Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars are Vegan and Fruit Sweetened

When I first tried Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars they used only fruit juice to sweeten. They were surprisingly sweet back then. Now they use a blend of fruit juice and brown rice syrup. I’m not sure how this has affected the overall taste, but I imagine it didn’t have a dramatic impact.

Nana doesn’t age discriminate, her treats are for everyone. However, these gluten free cookie bars couldn’t be more perfect for kids. You might be thinking that a no sugar bar may be a bit too wholesome for the little ones to enjoy. But the flavors are quite sweet, and I found them to be oddly familiar to my childhood days, as you will note in my individual reviews below.

Tasting Notes for Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars

As long as you don’t let on that these gluten free cookie bars may actually be healthy, trust me, they will never know. These unique cookies are individually wrapped in lunch box sized packaging, with whimsical writing for a little extra curb appeal. In terms of the taste, we trialed the flavors below.

Berry Vanilla

I chose this bar for my first trial, as the flavor combination was intriguing. The scent from the cookie nearly burst out of the package as I ripped it open. It seemed strangely familiar. Not a second or two passed before Captain Crunch appeared in my head. Could it be? Yes, it is … Captain Crunch Berry cereal.

The flavor was very sweet, a bit too sweet for my current taste buds, but tasty nonetheless. All of the elements came together nicely, but let the berry essence take center stage. The texture was most certainly gluten-free, due to the notable brown rice flour.  But, after the first bite, as I settled into the finer and slightly drier feel to the flour, it evolved into more of a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Little brown rice crisps were also an added textural bonus.

Nana Banana

The sweet aroma from perfectly ripe bananas wafted through the air as I opened my second cookie bar. The scent was matched by a sugary sweet banana taste, textured with a few brown rice crisps.

I would be hard pressed to classify this strictly as a cookie.  It was more of unique hybrid dessert, melding the flavor and texture of cookies and banana bread with a candy-like twist. Like the Berry Vanilla, I found the Nana Banana a touch too sweet, but as a cookie dough fiending child, I likely would have flipped for it.

Chocolate Munch

Another blast from the past emerged as I tore into my final cookie bar. The scent was reminiscent of warm hot cocoa laden with marshmallows. Though it was the taste that truly took me back. As I bit in, it took me a minute.

Though in most other contexts I would always reach for vanilla over chocolate, this was my favorite flavor. Despite the Cocoa Pebbles vibe, it wasn’t overly sweet.  It also had a very mellow chocolate flavor that would be very suitable for young taste buds, which aren’t yet in tune with the pleasures of rich dark chocolate. The texture was slightly distinct from the others, more of a cross between an ordinary cookie and chocolate cake. Just a bit of the brown rice flour vibe remained, while Nana’s signature brown rice crisps enhanced the overall cookie experience. This could easily become a go to snack for my own lunchbox!

The Facts on Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars

• Price: $4.75 per 6-ounce box (with 5 cookie bars)
• Certifications: Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars are Certified Kosher Pareve and Certified Gluten-Free.
• Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Nana’s Gluten Free Cookie Bars are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*
• For More Product Information: Visit the Nana’s Cookie Company website at www.nanascookiecompany.com.

*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy. 

Not bad, but definitely gluten free

Rated 4 out of 5

July 26, 2020

The nostalgic flavors of these kid-friendly cookie bars reminded me of sugar cereals like Captain Crunch Berry and Cocoa Pebbles. Aside from the Chocolate Munch, they were a touch too sweet. And the textures did have some telltale gluten-free signs. Yet, the melt-in-your-mouth vibe and comforting taste made them hard not to love.

Alisa Fleming