Delightful Gluten Free Cookie Bar with Chocolate

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Tracy's Delights, cookie bar

This no-bake, healthy, and crunchy cookie bar, from Tracy Hill’s cookbook Delightfully Free, is the perfect not-too-sweet treat. Rich with chocolate and sunflower seed butter, they are free from gluten, eggs, corn and refined sugars as well.

Recipe card updated 3/21/22.

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My kids are back in school. Finally! I think that was really the longest summer ever. It was a good one, to be sure, but boy am I glad to have a little peace and quiet in the house. I honestly can’t believe it’s already the middle of September, mostly because it’s still one hundred and eleventy here in Southern California. But also because this time of year truly does rush by with all the birthdays, holidays and more birthdays. I love it though–the colors, the smells, the food. For me it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Remember many months ago when I went to the Celiac Disease Foundation as a featured blogger? While I was there a lovely woman handed me a copy of her cookbook…fresh off the press. I promised her a review and a post about it. And here it finally is. (Sorry it took me so long, Tracy!!)

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Cooking With Restrictions

Tracy Hill, like so many of us, has severe food intolerances. This fear that she would never be able to enjoy the foods she new and loved drove her straight to the kitchen where she got to work developing recipes that tasted like her old favorites, but eliminated the stuff that was making her, and her family feel crummy. Friends in similar situations began to ask her to share her recipes which led her to begin her blog, Delightfully Free, which naturally led to creating a cookbook.

Her self-published book is full of family favorites minus many major allergens like wheat, gluten, corn, dairy, eggs, and peanuts. Recipes include chicken enchilada casserole (dairy free!), rich dairy free creamy garlic wine sauces, gluten-free pizza crust, breakfast recipes, salads and veggie side dishes,  comprehensive Thanksgiving and other holiday meal guides, and a substantial dessert section with black bean brownies, pies, cakes and cookies, all free of refined sugars.

I asked her what her favorite recipes from the book were and she gave these suggestions.

Favorite recipes…several come to mind. For savory dishes the lasagna is wonderful, especially because people who eat gluten and dairy free are thrilled to have the chance to eat lasagna again, & this one’s delicious. But I know you are a busy mom, so recipes with fewer steps would be Chicken & Mushrooms Fettuccini with Creamy Garlic Sauce (p. 43), or Chicken de Provence (p. 33), or Enchilada Casserole (p. 13). I love that the Taco Shells (p. 16) are gluten-free, AND corn free…baked.  And both of the Taco Fillings (p. 17) are additive and chemical free. The Creamy Garlic Sauce  (p. 44) is way cool because it is creamy, rich & delicious, but it’s made in the blender out of cauliflower and white beans! The Coconut Curry Soup (p. 83) is soo good!

For baked…I think my Seeded Quick Bread (p. 59) is wonderful. The Rosemary Rolls are fabulous (p. 61). Both breads on page 63, yum!

Did you notice the gluten-free, corn free, refined sugar free Ice Cream Cones (p. 127)? So wonderful for our gluten-free, sugar-free kiddos.

For sweets, I love them all, but the Chocolate Ambrosia Cookies (p.133) and Black Bean Brownies (p. 135) are amazing! The pies and crumbles are wonderful too. It’s hard to believe that the Strawberry “Cream Cheese” Pie is gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free.

cookie bar

Those all sounded amazing, but since my kids were recently back to school, I decided to make her Tracy’s Delights cookie bar as a healthy after school snack. I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but since peanut allergies are so prevalent, and peanuts are inflammatory for everyone, she uses sunflower seed butter in her recipe instead. I had never tried sunflower seed butter, but I found it very comparable to both the texture and flavor of peanut butter. And the kids couldn’t tell the difference at all. These treats are not only easy to make, but they are chocolaty, refined sugar free, and full of crunchy almonds, brown rice and flax cereals. My kids gave them a big thumbs up! I think you will too!

Tracy’s cookbook would be a great addition to your collection, especially if you or someone you love suffers from food allergies or intolerance, or is just looking to reduce refined sugars, grains and other inflammatory items in the diet. I can’t wait to try her creamy garlic sauce, her fruit crumble (with apples!), and her coconut curry soup.

Did you love this cookie bar recipe? Here are some other recipes that you should try:

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and star rating below (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) and post a picture and tag us on Instagram using the hashtags #agirldefloured #deflouredrecipes! Thank you!

Tracy’s Delights

Tracy Hill
These no-bake, healthy, and crunchy cookie bars by Tracy Hill, from her cookbook Delightfully Free, are the perfect not-too-sweet treat. Rich with chocolate and sunflower seed butter, they are free from gluten, eggs, corn and refined sugars as well.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 25 cookies
Calories 197 kcal

Instructions
 

  • Spray an 8×8 inch pan generously with gluten-free grapeseed oil.
  • Pour almonds evenly into the bottom. Sprinkle only ½ cup of the rice cereal over the top. Set aside the remaining 1½ cups of rice and flax cereal in a bowl.
  • Measure out agave nectar. Stir into it the stevia and salt. Measure sunflower seed butter and set aside.
  • In a double boiler or a 2 quart saucepan over a smaller pan of simmering water, melt chocolate. Remove from heat and stir in sunflower seed butter. Next, mix in rice-cereal mixture until well coated. Add agave-stevia-salt, stir well and spoon into pan. Spread to the edges and press down gently. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours. Cut into 1½ inch squares and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 27mgPotassium: 159mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cookie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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21 Comments

  1. Thank you for the great review. I am new to gluten free living and on the hunt for recipies!

    – J.

    1. Darlene McLean says:

      Hi Alison, I have been sick since last August 2012, gone through all kinds of tests, but no one could find anything so they diagnosed me originally with IBS. In the last six months I have gone gluten free, nightshade free, and that seemed to help, but I was still not as well as would have liked to be. About 3 months ago I went for food intolerance testing, and from what I learned of that, I have had to also eliminate, dairy, eggs, sugar, beef, etc. the list is long of what I can’t have right now. Although I am feeling better, I also have been diagnosed with chronic hives, not fun let me tell you. I am hoping more people like you will also be able to post recipes that are not only gluten free, but really allergy friendly, for those of us that can’t tolerate eggs, dairy, sugars, nightshades, etc. I love your post, and will continue to look here for new recipes. Thanks!

  2. My daughter was diagnosed with Celiac’s earlier this year at age 16. The change in snacking options has been especially hard on her. Since she plays three sports on the go snacks are a must. This sounds like another great recipe source. Thanks!

  3. Brooke Organista says:

    Since its the start of fall my kids and I love anything with warm apples or pumpkin.

  4. Apples with peanut butter

  5. Meg Olsen says:

    Thanks for the review! I can never have too many recipes to try :] I have a diabetic in my family as well so sugar free is an added bonus!

  6. I’m commenting for the giveaway, but also I wanted you to know that I love your focus on the blog. It’s nice to find a gf blog that is readable and down to earth, yet balanced. Thank you! This recipe looks lovely for us time-crunched moms, by the way.

  7. I love the idea of sugar free treats, especially in the fall/winter/spring when my doctor wants me to stay away from refined sugar.

  8. How do i get a copy of that book, Delightfully Free? THX!!

  9. Oh, and for the giveaway – my best afternoon snack is green smoothie….when I actually take the time to make it :))

  10. Thanks for the giveaway! I love your blog. I’m working on eliminating gluten from my diet as well as FODMAPS & I always enjoy the recipes you post!

  11. Denise Fedor says:

    My favorite snack is a Lara bar. I know, it’s the lazy way out! These bars sound good!

  12. I was just diagnosed with Celiac nearly two months ago and think your blog is wonderful! Since I am on a no dairy, no soy, and obviously no gluten diet, my favorite & easy snack are these no bake power bites made of GF oats, almond butter, DF chocolate chips, toasted coconut, maple syrup, vanilla, & ground flaxseed. I make them into little balls, throw them in fridge or freezer and my hubby & two-yr-old love them too! I’m definitely going to try Tracy’s Delights -yum!

  13. I recently came across your blog. I’ve been GF/DF for a while but love to get new ideas. You’ve given me heaps! Thanks so much.
    This book also looks great. I’d love to win it. My favorite snack: carrot sticks and hummus, but I think Tracy’s Delights could make me change my mind.

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