Snackmas Day 17- M&S Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Rolls

I couldn't get enough of the Maple Bacon Tortilla Rolls that graced us last Snackmas - They were ridiculously moreish and I thought, quite an "original" idea to put out there despite still not being all too sure exactly what Maple has to do with Christmas..  

M&S being M&S however aren't just happy with one repeat flavour and this year have chosen to embrace their spicy side with these NEW Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Rolls. I snapped up the physically dinkier, although still 190g bag, for £1.50 and took reassurance in the fact that they are gluten free as well as suitable for veggies and vegans. 

Tearing into the bag, a smell that can only be described as that of "seaside doughnuts" came from the Rolls which naturally, made my hopes soar to great heights. Almost greasy and buttery in taste, the Tortilla's still had the signature corn chip flavour combined with a semi sweetness that really was like the aforementioned.. Minus the overload of sugar, of course! The comforting warmth of cinnamon was consistent throughout and came through subtly along with providing a delicious aftertaste which made them all too easy to munch away at. Texture wise, they were equally as flawless in being satisfyingly crisp and satisfyingly crunchy - Yum!

Ah M&S have only gone and done it again.. These Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Rolls are bloomin' brilliant! They pack just the right balance of sweet and spice, combined with the pure delight of some sort of doughy fritter - I think I can safely say, no one is going to turn their nose up at that! Get a bag,  why dontcha - It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Snackmas Day 11- Joe & Seph's Popcorn: Belgian Chocolate & Mint and Belgian Chocolate & Orange

Looking for an alternative to top up your Christmas Do snack bowls? How about a stocking filler? Magical movie muncher? Look no further! Joe & Seph's, the popcorn Prancers, have us covered with 2 "of the season" flavours - Mint Choc and Choc Orange! 

My Snackmas Elf, Charlotte, ordered me the 80g bags from Ocado when they were £2.99 each - They do tend to be on offer quite a bit though so keep your eyes peeled. Both varieties contain no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and they are also suitable for vegetarians and the Gluten Free-ers. 

Caramel, Belgian Chocolate & Mint

Tearing into the bag, the minty, refreshing scent was most potent and very inviting. Grabbing a handful, the aroma proved to reflect in the taste with just the right balance of mint, pairing with the dark cocoa tones of the chocolate for that "After Eight" feel, combined with buttery sweetness from the caramel. Texture wise, the corn was of the aerated, munchy crunchy kind opposed to a "healthy" light and fluffy stuff with no unpopped kernels at the bottom of the packet, making for one indulgent, mint lingering treat! A 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Caramel, Belgian Chocolate and Orange

I was expected to be bowled over by citrus upon opening the bag but this turned out to be not the case - Orange was there but not overly potent. Thankfully, taste wise it did deliver a zesty kick, complimenting the smooth and creamy milk chocolate wonderfully. Further sweetness came from the caramel coating which similarly to above, reminded me of a frosted Butterkist Popcorn with a harder, more luxury feel. Chocolate Orange fans rejoice! - It's another 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, both these Joe & Seph's Popcorns are sublime and near enough faultless - With both the Mint and Orange flavours being spot on and the quality of corn itself being unbeatable in my opinion, my only grumble is the price tag and the size of the bags.. But then again, given how addictive the stuff is, any more grammage and chances are, I won't be fitting into my Santa suit! Now, go read Peanut's review and reap in the Brandy Butter!

Review- Nutri-Bombz Box: Salted Caramel Protein and Coconut Flapjack Bombz & Raspberry and Toffee Apple Bitz

A couple of weeks ago, the unbeknown company to me, that is Nutri-Bombz, asked if I would like to sample some their 100% natural, gluten free, protein packed snacks which are currently wooing premiership footballers, celebrity personal trainers and a number of professional athletes. With such a list of clientele, I was hardly going to say no and a few short days later, a box arrived on my doorstep. 

Designed to fit through your letterbox, the biodegradable pack is also perfect for being delivered to your work place - Ideal if like me, you're only too tempted to go buy a sneaky Twix for Elevenses.. Followed by a Wispa to get over the 3pm slump. 

Opening up my mysterious package, I found 4 packs of different and individually segmented snacks - Salted Caramel Protein-Bombz, Coconut Flapjack Nutri-Bombz, Raspberry Nutri-Bitz and Toffee Apple Nutri-Bitz - Great for portion control and all made without added sugars, additives or preservatives. 

Salted Caramel Protein-Bombz

Dates, Whey Protein (Milk), Vanilla Extract, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Powder, Chia Seeds (Seeds), Natural Flavouring - 71 Calories Each, 10.7g Carbs, 10.3g Sugars, 3.7g Protein, 1.7g Fats, 0.6g Sat Fats, 0.08g Salt. 

I figured starting with the snack which most appealed to me was the way forward and cut into the little domed beauty using some real elbow grease - It was mighty dense and mighty sticky! This reflected in the texture as it proved to be ridiculously chewy and not to dissimilar to Date Hearts in both feel and flavour with the super sweet dates coming through prominently, a long with lots of vanilla tones. The outside of Chia seeds didn't add anything in terms of taste but did deliver a crunch to break up some of the continuous chew. A bit heavy going but overall, not unpleasant - A 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Coconut Flapjack

Apricot, Oats, Raisins, Sunflower Oil, Coconut (Nuts), Honey, Cashew Nuts (Nuts), Coconut Oil, Linseed (Seed), Natural Flavouring - 85 Calories Each, 9.8g Carbs, 6.3g Sugars, 1.7g Protein, 4.4g Fats, 2.9g Sat Fats, 0.01g Salt. 

Moving onto the Flapjack and unfortunately the one that I couldn't eat given the use of cashew nuts.. Luckily, MSW offered up her sampling services! Very crumbly as the picture suggests, the Bombz were really quite dry and bitty thanks to being loaded with coconut to the extent of it being the only element with any flavour.. It was that potent! The vibrant orange apricot pieces added a smidgen of sweetness with help from the odd raisin but in terms of taste, didn't bring anything to the table.. Neither did those pesky cashew nuts apparently! It's a 3 out of 5 from MSW. 

Raspberry Nutri-Bitz

Dates, Whey Powder (Milk), Soy Protein (Soya), Vanilla Extract, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Power, Natural Flavouring, Brown Rice Protein - 60 Calories per 20g Serving, 10g Carbs, 9.8g Sugars, 4.3g Protein, 0.6g Fats, 0.3g Sat Fats, 0.11g Salt. 

Back to the offerings I could actually eat.. The Raspberry Nutri-Bitz! Smelling very fruity, the miniature dusted balls certainly delivered their namesake flavour which slightly bizarrely, transitioned into a Parma Violet sort of taste, mixed with the usual "earthy/dirt" flavour I always find to be present in said snacks - Not as repulsive as the grim Good4U Bites but still apparent. Texture wise, there was not much to complain about being almost fudgy combined with crispy nibs.. Perfect for eating by the handful - 3 out of 5! 

Toffee Apple Nutri-Bitz

Dates, Whey Powder (Milk), Soy Protein (Soya), Vanilla Extract, Dried Apple, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Power, Natural Flavouring, Brown Rice Protein - 60 Calories per 20g Serving, 9.6g Carbs, 9.4g Sugars, 4.1g Protein, 0.6g Fats, 0.3g Sat Fats, 0.1g Salt. 

Last up and perhaps coming with a slighty blurry picture.. The Toffee Apple version of the above. Once again, the feel and flavour was spot on - Dense enough to be a decent mouthful but plenty soft and squidgy with tons of undeniably, appley tones. I can't say I noticed much toffee but vanilla was distinguishable, pairing up with the fruit nicely and making for something which was somewhat like a sweet. One thing I have to mention however was that my tongue and throat did feel a bit weird and generally sore after eating both these and the Raspberry which I can only put down to the Soy Protein in the ingredients.. So, if legumes are an issue for you, best steer clear! It's another 3 out of 5. 

Overall, this Nutri-Bombz Box seems just about ideal for anyone who's health-conscious and/or looking for alternatives to the usual "bad" snacks - Each that I received is more than adequate in hitting ones sweet spot and filling an empty gap.. But as someone who doesn't exactly stick to the #fitfam way of life, I personally wouldn't feel compelled to order on a regular basis. That is of course just me though and if your diets are much more admirable, hop on over to the Nutri-Bombz website, create a list of your favourites from the plethora of snacks available and let the team select 4 trays to send to you at a cost of £4.99 - It may just be right up your street! Thanks Nutri-Bombz. 

Review- Ape Crispy Coconut Whirls: Lightly Salted and Slightly Peppered

It's no secret I like coconut.. I can't get enough, I'd eat it every day, it is safe to say I love it! These Ape Coconut Curls were one thing of the tropical stuff I hadn't tried however and after having read a certain someones review.. I knew I had too! Luckily for me, a few packets were forwarded on!

Having googled Ape, I discovered they are a very health focused company with the ethos that all snacks should be from a natural origin without the use of sugar, chemicals and certainly never part of any yucky processing. Both 20g bags (Lightly Salted and Slightly Peppered) are gluten free, high in fibre and even part of your five a day - It's a winner all round. 

Lightly Salted

Starting with the Lightly Salted which I considered to be the "tamer" option, at first whiff, I immediately decided they smelt like Bonfire Night. Don't be thinking I am mad.. They really did have an uncanny scent that I can only decipher to be that of gunpowder - Safe to say, the curls gave me warm fuzzy feelings before even tasting! Thin and crisp in texture, the salt aspect was clear from first munch and was really quite saline. This then mellowed to allow the traditional taste of unsweetened coconut to come through with the creamy, tropical tones really shining. Bizarrely, the two worked well together and I was only to happy to finish the bag! A 4 out of 5 from me. 

Slightly Peppered

Pepper - It isn't my favourite given that I find pretty much life too hot and spicy but once again, a potent "indian-esque" aroma lured me in. The dusted Curls felt much thicker in this bag albeit still pretty uniform in size with a crunchy feel. Cardamon really was the star of the show here with my hesitancy about the pepper falling way into the background - Even the coconut aspect didn't prevail! MSW claimed they tasted a lot like a Vegetable Samosa and was only to happy to nab to pack. Flavourful and consistent throughout - Another 4 out of 5. 

Overall, these Ape Coconut Curls are quite the delight and between myself and MSW, they didn't hang around for long! If you're into coconut big time or even if you just fancy a healthier snack, they are definitely worth a whirl.. It even looks like a Chilli edition might be coming to the range soon! Keep your eyes peeled, folks! 

Review- Shaken Udder NEW Uber Udder 1 Litre: Vanillalicious! and Chocolush!

Happy Chocolate Milkshake Day! This could be no more fitting since it's all about Shaken Udder and their NEW Uber Udder 1 litre cartons on this sunny Monday! 

I was contacted by the every so lovely, Nikki who asked if I would be interested in trying the larger sized, Vanillalicious! and Chocolush! Shakes which I didn't hesitate accepting given my all round love of SU. As seen with the 330ml bottles, both flavours are made from British Milk, are free from gluten, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives along with being a source of B12 and naturally, Calcium. They are also suitable for the Veggies amongst us with a recyclable carton for the planet savers. 

Vanillalicious!

Our divinely smooth Vanillalicious milkshake is made with real vanilla beans and is utterly delectable in every way. Get your vanilla fix in a flash!

Pictures lie - There were so many more vanilla seeds in the Shake than what appears.. It was loaded! This certainly reflected in the taste with a flavour of full on vanilla along with sweet, creamy milkiness which once again, just as the 330ml version did, reminded me of a White Magnum. Texture wise, the Milkshake slipped down a treat with its silky smooth feel and just the right thickness - Nothing claggy here! A 4.5 out of 5 from me.

Chocolush!

Our sumptuously smooth Chocolush milkshake made with real Belgian chocolate, is your moment of bliss anytime of the day. 

Moving onto the Chocolush! and our main source of celebration today.. It even smelt like traditional chocolate milk! Taking a swig, the familiar sweet, hint of caramel, cocoa tones were upon me with that uncanny "ice cream" flavour which I am still sure to be that of Ben & Jerry's. The consistency was undeniably luxurious, identical to above and overall, not sickly in the slightest, making for one very very drinkable Shake! - Another 4.5 out of 5! 

Well, I can't say I am suprised.. When it comes to store bought Milkshakes, I really think it's difficult to find anything more top-notch than Shaken Udder! These NEW Uber Udder Cartons are addictively good with a quality you can't question whatsoever - It is nice to see that the standard hasn't slipped just because of the larger quantity either! Available now in Waitrose, The Co Op and independent retailers with a RRP of £2.20-£2.70 a carton, I highly recommend you go get both. If only they did Top Banana in "big" too.. Alas, off you pop - Someone pick me up a 330ml bottle, thanks!  

Review- Ikorn NEW Gourmet & Health Kick Popcorn: Sweet, Salted & Himalayan Salted

Last week, a lovely chap called Richard (Hi Richard!) from Ikorn Popcorn contacted me asking if I would like to try their recently released, brand spanking NEW Premium Gourmet Popcorn. I was never going to refuse such an offer and in no time at all, an assorted box of 12, 25g bags landed on my doorstep.

Ikorn is proud to present you with our Popcorn. We use the highest quality non GM, butterfly corn along with premium coconut oil to bring you this delicious snack. Using the finest corn, finest ingredients and finest recipes, we satisfy the finest popcorn connoisseur. We're sure you won't be disappointed. Gluten and Wheat free. 

Inside was 3 flavours, all having under 120 calories each.. Sweet Korn and Salted Corn (RRP £1.29) along with a Himalayan Salted (RRP £1.49) coming from the Health Kick range - With some very fancy thick packaging that was almost a struggle to get into, I might add! All made from the most poppy, voluminous corn known to man, the team at Ikorn tried and tested over 40 different varieties of the stuff to ensure only the best was to make it into their product with refined coconut oil and Virgin Organic coconut oil (Used in the Health Kick) being the catalyst to ensure for the most fulfilling, healthy snacking option - None of this "cheapy" Canola oil which is slowly killing us all. 

Tech to your eyeballs, Folks.. Or save and zoom for those less frivolous. 

Sweet Korn

Starting with the Sweet and my personal favourite when it comes to Popcorn flavours, upon opening the bag an immediate buttery scent was apparent with what I thought was lemon tones despite none being in the ingredients. Taste wise, the sweetness I envisaged wasn't quite there and certainly not the sugary stuff I am used to with some pieces being more coated that others, in turn being a bit hit or miss on the flavour front! It did however have that "cinema-esque" feel with a satisfying airy crunch, transitioning into melt in the mouth goodness. A 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Salted Korn

Moving onto the Salted.. I have to say I was dubious - I have never been one for savoury Popcorns with the whole notion just not sitting well with me quite frankly! Trying to keep an open mind, the Popcorn once again had the buttery and lemon scents mentioned above but of course this time, not remotely sweet in taste. The salt was undeniable and at first a bit of a shock for me but thankfully with the buttery tones, things mellowed and along with another fantastic texture, it really wasn't half bad! It's a 3 out of 5 from me. 

Himalayan Salt

Some salt is good for you too, don't cha know! Get zooming and reading please.. Apologies for the blue hue!

Last but by no means least, the Health Kick Himalayan Salted, designed for those super duper health conscience. Tearing into the bag, as seen previously it was almost full to the brim with the decently sized Popcorn pieces although this time not having the familiar buttery aroma. I grabbed a handful and got munching.. Salt. That is all I can say. I found this variety to be overly salty - Almost to the point where it was unbearable. I can't fault the light, melty feel and total lack of hard husks or kernels but the sheer amount of salinity was all to much for me.. But brilliant, I expect if you're on a bit of a sugar rush! It's a 2 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, it is mixed bag from Ikorn. I really can't fault the texture and quantity found in an individual bag but I do feel the flavours need tweaking ever so slightly.. Ideally, more sweet in the Sweet and less salt in the Salt with a better distribution of coating to ensure the flavour flows throughout. The team at Ikorn are currently working on obtaining retail outlets (And expanding the flavour range!) so in the mean time, do check out Ikorn online if you fancy ordering yourself some Popcorn in bulk and go say "Howdy Do!" on Twitter. Thanks Ikorn!

Reivew- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Corn Chips

Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Corn Chips - It's a snacky option for Spirit of Summer review number 4! 

Kentucky bourbon whiskey and barbecue flavoured corn chips with black pepper and coriander. 

I can't say I was overly impressed with the selection of "exotic" crisps in M&S when I picked up this 150g bag for £1.50.. I am not sure what I did expect really - What does constitute an exotic crisp? Something salsa-y? No doubt spicy too, much to my dismay! These Corn Chips seemed to be the best of a bad bunch and a good all round option as they're gluten free, Veggie and Vegan suitable! 

Being so conditioned to Doritos, the rectangle shape of the potent BBQ smelling Chips threw me at first - I did like their neat appearance however! Having a munch, they proved to be very crunchy as expected with the signature almost sweet, corn flavour. I found the BBQ aspect to fairly mild in comparison to the scent with the main taste being herbs, general smokey-ness and chilli which naturally, I found to blow my head off. The coriander lingered afterwards along with quite a bit of salt making them moreish with a kick of heat at the back of the throat. As for the bourbon whiskey aspect, I could taste none and am dubious to how much was actually put in to begin with given it's one of the last ingredients to be listed on the packet! 

Overall, these Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Corn Chips aren't much to my liking due to the "spice" but they went down a treat with my taste testers despite the different flavour elements being a little off - The bag hardly lasted the afternoon! Having said that however, I still can't help but feel M&S have missed a real opportunity here.. They even could have done a "dessert" crisp, the way they're chucking dulce de leche and coconut around - Now that would have been totally unique! It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me.

Review- Shaken Udder Milkshakes: Chocolush! and Vanillalicious!

Last summer I discovered Shaken Udder, the company behind the then NEW, Salted Caramel Milkshake which I immediately fell in love with. Having not delved further into their products since, I felt the time was now and purchased not 1 but 2 other flavours from Tesco - Chocolush! and Vanillalicious! 

The 330ml bottles of Milkshake which are made from fresh British milk along with other real ingredients, cost £1.30 a pop which I didn't think was to unreasonable given that they are free from gluten, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives as well as being the all important, Veggie friendly. 

Chocolush!

Chocoholics rejoice! Finally there's a rich and creamy shake made with lashings of real chocolate to satisfy those cravings at any time of the day!

I couldn't not crack into the chocolate option first.. Chocolate milk was my life when I was a kid, after all! The Shake smelt most inviting and I got glugging pronto. Smooth and silky is the only way to describe the texture with just the right thickness - Not to watery thin and certainly not claggy. Taste wise, it was remarkably and slightly bizarrely uncanny to a Choc Ben & Jerry's! The signature flavour that we all know and love from the Ice Cream was most apparent with sweet, almost caramel tones along with a pure rich chocolate hit. A lovely aftertaste lingered and thankfully, there was zero in terms of sicklyness either - A 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Vanillalicious!

Get your vanilla fix in a flash! This divinely smooth and creamy shake is udderly delicious in every way! 

Vanilla time! - Although slightly blue looking thanks to the dodgy kitchen lighting, I do like how you can see the actual seeds! Once again, the Milkshake went down a treat with its perfect, luxurious consistency which made it only to easy to drink. "White Magnum?!" I thought when sipping away as similarly to above, it tasted almost identical to a frozen treat - Nothing but full on creamy, milky, sweet, vanilla-y melted Ice Cream! Absolutely divine - Another 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Well, I have officially fallen deeper in love with Shaken Udder.. And I didn't think that was possible! Both the Choculush! and Vanillalicious! are superb and really quite refreshing despite being beautifully creamy - They deliver on flavour, are most certainly of a high quality and well, anything that tastes like Ice Cream is a winner in my book. Now, if only I could find the Top Banana Milkshake.. I wouldn't hesitate risking the old on-off allergy for that!  

Review- The Coconut Collaborative: Mango & Passion Fruit and Blueberry

I've been hunting high and low for the NEW Chocolate Ganache from The Coconut Collaborative but sadly with no avail.. I did however find these Yogurts when having a peruse, which I thought were also new but after conferring with The Bananah, it turns out they're not quite as hot off the press as I thought.. Nevermind! 

I picked up both the Mango & Passionfruit and Blueberry Yogurt alternatives in Sainsbury's where they are priced at £1.40 a pop, for 120g. They're gluten, soya, dairy, pretty much everything free and only contain natural sugars. Fair warning though, they may be good for you thanks to all the coconut milk and water which boosts your energy levels a treat, but they are bloomin high in saturates with 8.6g per pot! 

Mango & Passionfruit

Am I the only person who gets a tad annoyed when a yogurt is sloshed all up the sides of the pot? I realise it's most unreasonable to expect anything else but still.. It does bug me! Digging down to the bottom, the orange coloured compote was plentiful and held its shape nicely when scooped. Taste wise, I was a little taken a back but how tart the yogurt was - I realise it doesn't contain any sweetener but I did find it to be particular sharp although very creamy and smooth.. A bit like a super strong natural yogurt, I suppose! I couldn't distinguish any coconut until the flavour of the fruity compote which was uncanny to a Solero Lolly, subsided. A pleasant, very mild coconut taste was left in the mouth and no claggy throat occured which goes a long way with me! It's a 4 out of 5. 

Blueberry

Being left a little let down by the potency of coconut, I took a whiff of this pot and it did smell quite tropical - A bit like sunscreen, if you will! Continuing to contrast with the above, the compote was a lot more liquidy and did kind of slop everywhere when trying to get some on my spoon. I found the yogurt to also be a lot milder in taste and almost sweet rather than tart, even when tasted without the deep purple bottom. An uncanny similarity to the squeezy kids Wildlife Choobs/Furbes was the flavour in general which I wouldn't know to be blueberry but was mighty tasty and took me right back to packed lunch days! Another 4 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, I'm quite pleased I didn't find my most sought after Ganache afterall - I don't usually go for Yogurts but have been pleasantly surprised by this duo from The Coconut Collaborative! There is also a Plain and Raspberry version which I will be keeping my eyes peeled for.. Who needs chocolate, ey?! 

Review- BeLoved NEW Date Fruit Hearts

So since the latest healthy snack of Good4U Super Bites were a total disaster, I've had to go else where.. Well, not to far as they were directly on the shelf below but behold! BeLoved! I loved their Cereal Bars way back when, in April last year so was very excited to see some more products from the company that wasn't Nectar or Granola - Neither do it for me unfortunately! 

Dates as Dates however very much float my boat. I picked up both the original Date and the Zesty Orange Fruit Hearts in Asda for 75p each. They both are 100% natural with no added sugar, 1 of your 5 a day, are high in fibre and only contain 105 calories per 35g pack!

T-B Date, Zesty Orange (Yes, they do look identical) 

How adorable can you get? I kind of wish all food was heart shaped now. 

L-R- Date, Zesty Orange (I think..) 

Both Hearts essentially smelt the same.. I was expecting a face full of zestiness from the Orange but it was almost non existent in having the same, brown sugar/molasses delicious scent of the plain Date version. Very dense and sticky, they both had a fudge like texture and were super chewy but at the same time, melt in the mouth. Flavour wise, I am thrilled to say they were absolutely amazing! The signature flavour of date was very much apparent with a sweet toffee feel and a nice potent Orange coming through despite the Heart not having smelt very much so! The latter also had striking tasty resemblance to Kellogg's Fruit Winders, back in the day which is not something to ever complain about. Yummy! 

Well, these BeLoved Date Hearts are pretty much the best thing of life - I so wish I had skipped the Good4U and just bought these in bulk! They taste bloomin amazing and with the RAW aspect, it's nice to know you're eating something good for you whilst still feeling like a treat. I swear a kid wouldn't know that these aren't sweets.. I'm not sure I would have known the difference myself! It's top marks today, 5 out of 5! 

Snackmas Day 15- Betty Bakes Christmas Bonanza!

Betty Bakes has put on her Christmas chefs hat and come up with some delightful Festive Cakes - All of which are Gluten Free of course! We can't have anyone with intolerances missing out and although I don't suffer myself, I was very kindly sent the range to give a whirl especially for Snackmas!

T-B Orange & Ginger Tiffin, All-Butter Shortbread, Christmas Meringue, Cinnamon Shortbread, Midnight Mint, Crimbo Crumble, Christmas Pudding and Christmas Snowball 

Now, if I had been smart I would've weighed each bar prior to scoffing so am going to have to assume that each was around 70g with the Pudding and Snowball obviously being a lot lighter given their puffed rice composition - If anyone is even interested in said numerical happenings!

Orange & Ginger Tiffin 

Nothing is more Christmassy than Clementines and all things Orange which makes this bar a pretty spiffing place to start! It smelt super citrus and real rather than artificial extract - I personally feel the stuff should be banned as its good to no one so am pleased to see peel was used here! I took a bite through the crunchy biscuit set within dark chocolate and was greeted with the most amazing taste combo of cocoa and strong Orange with undertones of what tasted like a Gingernut with its signature mild heat in the background. Each flavour was significant on its own as well as pairing perfectly with one another producing something which I would say was near perfection! A 4.5 out of 5 from me.

All-Butter Shortbread

Another Christmas classic - Shortbread. It smelt and tasted as its name suggested.. Buttery! Texture wise, things were far softer than I envisaged. The bite to the bar wasn't crisp nor did it crumble which produced a almost chewy feel that I would liken to a very dense brownie rather than a biscuit.. Although it was still very pleasant! The sprinkle of sugar on top was a lovely finishing sweetness to what was well done but essentially, quite a plain treat. A 3.5 out of 5 from me.

Christmas Meringue

Given that it was so packed with almonds and meringue pieces, this bar was a bit of a nightmare to cut and it did disintegrate in places - I did try my best to patch the bits back together for the good of a decent picture but it wasn't easy, believe you me! Popping some of this crumble into my mouth, I was surprised to discover it was full on dark chocolate and strong Bakewell which was a flavour sensation! The light, airy and dissolving meringue pieces added a sweetness as well as contrasting in texture to the abundance of crunchy almonds and squidgy sultanas, making for a spectacular mishmash of a mouthful. Another 4.5 out of 5! 

Cinnamon Shortbread

Why have normal All-Butter Shortbread when you can add some festive warmth to your life in the form of cinnamon?! I see no reason to be plain and this was not the sole difference either.. The texture was far firmer with a crispness to the outside before the familiar melting interior that wasn't "cakey" and transitioning from buttery to the spicy kick of cinnamon with the sweet sprinkling of grainy sugar - Yum! A 4 out of 5!

Midnight Mint

After Eight in bar form? Surely not? I am happy to announce, oh yes! A soft base of what I assume was chocolate shortbread was the first layer of cocoa goodness before hitting a sugary sweet mint fondant that was most certainly potent and uncanny to its confectionary friend! The dark chocolate was the ideal pairing to mellow the mint slightly but I would say this is one to have with a strong coffee otherwise things might get a bit to much given the richness! Its 3.5 out of 5 from me.

Crimbo Crumble

Well would you look at that.. It's Mince Pie but in a bar - It wouldn't be Christmas without such a thing! The scent was uncanny to your jarred mincemeat which I could smell all day.. As well as eat of course! The base and crumble topping was fairly soft but did not crack as some of the other offerings had. It has a melt in the mouth feel once beyond the initial chewiness, with crunchy almonds for a harder feel and nutty edge. The same buttery taste of the Shortbread was apparent but boosted by a thick medley of tangy citrus, brandy and dried fruit which certainly tickled the tastebuds! A 4 out of 5.

Christmas Pudding & Christmas Snowball

Last but by no means least were the Christmas Balls.. Check out that clean cut of the knife - Impressive, right?! I have to admit.. These were the ones I was most looking forward to since Rice Krispie cakes were pretty much my life as child.. And I suspect they were yours too! These bad boys were densely packed with puffed rice to ensure for a firm, satisfyingly crunchy mouthful. The toffee used to hold the lot together was super sticky and sweet with the white chocolate of the Snowball adding further sweetness and tones of tropical coconut - Always a good pairing! I wasn't such a fan of the Christmas Pudding as the plain chocolate itself just didn't meet my expectations in terms of quality but overall did have a slight salty kick which went a long way given all the sweet elements. A 4 and a 3 respectively. 

Well, that was well worth the potential diabetic future I face upon crashing from the sugar rush that's currently having me, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree! This Christmas Collection from Betty Bakes is marvellous! Did anyone notice how I failed to mention the lack of gluten throughout the post? There is little need as you really wouldn't know they didn't contain 'normal' ingredients. They are baubles above any Free From equivalent you might find in the supermarkets and can/should be enjoyed by everyone, no matter the circumstances. Thanks Betty for spoiling me and more importantly, those who need you the most - You little cracker!