A Sweet Surprise: Discovering Nourish’s Dessert Bars – Can a treat really be indulgent without dairy, gluten or refined sugar? I tried three of Nourish’s chilled dessert bars and was pleasantly surprised by just how tasty they were.
I’m always interested in discovering products that offer something a little different, particularly when they promise a more thoughtful approach to the treats we enjoy. But I’ll be honest: when it comes to anything sweet, taste is still top of my list. A product can have the most impressive ingredient list in the world, but if it doesn’t deliver on flavour, it isn’t going to win me over.
So, when I tried the dessert bars from Nourish, I was genuinely impressed. These are not simply snacks designed to tick a few dietary boxes; they offer a lovely little moment of indulgence, whether you fancy something sweet after lunch or a treat to enjoy with your afternoon cuppa.
A little about keto and paleo
You may have noticed the terms keto and paleo appearing on food packaging, but what do they actually mean, and why might they influence the snacks we choose?
The ketogenic, or keto, diet involves significantly restricting carbohydrates and increasing the proportion of energy obtained from fats. The aim is to encourage the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. Anyone following keto strictly will need to check the carbohydrate content of individual foods, as being free from grains or refined sugar doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for a ketogenic diet.
Paleo eating takes a different approach. It focuses on foods associated with diets before modern agriculture, such as vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, meat and fish, while generally excluding grains, dairy and many highly processed foods.
Neither approach is for everyone, of course, and you don’t need to follow a particular eating plan to enjoy snacks made with a different selection of ingredients. Nourish’s bars are vegan and free from dairy, gluten, grains and refined sugar, which may appeal to people with particular dietary preferences or those simply looking for an alternative to conventional chocolate bars and desserts.
For me, though, the real test was always going to be flavour.
Three tempting treats
If you enjoy the combination of chocolate and nuts, this is a good place to start. Coconutty has a cacao macaroon base, roasted almond butter and a thick coating of raw cacao. Nourish describes it as reminiscent of a Snickers bar, and I can certainly see the appeal of that chocolate-and-nut combination.
It feels indulgent, with coconut adding another layer of flavour, and is a lovely option when you fancy something sweet without reaching for a conventional chocolate bar.
The Coconutty Bar has also received a Great Taste Award and a silver medal at the Free From Food Awards, so it has some impressive recognition behind it.
For those who love chocolate and caramel, this bar brings the two together in a raw dessert inspired by millionaire’s shortbread. Made with ingredients including almonds, dates, coconut oil and cacao butter, it offers a familiar flavour combination without dairy or refined sugar.
It sounds like a lovely alternative when you fancy something sweet alongside your afternoon coffee. The combination gives it that familiar dessert appeal, without relying on dairy or refined sugar.
The fruitier member of the trio, Raspbounty combines coconut and raspberry with Medjool dates and walnuts, finished with freeze-dried raspberries and cacao.
I like the idea of this one as an accompaniment to afternoon tea. The raspberry brings a fruity note to the mix, while the coconut and cacao keep it firmly in dessert territory. It offers something a little different from the chocolate-and-caramel combinations and is worth considering if you prefer a fruitier treat.
Chilled bars with more to discover
The three bars I tried are just part of the Nourish range. There are other flavours to explore, including Peppermint and Strawberry & Choc Mousse, so there is plenty of variety for those who enjoy trying something new.
You can also opt for a chilled bar selection box, which brings together three varieties: Coconutty, Caramel and Raspbounty. It is a useful way to sample the range and discover which flavour you like best.
One of the practical things to know is that these are chilled dessert bars, rather than the sort of snack you simply keep in a cupboard. They arrive chilled and can be stored in the fridge or popped into the freezer and allowed to defrost before eating. Nourish suggests they take as little as five minutes to defrost, making them easy to keep on hand for those moments when a sweet craving strikes.
I can see them working particularly well as a little dessert after lunch, or as something to enjoy with a cup of tea when you fancy a break. They feel a little more special than an everyday snack, without requiring any preparation.
A sweet surprise
What I took away from trying Nourish’s dessert bars is that a treat made with a different selection of ingredients can still deliver on flavour. I genuinely enjoyed them, and that is what matters most to me when reviewing any food product. Whether you’re looking for an alternative to conventional sweet treats or simply curious to try something new, these bars are well worth exploring.
I have previously written about the story behind Nourish and its founder, which you can read here: From Intensive Care to Intentional Snacking: The Story Behind Nourish.
Discover the range: Nourish Chilled Dessert Bars alternatively visit Ocado here.
Poppy Watt