GB2159688A - Filled snack product - Google Patents

Abstract

A snack product comprises a casing (2) which is formed by two wafer shells (4, 5) and has a shape reproducing the shape of the shell of a dry fruit. The casing (2) contains a creamy or pasty filling (3) which is in contact with the inner surfaces of the shells and may be made from the dry fruit whose shape is reproduced by the casing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Filled snack product The subject ofthe present invention is a snack product the characteristic of which lies in the fact that it comprises: - a casing formed by two wafer shells, whose shape reproduces the shape of the shell of a dry fruit, and a filling of creamy or pasty consistency contained in the casing incontactwiththewafershells.

By virtue of this characteristic, a snack product is formed which has the characteristics of palatability typical of products constituted by a filling enclosed between two wafer half-shells, together with the attractive characteristics of certain dry fruits (such as peanuts, hazel-nuts, almonds, etc.) conventionally used as bite-sized snacks.

The filling ofthe product according to the invention may be constituted by any substantially anhydrous creamy or pasty food composition, that is, a composition with a low moisture content that will not soften the wafer shells. Among the products usable for the filling ofthe product according to the invention may be mentioned, for example, cream cheese, pates, and fat mixtures flavoured with powdered onion, powdered garlic, essential oils and spices.

To advantage, the filling may be constituted by a substantially anhydrous paste made from dry fruit, such as a paste made from peanuts, hazel-nuts, almonds, etc.

In fact, with the use of such a filling, it is possible to achieve a sort of match between the taste ofthefilling and the shape of the casing containing it: for example, a casing reproducing the shape of a peanut shell may be filled with a peanut-based paste.

The filling may also enclose an edible core constituted by the pulp of a dry fruit.

The term "pulp" is intended to mean the immediately edible part ofthe dry fruit, such as the kernel of a walnut or a peanut. The "pulp" of the fruit is in its turn enclosed in a "shell" which is normally discarded.

The edible core of the filling may be constitued by a fragment or a part ofthe pulp ofthe same dry fruit as that whose overall shape is reproduced bythe shape ofthe casing ofthe snack product.

The invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a snack product according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a section taken onthe line ll-ll of Figure 1.

In the drawings, a snack product, generally indicated 1, is constituted essentially by a wafer casing 2 which contains a filling 3 of creamy or pasty consistency (Figure 2).

The casing 2 is constituted by two concave shells or half-shells 4,5 ofwaferwhich together define a closed cavity containing the filling 3. The filling 3 is in direct contact with the inner surfaces ofthetwo wafer shells.

The mating edges ofthetwo shells 4,5 are joined together at points or continuously by a deposit 6 of a fatty compositron which is normally solid at ambient temperatures.

The dimensions of the casing 2, which definethe overall size of the product 1, typically those of a titbit or snack. The most relevant characteristic of the casing 2 isthefactthat its shape reproduces the shape ofthe shell of a dry fruit.

The drawings to which the present description refers illustrate a casing 2 with a shape which reproduces the shape of a peanut shell. With the use of two wafer shells, however, it is possible to form casings whose shapes reproduce the shapes of the shells of other dry fruits such as, for example, the walnut (Juglans regia),the pecan nut (Caria pecan), the brazil nut (Berthollettia excelsa), the hazel-nut or the almond.

The filling 3 is constituted by a substantially anhydrous cream or pasty food composition, this term being intended to mean a composition with a mois ture content which will not cause softening of the wafer shells 4 and 5. If this were not the case, apart from the disagreeable organoleptic effect of a casing which has gone soft, the product could not be kept, mainly because of moulds.

Thefilling 3 may be constituted bya creamyfat having a salty or spicy taste, such as a cream flavoured with powdered onion or garlic, essential oils and spices. Processed cheese, pate or similar products, a hazel-nut or almond-based cream or paste, etc., can also be usedforthefilling 3.

Preferably, the filling 3 is constituted by a substantially anhydrous paste made from a dry fruit.

in the embodiment illustrated, in which the casing 2 reproduces the shape of a peanut, it is possible to use a peanut-based paste as the filling 3so as to achieve a match between the overall appearance of the product 1 and the taste offered to the consumer.

Finally, an edible core inserted in the filling 3 is indicated 7. In the embodiment illustrated, the core 7 is constituted by half a peanut: when the filling 3 is constituted by a peanut-based paste there is thus complete matching between the flavour ofthe product 1 and its overall shape. It is possible to place several edible cores 7 in the filling 3 to enhance the taste offered bythe cores to the consumer.

1. Asnackproductcomprising a casing formed by two wafer shells and having a shape which reproduces the shape of the shell of a dry fruit, and a filling of creamy or pasty consistency contained in the casing in contact with the wafer shells.

2. A product according to Claim 1, in which the filling is constituted by a substantially anhydrous, dry-fruit-based paste.

3. A product according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the filling encloses an edible core of dry fruit pulp.

4. A snack product substantially as herein de scribedwith referenceto, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Filled snack product The subject ofthe present invention is a snack product the characteristic of which lies in the fact that it comprises: - a casing formed by two wafer shells, whose shape reproduces the shape of the shell of a dry fruit, and a filling of creamy or pasty consistency contained in the casing incontactwiththewafershells. By virtue of this characteristic, a snack product is formed which has the characteristics of palatability typical of products constituted by a filling enclosed between two wafer half-shells, together with the attractive characteristics of certain dry fruits (such as peanuts, hazel-nuts, almonds, etc.) conventionally used as bite-sized snacks. The filling ofthe product according to the invention may be constituted by any substantially anhydrous creamy or pasty food composition, that is, a composition with a low moisture content that will not soften the wafer shells. Among the products usable for the filling ofthe product according to the invention may be mentioned, for example, cream cheese, pates, and fat mixtures flavoured with powdered onion, powdered garlic, essential oils and spices. To advantage, the filling may be constituted by a substantially anhydrous paste made from dry fruit, such as a paste made from peanuts, hazel-nuts, almonds, etc. In fact, with the use of such a filling, it is possible to achieve a sort of match between the taste ofthefilling and the shape of the casing containing it: for example, a casing reproducing the shape of a peanut shell may be filled with a peanut-based paste. The filling may also enclose an edible core constituted by the pulp of a dry fruit. The term "pulp" is intended to mean the immediately edible part ofthe dry fruit, such as the kernel of a walnut or a peanut. The "pulp" of the fruit is in its turn enclosed in a "shell" which is normally discarded. The edible core of the filling may be constitued by a fragment or a part ofthe pulp ofthe same dry fruit as that whose overall shape is reproduced bythe shape ofthe casing ofthe snack product. The invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a snack product according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a section taken onthe line ll-ll of Figure 1. In the drawings, a snack product, generally indicated 1, is constituted essentially by a wafer casing 2 which contains a filling 3 of creamy or pasty consistency (Figure 2). The casing 2 is constituted by two concave shells or half-shells 4,5 ofwaferwhich together define a closed cavity containing the filling 3. The filling 3 is in direct contact with the inner surfaces ofthetwo wafer shells. The mating edges ofthetwo shells 4,5 are joined together at points or continuously by a deposit 6 of a fatty compositron which is normally solid at ambient temperatures. The dimensions of the casing 2, which definethe overall size of the product 1, typically those of a titbit or snack. The most relevant characteristic of the casing 2 isthefactthat its shape reproduces the shape ofthe shell of a dry fruit. The drawings to which the present description refers illustrate a casing 2 with a shape which reproduces the shape of a peanut shell. With the use of two wafer shells, however, it is possible to form casings whose shapes reproduce the shapes of the shells of other dry fruits such as, for example, the walnut (Juglans regia),the pecan nut (Caria pecan), the brazil nut (Berthollettia excelsa), the hazel-nut or the almond. The filling 3 is constituted by a substantially anhydrous cream or pasty food composition, this term being intended to mean a composition with a mois ture content which will not cause softening of the wafer shells 4 and 5. If this were not the case, apart from the disagreeable organoleptic effect of a casing which has gone soft, the product could not be kept, mainly because of moulds. Thefilling 3 may be constituted bya creamyfat having a salty or spicy taste, such as a cream flavoured with powdered onion or garlic, essential oils and spices. Processed cheese, pate or similar products, a hazel-nut or almond-based cream or paste, etc., can also be usedforthefilling 3. Preferably, the filling 3 is constituted by a substantially anhydrous paste made from a dry fruit. in the embodiment illustrated, in which the casing 2 reproduces the shape of a peanut, it is possible to use a peanut-based paste as the filling 3so as to achieve a match between the overall appearance of the product 1 and the taste offered to the consumer. Finally, an edible core inserted in the filling 3 is indicated 7. In the embodiment illustrated, the core 7 is constituted by half a peanut: when the filling 3 is constituted by a peanut-based paste there is thus complete matching between the flavour ofthe product 1 and its overall shape. It is possible to place several edible cores 7 in the filling 3 to enhance the taste offered bythe cores to the consumer. CLAIMS

1. Asnackproductcomprising a casing formed by two wafer shells and having a shape which reproduces the shape of the shell of a dry fruit, and a filling of creamy or pasty consistency contained in the casing in contact with the wafer shells.

2. A product according to Claim 1, in which the filling is constituted by a substantially anhydrous, dry-fruit-based paste.

3. A product according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the filling encloses an edible core of dry fruit pulp.

4. A snack product substantially as herein de scribedwith referenceto, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.