Guilt Free, Delicious Dessert Bites. Tried Afters by Happy Jars Yet?

When it comes to ‘healthier’, ‘guilt-free’, ‘low-calorie’ desserts, more often than not, they taste industrial and have an undesirable texture. 

One of our go-to nut butter brand Happy Jars launched their Afters. These ‘dessert’ bites claim to curb sugar cravings in just a single bite. Vegan and dairy-free, our Happy Jars Dessert Bites review details our experience with five of the six offered variants- Orange Burst, Dark Chocolate, Coffee Shot, Nutty Cashew, and Very Berry. 

Genuinely healthy or too good to be true?

Details on the variants we reviewed are listed in the table below. 

What were we looking for when reviewing Afters Happy Jars Desserts Bites?

The flavors, texture, ingredients used, and nutrition quotient were gauged.

1. Taste

Since these are labelled ‘desserts’, were they sweet? Overwhelming or balanced? Could we taste the ingredients? Do the flavors justify the labels- coffee, dark chocolate, orange? What about freshness of the nuts? 

2. Texture

Chewy or gelatinous? Did the nuts retain their bite? As these are made with nuts, do Afters Healthy Dessert Bites leave the fingers feeling greasy?  

3. Nutrition Quotient

Here, we decode the quality of ingredients used, the overall calories, macronutrient distribution, and more. 

4. Other Parameters

The price, packaging, and shelf life of Afters were recorded. 

Happy Jars offers six flavor variants in their Afters range- Coffee Shot, Dark Chocolate, Nutty Cashew, Very Berry, Orange Burst, and Paan. We reviewed the first five.

Afters can be availed in single flavor cartons or assorted boxes.  We ordered the assorted pack with seven units. This was priced at Rs 280/-. All dessert squares are wrapped individually in vibrant wrappers. 

Our detailed experience with each variant in the following section. 

Taste & Texture

If you’ve ever had freshly brewed coffee, you know how stronger and more intense the flavor is. The nutty notes of coffee were delicious. It tasted like a cup of espresso married a square of dark chocolate.

It had a fudge-like chewy texture. The nuts were crushed and released their natural oils which lent an oily touch to this square. That said, it does not stick to the teeth.

Afters Coffee Shot had a bold coffee aroma with a deep brown, glossy finish. 

Main Ingredients

Dates (36%), Cashews (32%), Dark Chocolate (22%- Sugar, Cocoa Solids, Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (INS 322 (i), INS 476), Nature Identical Flavoring Substances, Almonds (10%), Natural Coffee Extract. 

Although this is primarily dates and cashews, it also contains dark chocolate which lists sugar as an ingredient. So this variant is not meant for those who are looking for a zero added refined sugar option.

Nutrition

A 25-gram Afters would give 115.9 Kcal which is divided as 2.9 grams of protein, 5.5 grams of fat, and 13.7 grams of carbohydrates (of which 5.4 grams is sugar).

Taste & Texture

This variant featured a mild, natural, but desirable flavor of chocolate. The sweetness was well-rounded and did not feel overwhelming. The nutty flavors of cashews and almonds tasted fresh. 

Similar to the above variant, the ‘bite’ was chewy but did not stick to the teeth. 

This had a deeper brown appearance with an oily sheen. There were white bits of crushed nuts as well. 

Main Ingredients

Cashews (37%), Dates (37%), Dark Chocolate (16%- Sugar, Cocoa Solids, Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (INS 322 (i), INS 476), Nature Identical Flavoring Substances, Almonds (10%)

This too, has added sugar via the dark chocolate.

Nutrition

A 25-gram bite offers 122.8 Kcal of which 2.8 grams is protein, 6.3 grams is fat, and 13.6 grams is carbohydrates (of which 6 grams is sugar)

Taste & Texture

Easily one of our favorites, Nutty Cashew tasted naturally sweet with some notes of caramel which were from the dates used. It is made using just two ingredients, dates and cashews, and it tasted exactly like that. The cashews were fresh to taste.

In terms of texture, as this contains no preservatives, the cashews released their natural oils. It elevated the chewiness but doesn’t feel too dense or heavy. 

This had a natural, nutty aroma and was lighter than other variants from this range. It had the date paste-like brown hue with a glossy surface. 

Main Ingredients

Cashews (50%), Dates (50%)

Cleanest ingredient list, thumbs up. 

Nutrition

100.6 Kcal as 2.9 grams of protein, 2.1 grams of fat, and 17.4 grams of carbohydrates (of which 7.3 grams is naturally occuring sugar) makes one 25-gram bite. 

Taste & Texture

The flavor profile is very well in sync and we could taste all ingredients. The dates lend their natural sweetness. This pairs quite well with the citrusy flavor of lemons and the tartiness of cranberries and blueberries. Nuts (cashews and almonds) add their fresh nuttiness, making this is a delightful dessert in a bite.

The texture and bite were fairly similar to the other variants. 

Main Ingredients

Dates (45%), Cashews (30%), Almonds (10%), Cranberries (10%), Blueberries (5%), and Natural Lemon Oil.

Ideal for those who want a no-added sugar option.

Nutrition

One 25-gram bite offers 107.1 Kcal. It has 2.6 grams of protein, 13.8 grams of carbohydrates (of which 6.8 grams are sugar), and 4.5 grams of fat. 

Taste & Texture

Fresh with prominent flavors! Afters Orange Burst tastes exactly what it is named as. There is a citrusy punch that tastes like orange rinds paired with the sweetness of dates. The impact of dates in the flavor is mild. 

This healthy dessert has a chewy, fudge-like bite. Despite being made with dates (fibrous), these do not stick to the teeth. 

Main Ingredients

Cashews (36%), Dates (36%), Dark Chocolate (21%- Sugar, Cocoa Solids, Cocoa Butter, Emulsifiers (INS 322 (i), INS 476), Nature identical flavoring substances), Almonds (7%), Natural Orange Oil

Nutrition

One 25-gram Afters Orange Burst provides 123.3 Kcal which is divided as 2.8 grams of protein, 13.2 grams of carbohydrates (of which 2.8 grams is sugar), and 6.6 grams of fat.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Happy Jars Afters dessert bites.

Mishry quite liked the healthy dessert bites by Happy Jars Afters. Not only do they taste yum and have a desirable bite, but the ingredients and overall nutrition quotient is impressive. 

If a zero added sugar option is what you’re seeking, we suggest opting for the Very Berry and Nutty Cashew. Team Mishry gives these dessert bites a thumbs up!

Of the five variants we reviewed, which would you pick first? 

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.