Delushious cakes and spreads: Review

Please note: our Delushious spreads and cakes were received free of charge, but this in no way impacted on our opinion. We were not obliged to write a positive review, and the brand did not see this review before it was put up on the site.

Is it really possible to find sweet treats that are both healthier than their regular counterparts AND delicious? Well, that’s the aim of Bath-based company Delushious. Jamie’s Farm chef and horticulturist Rob was inspired to create Delushious as a result of his work for the charity, aiming to encourage young people to get excited about healthy, natural food. Once he’d created the Delushious range he teamed up with Tom – a healthy and sustainable food campaigner who was just as keen to get the world excited about the brand.

The Delushious range consists of three spreads and three cakes: the former all vegan, containing up to 68% fruit, gluten-free and with up to 93% less sugar than regular alternatives. The cakes are also gluten-free and contain no artificial sweeteners, with up to 77% less sugar than their standard counterparts.

So, what did we think…? First up, the spreads…

The acai, summer berry and chia fruit spread has a tangy blackcurrant smell and a deep rich dark purple colour, with the chia seeds clearly visible – there are plenty of them. While the chia seeds are fairly soft and easy to eat, this particular spread has plenty of berry seeds, which might not appeal to some. There’s plenty of sweetness from the erythritol and chicory root fibre, but also a nice tang from both the berries and the added lemon juice – I’d say this one would be perfect stirred through porridge.

The sweet, strawberry smell of the strawberry, balsamic and chia spread reminds me of a classic strawberry jam – and its syrupy texture does too. It’s almost brownish-orange in colour (no artificial colouring here), with the chia seeds even more visible than in the acai version. It’s sweeter than that one, too, with a very light hint of balsamic flavour coming through – I reckon this one would be best on toast.

And finally, the raspberry, cardamom and chia spread – my favourite of the three. The cardamom lends it a beautifully exotic smell, and its rich red colour is pretty enticing. There are a lot of raspberry seeds in this one, and it’s the flavour of the fruit that comes through first, with the cardamom following after. I’m going to try this in a homemade rice pudding soon – I think the flavours would be perfect!

All three of the spreads come in at around 15kcal for 20g, thanks to their lack of sugar, so they’re a decent alternative to jam and other spreads for those who are more health-conscious.

And the cake bars, while more decadent, are gluten-free, free from artificial sweeteners, and contain up to 77% less sugar than their standard equivalents. Calorie-wise, they range from 189 to 216 per bar.

The 2019 Great Taste Award-winning chia coconut bar was first on the list, and with date paste and dark chocolate the two biggest ingredients, it looks a little like a chia-studded Nakd bar with a thick layer of chocolate on top. There’s plenty of texture from the desiccated coconut, raisins studded throughout, and a bittersweet fruity flavour from the dark chocolate – it feels pretty decadent.

If you’re a fan of fruit and nut chocolate, the sour cherry tiffin would probably make for a good healthier alternative. Combining sour cherries, biscuit pieces, almonds, pecans, prunes and raisins, it’s topped off with a thick chocolate layer and scattered with freeze-dried raspberry pieces. It smells like a regular tiffin when opened and looks jam-packed with the fruits, nuts and biscuits – and there’s a different texture with every mouthful. It all tastes great – especially the sour cherry, with its super-chewy texture – my only niggle was that the biscuit felt a little stale in texture.

I think my favourite, though, was probably the black forest brownie. Completely enrobed in dark chocolate, it smells so decadent – and while it looks more like a cake than a brownie when broken open, its consistency is dense and melt-in-the-mouth fudgy. It’s pretty rich, and I think it really does need those chewy sour cherry chunks, not just for the black forest flavour, but so the sheer amount of chocolate isn’t overwhelming.

All of the Delushious spreads and cakes are available from their online shop, with prices varying depending on the quantities purchased. If you’re looking for a healthier yet still tasty to your normal purchases, give them a go! Use discount code 15BITES for 15% off until the end of June 2020!