REVIEW – I enjoy cookies, cakes, pies, basically anything with sugar in it! I also love love love rice crispy treats. So when I was offered a chance to try some special allergy-friendly gluten-free rice crispy treats from Blake’s Seed-Based, I didn’t have to think very long before I said heck yeah! Let’s see if I think they are yum or ick.
What is it?
Blake’s Seed-Based products are vegan, allergy-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and nut-free. They sell 3 flavors of rice crispy treats and 3 flavors of seed bars. I was sent a box of their Birthday Cake rice crispy treats.
Nutrition and taste
Each box of Blake’s Seed-Based Birthday Cake rice crispy treats contains 6 individually wrapped treats. I was a little confused with all the info on the package about them being gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, soy-free, vegan, and dairy-free. That’s because the main ingredients in traditional rice crispy treats are rice crispies, marshmallows, and butter. Rice is naturally gluten free, marshmallows are also free of gluten, soy, dairy, etc. Then we have butter and well, darn it… butter is not vegan or dairy free. So they got me there.
The full ingredients list and nutrition facts are shown above. Yay for no fake sweeteners or weird food coloring. Except for the carnauba wax (isn’t that for cars?!), the ingredients look pretty clean.
Each Blake’s Seed-Based treat is pretty small as you can see above. You can also see the colorful sprinkles, the pumpkin, flax, and sunflower seeds. So how do they taste? I’m a huge fan of homemade rice crispy treats and found these treats to taste a little sweeter than the original treats that we make at home – at least to my tastebuds. I enjoy pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, but I don’t think they really add that much to these treats. And as far as I understand it, unless they are ground up, flax seeds basically pass right through your system. So I’m not sure of the real benefit of adding them to these treats.
What I like
- Small size is good for portion control but dang they are small
- Good for people who have allergies, but then traditional rice crispy treats don’t have nuts or gluten
What I’d change
- Add more pumpkin and sunflower seeds
- Lower the price per box
Final thoughts
First of all, I think the price is higher than the value based on the size of each treat when you buy through Amazon which works out to $1.67 per treat. If you buy directly from Blake’s Seed-Based site, you have to buy 3 boxes of treats which works out to $0.99 a treat. That still seems a bit expensive for a 2 bite treat.
These treats are tasty and I’ll definitely eat the rest of the ones that were sent to me. But honestly, I prefer homemade rice crispy treats with just the rice crispies. But then, I’m not vegan, so I make mine with butter. So in that respect, Blake’s Seed-Based rice crispy treats are an alternative for people who want a rice crispy treat but don’t eat animal products.
Update 10/6/22
A couple of weeks ago, the folks at Blake’s Seed Based asked if I would like to try their new chocolate dipped crispy treats and their Raspberry Snack Bar. Never one to turn down sweets (even though I should), I said heck yeah!
I tried the Dipped Crispy Treats first and wow are they good! You get a large treat that has the texture of a traditional rice crispy treat, but this version is great for people who have allergies because it doesn’t have any nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, or sesame. What it does have is crispy rice, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, and sweet chocolate. I loved them! They are available in a box of 24 small bars for $22.99 and they have a jumbo size for $23.99.
Next up on my snacking test menu is Blake’s Seed Based’s new Raspberry Seeds and Fruit Snack Bar. I could smell the raspberry as soon as I opened the package. Where the Dipped Crispy Treat was just like a regular sweet treat, the Seeds and Fruit snack bar has more of a healthy vibe and texture to it due to the quinoa puffs. That’s not a bad thing though. I like this bar because it’s not overly sweet and it has more chew to it. They are available in a box of 12 bars for $23.99.
Price: $9.99 and up
Where to buy: Blake’s Seed-Based and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Blake’s Seed-Based.
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You are wrong that traditional rice crispy treats are gluten free. They are usually made with the rice cereal brand “rice crispies”, which contain malt as one on their ingredients.
Malt is made from barley and is NOT gluten free. Wheat free doesn’t equal gluten free. Gluten is in wheat, barley, rye, spelt and any of derivates of those to name of few. Please do your research before you spread misinformation.