Sweet Treats | Helen Jane | Your IBS Freedom https://www.youribsfreedom.com Empowering you to become IBS free, naturally, safely and quickly... Get in touch today to book your Free Gut Health Strategy Call Mon, 04 May 2026 15:12:26 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.13 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo-transparent-background-150x150.png Sweet Treats | Helen Jane | Your IBS Freedom https://www.youribsfreedom.com 32 32 Chocolate Dipped Flapjacks! https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/chocolate-dipped-flapjacks/ Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:15:35 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=8650 These dark chocolate-dipped flapjacks are proof that a little bit of what you fancy really does do you good! Especially when it’s packed with gut-loving ingredients. Rolled oats provide gentle soluble fibre to help soften stools and keep things moving, making them ideal for anyone dealing with IBS-related constipation. Apricots offer natural sweetness and a […]

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]]> These dark chocolate-dipped flapjacks are proof that a little bit of what you fancy really does do you good! Especially when it’s packed with gut-loving ingredients.

Rolled oats provide gentle soluble fibre to help soften stools and keep things moving, making them ideal for anyone dealing with IBS-related constipation. Apricots offer natural sweetness and a mild laxative effect thanks to their fibre and sorbitol content, while pumpkin seeds deliver zinc and magnesium to calm the gut and support digestive muscle function.

Bound together with honey and proper butter (or coconut oil for a vegan twist), these bars are baked, chilled, then finished with a dunk in rich 80% dark chocolate – full of antioxidants and mood-boosting compounds. Keep a stash in the freezer and grab one when your gut (or your sweet tooth) needs a little TLC.


Chocolate Dipped Flapjacks!
Servings8 portions
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Passive Time2 hours
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine the oats, apricots and pumpkin seeds in a bowl.
  2. Stir in the melted butter and the honey until everything is combining well.
  3. Press the mixture into a shallow lined baking tray, about 1 cm think until all the air is squeezed out. Cook on a medium heat for around 15 minutes, until the flapjacks are golden and solid. Allow to cool for 1 hour in the fridge. Then cut into shape, making them even.
  4. Once chilled, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan. Then dunk each flapjack into the melted dark chocolate. You can drizzle the remainder of the chocolate across the bars.
  5. Next, place them on baking paper on a tray to chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Serve and enjoy!

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]]> Cashew & Pistachio Cake https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/cashew-pistachio-cake/ Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:11:55 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=8631 OK so this recipe is a bit of a faff, and not something I make regularly. However, it is really tasty, full of healthy nutrition AND is gluten and dairy free. Making it safe for most people with IBS and a fantastic alternative to cheesecake. Tasty, but not calorie free, so if you are watching […]

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]]> OK so this recipe is a bit of a faff, and not something I make regularly. However, it is really tasty, full of healthy nutrition AND is gluten and dairy free. Making it safe for most people with IBS and a fantastic alternative to cheesecake.

Tasty, but not calorie free, so if you are watching your weight, try to only have a small slice of this lush, dense and tasty cake. There are so many nutrients going on in this cake, it will leave you feeling full and satisfied, give you energy, healthy fats, aid digestion, the list goes on…

I used a MegaMix food processor to give me the texture I wanted for this cake. But any high speed food processor will do. You will also need a cheesecake tin.

***DISCLAIMER: This recipe contains nuts – please do not try this if you have a nut allergy, or intolerance. 

 

Cashew & Pistachio Cake
Servings6 people
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Passive Time4 - 8 hours
Ingredients
Main 'Cake'
Base
Topping
Instructions
  1. Soak the cashews overnight (or for at least 4 hours). Once sacked and plump, drain and leave to one side.
  2. To create the base, blend all the base ingredients in your food processor (nuts, dates, coconut oil and salt). You want a daily rough consistency for a crunchy base.
  3. Then press this down firmly into the bottom of your cake tin. I used a rolling pin but you can press down with your fingers until the base layer is pretty solid. Then freeze this whilst you make the next layer. This usually takes around 30 minutes.
  4. Next, take the soaked cashews, add the oil, maple syrup, coconut cream, lemon juice and vanilla extract to the food processor (once cleaned out, of course) and blender until you have a smooth consistency, similar to cheesecake.
  5. Take the cake tin out of the freezer, pour the main layer in and refrigerate for an hour until firm.
  6. Once your cake is fairly solid, add the pistachios as a topping (you can use fruit at this point if you are wanting something a little different) and enjoy a slice of heaven!

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]]> Chocolate Coconut Bars https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/chocolate-coconut-bars/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:03:45 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=6033 Sometimes you just want something sweet that isn’t going to set off an IBS attack! These bars are the perfect example of something really tasty, enjoyable, filling and nutritious. Once made they can go in the freezer, leaving one out for when you need it. They can keep in the fridge for up to a […]

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]]> Sometimes you just want something sweet that isn’t going to set off an IBS attack!

These bars are the perfect example of something really tasty, enjoyable, filling and nutritious. Once made they can go in the freezer, leaving one out for when you need it. They can keep in the fridge for up to a week, if you don’t get there first!

Coconut has an incredibly high mineral content which is great for soothing inflammation. So these bars can be enjoyed not only guilt free, but also knowing you are putting something good inside your gut which will effectively help to soothe your gut and keep you feeling incredibly satisfied at the same time, Win win!

Chocolate Coconut Bars
Servings8 bars
Prep Time25 minutes
Passive Time5 hours
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Whiz the Desiccated Coconut, Coconut Oil, Coconut Cream and maple syrup together in a food processor. Scoop this into a mixing bowl with a soft spatula.
  2. Prepare a baking try with baking paper for step 2. Now comes the fun part! It's time to shape the bars into fat little sausage shapes and pat them into place. This can be a bit fiddly but it is worth persevering with in order to get the bars the same shape and size.
  3. Once you are happy with your coconut bars, place them in the freezer to firm up for at least 4 hours. I left mine overnight.
  4. Once frozen, melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over a saucepan. I pop my glass bowl in a sieve over a bowl of boiling water.
  5. Once your choice of chocolate is melted. dunk each bar making sure to coat all sides and then leave to cool on a fresh piece of baking paper, on a tray that will fit in your fridge.
  6. With all the bars coated in chocolate, refrigerate these for at least an hour before consuming. I chose to freeze all but one of mine, so that I didn't eat them all at once!

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]]> Healthy Chocolate Brownie https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/healthy-chocolate-brownie/ Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:14:10 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=8100 I love the simplicity of this gluten free recipe and the four ingredients can be enjoyed guilt free! The nutritional quality of this easy to make sweet treat will help you to improve brain function, gut health and energy stabilisation, whilst boosting your mood and providing fibre and real life energy. Great for eyes, hair, […]

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]]> I love the simplicity of this gluten free recipe and the four ingredients can be enjoyed guilt free!

The nutritional quality of this easy to make sweet treat will help you to improve brain function, gut health and energy stabilisation, whilst boosting your mood and providing fibre and real life energy. Great for eyes, hair, nails and gut health!

This combination provides nutrient dense energy and reduces inflammation.

Healthy Chocolate Brownie
Servings2 portions
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Passive Time25 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Wash and oven cook the sweet potato on 200 for around 25 to 30 minutes until cooked through and soft. Remove from the oven, scoop out the inside of the potato into a bowl and bin the skin. Mash this and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. When the potato is cooled down, add the egg, the cacao and the maple syrup. Stir and mash thoroughly. You can use a hand blender for this if you prefer.
  3. Line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the mixture evenly. Then place this back in the oven for a further 20 - 25 minutes. You don't want to overcook this or it will dry out so keep a close eye on it.
  4. Once cooked through, remove from the oven and leave it to cool. Then slice it into portions, or squares and transfer into a container in the fridge. This will keep for around 3 days in the fridge, or can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
  5. TOP TIP: Double up the ingredients to make a larger batch for future use.

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]]> Pumpkin Spiced Oat Cookies https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/pumpkin-spiced-oat-cookies/ Sun, 30 Jun 2024 12:37:11 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=6097 These really are a delicious treat for cosy nights in. I love the flavours in these cookies and the fact that they are good for your gut rather than detrimental to your microbiome. Natural sweet goodness comes from honey which has many medicinal benefits including being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. They are really easy to […]

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]]> These really are a delicious treat for cosy nights in. I love the flavours in these cookies and the fact that they are good for your gut rather than detrimental to your microbiome. Natural sweet goodness comes from honey which has many medicinal benefits including being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. They are really easy to make and can be frozen to stop you from over indulging.
Pumpkin Spiced Oat Cookies
Servings10 cookies
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Heat the oven to 180.
  2. Using greaseproof paper on a baking tray, dollop out your cookies in even blobs ensuring they have a little room to spread out in the oven without touching each other.
  3. Cook for 15 minutes, until they are cooked through. Allow to cool and serve with your favourite dairy free nut milk. Try my Pumpkin spiced nut milk recipe for a really autumnal feel...

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]]> Pumpkin Pie https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie/ Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:20:27 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=6045 I love this time of year as I always treat myself to a pumpkin pie. The IBS friendly version! Pumpkins are highly nutritious and contain high levels of vitamin A, K and Copper which is essential for great eyesight, skin and hair health as well as reducing inflammation in the gut and helping eliminate toxins […]

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]]> I love this time of year as I always treat myself to a pumpkin pie. The IBS friendly version!

Pumpkins are highly nutritious and contain high levels of vitamin A, K and Copper which is essential for great eyesight, skin and hair health as well as reducing inflammation in the gut and helping eliminate toxins more easily. Coupled with the incredible gut healing properties of cinnamon and nutmeg this really is a treat you can enjoy guilt free that your gut will thank you for.

 

Pumpkin Pie
Servings4 portions
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Passive Time1 hour
Ingredients
Base
Pie
Optional Topping
Instructions
  1. Mix the dates, Brazil nuts, ginger and coconut oil together in your food processor until a rough base is formed. Press this into the bottom of your cheesecake tin util smoothed down. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
  2. Beat the two eggs and mix the remaining ingredients together in the food processor until you have reached a smooth consistency. Pour on top of the base and cook on 180 for around 25 minutes, until the top has browned slightly and the pie is cooked through. Use a skewer to test, if it comes out clean the pie is done.
  3. Leave to cool for a few minutes or enjoy this dessert warm. Add your topping of choice and enjoy this gut healing naughty but nice treat!

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]]> Carrot Flapjacks https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/carrot-flapjacks/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:00:34 +0000 https://www.youribsfreedom.com/?post_type=recipe&p=6043 I love making these and they last me ages! I always have something sweet on hadn’t if I fancy it that won’t aggravate my IBS and will satisfy any cravings. These flapjacks are filling and good for you as they contain only natural ingredients. So you can enjoy these without feeling guilty and knowing that […]

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]]> I love making these and they last me ages! I always have something sweet on hadn’t if I fancy it that won’t aggravate my IBS and will satisfy any cravings.

These flapjacks are filling and good for you as they contain only natural ingredients. So you can enjoy these without feeling guilty and knowing that you are doing something good for your body in terms of providing yourself with real energy from mother nature, and feeding your gut microbiome at the same time!

once made these can be frozen and taken out as and when needed. I freeze mine in bags of three and make them last a week.

Carrot Flapjacks
Servings10 portions
Prep Time25 mintues
Cook Time15 minutes
Passive Time2 hours
Ingredients
bars
Topping
Instructions
  1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl, apart from the white chocolate (or vegan alternative).
  2. Line a deep flat tray with baking paper. Spoon out the mixture and spread with a soft spatula, ensuring you get a nice even layer. Mark out where you want to cut the bars to make this easier once set.
  3. Pop this in the oven at 180 for 15 minutes, checking to make sure the edges are not burning.
  4. Leave to cool in the fridge for at least an hour before adding the topping. Once cooled, score down the lines to cut these into bars. I used a pizza cutter.
  5. Melt the white chocolate (or vegan alternative) and drizzle over the bars in a diagonal pattern, then transfer them back into the fridge for another hour to set.
  6. Once your flapjack bars have set you can freeze them or keep them in the fridge up to 7 days. I like to have some in the freezer so that I can grab one when I feel the need.

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]]> Banana Blueberry Bread https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/banana-blueberry-bread/ https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/banana-blueberry-bread/#respond Sat, 23 Sep 2023 11:31:27 +0000 https://www.theibscoach.com/?post_type=recipe&p=1628 This simple and yet timeless recipe is a fantastic way to boost your mood, containing vital brain feeding nutrients. Plus it is healing and soothing to the gut and feels like a proper treat. The cooling time at the end is essential to get a proper slice without crumbling, so be patient (not my strong point)!

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]]>
Banana Blueberry Bread
This simple and yet timeless recipe is a fantastic way to boost your mood, containing vital brain feeding nutrients. Plus it is healing and soothing to the gut and feels like a proper treat. The cooling time at the end is essential to get a proper slice without crumbling, so be patient (not my strong point)!
Servings4-6 people
Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time35+ minutes
Passive Time15 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F 175C and lightly grease a loaf tin.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour and dry ingredients and set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, cream together butter (or avocado) and sugar.
  4. Stir in eggs (or egg mix) vanilla, mashed bananas and blueberries until well blended.
  5. Combine all ingredients and add to loaf tin.
  6. Bake in pre heated oven for 35 minutes and be careful not to burn! To check if cooked properly, use a skewer or toothpick and see if it comes out clean.
  7. Leave loaf to cool for 10 - 15 minutes as otherwise it may crumble when sliced.
Recipe Notes

We love this bread but use this as an occasional treat. You can enjoy sweet treats with IBS as long as you are eating a balanced and healthy diet the rest of the time.

#IBSFreeFood

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]]> https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/banana-blueberry-bread/feed/ 0 Berry Cheesecake https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/ibs-friendly-berry-cheesecake/ https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/ibs-friendly-berry-cheesecake/#respond Wed, 08 Mar 2023 20:59:20 +0000 https://www.theibscoach.com/?post_type=recipe&p=4934 Who doesn’t love a cheesecake? This sweet treat is not only IBS friendly in the fact that it is dairy and gluten free but it is also nutritious with great healthy fats from the nuts and seeds and fruit content. Tasty and good for you. What’s not to love? You will need a food processor […]

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]]> Who doesn’t love a cheesecake? This sweet treat is not only IBS friendly in the fact that it is dairy and gluten free but it is also nutritious with great healthy fats from the nuts and seeds and fruit content.

Tasty and good for you. What’s not to love?

You will need a food processor and a cheesecake tin with a removal base to prepare and serve this dish.

IBS Friendly Berry Cheesecake
Servings4-6 servings
Prep Time30 minutes
Passive Time4 hours
Ingredients
For the Base
For the Cheesecake layer
For the Topping
Instructions
  1. Add the ingredients into a food processor and blend, chopping the dates a little beforehand in order to form a dough like consistency.
  2. Press this mixture into the bottom of the cheesecake tin.
  3. Melt the sugar by heating it with a little water. Drain the cashew nuts and add a little fresh water into your food processor along with the remaining ingredients. Mix well until a creamy consistency is formed.
  4. Pour this over the base layer and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Overnight works really well too, if you have time.
  5. When you are ready to serve, decorate with berries and enjoy this wholesome tasty desert. Can be frozen in portions if you can't eat it all at once. Or share with friends.

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]]> https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/ibs-friendly-berry-cheesecake/feed/ 0 Apple & Pear Crumble https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/apple-pear-crumble/ https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/apple-pear-crumble/#respond Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:22:18 +0000 https://www.theibscoach.com/?post_type=recipe&p=4625 With IBS and eating for gut health it can often mean that sweet treats get put on the back burner for the most part as too much sugar can interferer with the gut bacteria. However, this doesn’t mean that you can never enjoy a pudding again. Just enjoy them occasionally rather than having dessert being […]

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]]> With IBS and eating for gut health it can often mean that sweet treats get put on the back burner for the most part as too much sugar can interferer with the gut bacteria.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can never enjoy a pudding again. Just enjoy them occasionally rather than having dessert being an every day occurrence. This works well for two reasons. Firstly it will stop you eating refined sugar each day, allowing your gut bacteria to settle into a well balanced cog in the wheel of your digestive system. Secondly you will REALLY look forward to your sweet treats and see them for what they are. An occasional proper ‘treat’ that will also go some way towards nourishing your body, feeding that emotional food connection and making you feel proper happy with great happy brain chemicals.

This crumble is super easy to make and tastes great with dairy free custard (as shown) or you can use your choice of dairy free cream to go with it. I always suggest a dairy free ‘sauce’ as around 70% of women with IBS struggle to process dairy. I myself, having been 95% IBS free for around a decade know how far I can push my digestive system. And I can get away with a little dairy about once or twice a month. More than this then I get IBSC, nasty wind and feel proper bloated and grumpy.

The apples and pears are of course filled with nutrition and I have opted to use coconut sugar as it contains more beneficial nutrition and an oat based crumble topping to keep the recipe gluten free also. Gluten affects around 80% of my IBS clients and therefore is in general best avoided.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. I made it is a small dish just for me and made it last 2 sittings…. it was absolutely delicious and a rare treat for me as I am a savoury queen over a sugar girl the majority of the time.

I do hope you enjoy this and start to fall in love with your IBS free food and enjoy a healthy IBS healed gut. As always, get in touch if you would like to find out more about eating for IBS.

Helen x

Apple & Pear Crumble
Double up ingredients if you cooking for more than just yourself.
Servings1 person
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Passive Time5 minutes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. To make the middle, peel and core the apple and pear and cop into small chunks. Add into a shallow pan with the water and bring to a reasonable heat then simmer for around 8 minutes. Add in 1 tsp coconut sugar (other natural substitutes can be used like molasses or raw cane sugar but coconut sugar is what I had in the cupboard and worked well). Stir fruit until softened...
  2. Whilst the fruit is cooking down, separate the oats into two piles and blitz one half in a nutribullet or coffee grinder to turn into powder. Transfer this into a bowl with the whole oats and the butter cut into small chunks. Mix and combine this by hand, until the mixture is nice and crumbly. Then add the rest of the sugar. and mix again. You may need a little more butter but always start with less and build up.
  3. Take the fruit off the heat. ayer into the bottom of you cooking dish (I think I got this mini one from pound-stretchers in the UK) then carefully crumble over your crumble mix until all gaps are covered. I like my crumble crunchy and the oats are a fabulous way of doing this.
  4. Transfer the crumble into the oven at around 160 - 180 so the top doesn't burn. Cook for around 10 minutes to get the top nice and crispy. Set aside to cool for 5 minutes whilst you decide what type of sauce you want. I cheated and bought ready made dairy free custard but you can make your own custard if you prefer. Enjoy your sweet treat and love the glow of a happy belly afterwards.

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]]> https://www.youribsfreedom.com/recipe/apple-pear-crumble/feed/ 0