pizza menu while still feeling unique? **Chef Joel:** Pizza operators can effectively introduce innovative desserts while preserving their traditional brand identity by focusing on items that leverage the inherent pizza theme or embrace Italian dessert styles. The opportunity lies in blending familiarity with a touch of branded novelty. For example, introducing traditional Italian desserts like cannoli, tiramisu or zeppole with chopped Mondelēz cookies can present excellent upselling opportunities. Some other ideas include reinventing the dessert pizza by incorporating branded ingredients or changing its form into an OREO Cheesecake Stuffed Calzone. Introducing a Baked Cookie Pie topped with a CHIPS AHOY! Streusel topping or a Peanut Butter Pie with a NUTTER BUTTER Brownie topping are all creative options. **Q:** Many pizza kitchens need versatile ingredients that work across multiple applications. What are some creative ways a single Mondelēz ingredient can appear in dessert pizzas, cookie skillets, cheesecakes, mini desserts and limited-time specials without adding operational complexity? **Chef Joel:** Chopped OREO Cookie Pieces are Mondelēz Away From Home’s most versatile ingredient. Using pre-crushed OREO Cookie Pieces across your dessert menu requires minimal labor and no knife work or extra prep time. This single ambient-stored ingredient acts as a crust base, mix-in and instant garnish, seamlessly elevating multiple dessert formats without slowing down the line. It is readily available in two chop sizes and different packaging options to accommodate a diverse array of creative applications and operations. **Q:** Consumers are looking for more flexibility in portion sizes. How can operators create shareable desserts, mini treats and customizable options that appeal to a wide range of guests while keeping execution simple? **Chef Joel:** Operators can meet this demand by offering bite-size treats, family-style platters and dessert flight formats that move beyond the traditional single serving. These options empower guests to control their portions, encourage sampling and sharing, and transform dessert into a fun, communal experience. A flexible base-component strategy keeps execution efficient. Start with a core item, such as a brownie square, mini tart shell or cake round; then pair it with customizable inclusions, sauces and mix-and-match toppings. This approach delivers a personalized, interactive dessert experience without adding strain to the kitchen. **Q:** Texture is essential to a memorable dessert experience. Which Mondelēz ingredients are especially versatile for adding crunch, creaminess, chewiness or contrast to dessert pizzas, baked desserts and frozen treats? **Chef Joel:** All of our Mondelēz Away From Home chopped cookie ingredients can add a textural element to your creations. OREO Cookie Grind is a versatile option and includes the center creme component for a touch of creaminess as well as that signature chocolate cookie taste and crunch. Golden OREO Cookie Grind is a newer item in our lineup and pairs beautifully with fruit and citrus flavors. I recently presented a Golden OREO Cheesecake baked with fresh blueberries, lemon zest and a Golden OREO Streusel topping — it is a delicious summer treat. Other chopped cookies like CHIPS AHOY! and NUTTER BUTTER are also excellent choices. CHIPS AHOY! Cookie Pieces bring chocolate chip cookie nostalgia to milkshakes, sundaes and layered desserts. NUTTER BUTTER Crumbles introduce a rich peanut butter taste that works wonderfully in brownies and ice cream applications. Each variety offers an easy way to elevate your menu with brand recognition and craveable taste your customers already enjoy. **Q:** Specialty beverages, shakes and dessert drinks can be profitable additions to a pizza menu. How can operators incorporate Mondelēz brands into beverages in ways that enhance flavor, texture and presentation while creating premium upsell opportunities? **Chef Joel:** Incorporating recognizable brands like OREO, Golden OREO, CHIPS AHOY! and NUTTER BUTTER into milkshakes, slushies, smoothies and coffee drinks instantly justifies a premium price point and builds consumer appeal. Blending cookie pieces directly into the mix enhances flavor and delivers the iconic taste customers already know and crave. Using cookie pieces as garnish or in layers adds texture and visual dimension that elevates presentation. Together, these elements — flavor, texture and eye-catching presentation — transform an ordinary beverage into a craveable experience that commands a higher price and delivers profitability. **Q:** Limited-time desserts help keep menus fresh throughout the year. What advice would you give pizza operators for creating seasonal desserts and beverages that generate excitement without disrupting kitchen operations? **Chef Joel:** Pizza shops can drive excitement with seasonal sweets and beverages by leveraging simple recipes, shared base ingredients and easy assembly methods that won’t disrupt the main pizza line. The key to a successful seasonal LTO strategy is following the calendar — refreshing cold beverages for summer, pumpkin spice flavors in fall and peppermint treats for the winter holidays. The most common approach is for pizza shops to utilize their existing dough and pizza ovens to create items like dessert pizzas, cinnamon sugar twists, s’mores flatbreads or warm cookie skillets. Partnering with Mondelēz Away From Home by incorporating their chopped cookies and co-branding the LTOs would help generate buzz and create newsworthy moments. **Q:** Today’s guests appreciate both nostalgic flavors and new experiences. How can pizza operators leverage global flavors, premium ingredients or contemporary presentations to give classic desserts a new twist? **Chef Joel:** Nostalgia is making a comeback, proving that familiar flavors continue to carry unrivaled appeal. It’s now referred to as “newstalgia,” and operators are upping their game to attract Gen Z consumers with limited-time offerings that feature premium ingredients and global flavor influences. For pizza operators, this means reworking classic American desserts with upscale toppings, layered textures and unexpected global twists. Think dulce de leche drizzled over warm pull-apart knots, mascarpone-stuffed half-moon calzones dusted with cinnamon sugar, or ube swirled into creamy dips served alongside crispy flatbread chips. Pistachio and black sesame add visual appeal and nutty flavor to parfaits and shareable dessert pizzas alike. By layering nostalgic formats — knots, calzones, dips and parfaits — with globally inspired ingredients, pizza operators can create dessert LTOs that drive trial, spark social media buzz and keep Gen Z coming back for more. Explore the Culinary Center for a feast of recipes from Mondelēz chefs, including a [Dessert Pizza made with OREO Cookie Pieces](https://www.mondelezawayfromhome.com/culinary-center/dessert-pizza-made-oreo-cookie-206171/) and other tasty tie-ins for pizza shops. And for more insights into leveraging desserts to feed your business, check out [The Crust of the Matter: How Pizza Operators Can Embrace Dessert Trends Without Compromising Tradition](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/the-crust-of-the-matter-how-pizza-operators-can-embrace-dessert-trends-without-compromising-tradition).” 1\. Datassential, Keynote Reports: Desserts, 2026 ## Topics in this article [Desserts](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/desserts), [CHIPS AHOY!](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/chips-ahoy), [NUTTER BUTTER](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/nutter-butter), [OREO](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/oreo), [Operations](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/operations), [pizza](https://insights.mdlzawayfromhome.com/topic/pizza) ## Join our email list! Be the first to know when we drop new articles, trends and insights, with updates delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, you'll get an insider perspective on all things foodservice, carefully curated to help you grow your business. By submitting my email address, I agree to receive marketing communications from Mondelēz International. 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