Derbyshire baking expert creates carrot biscuit for guilt-free snacking

Helen Yates, who co-runs one of the oldest family-run bakeries in the country, has launched what is believed to be the first vegetable based indulgent treat in the sweet snacking category.

The carrot biscuit fingers, called Rootles, are smothered in dark chocolate or milk chocolate, come in packets of three and contain only 120 calories per pack.

Helen and her husband David co-run Luke Evans Bakery at Riddings, which was founded in 1804.

She said: “The Covid pandemic has led to a greater focus on health and Rootles are the perfect product for guilt-free snacking, as they are high fibre and contain just 120 calories per pack – fewer than many other snack bars. Consumers are looking for healthier snacks, particularly in the impulse snacking sector, but they don’t expect to compromise on taste or texture and still want to treat themselves. Veg has been added to cakes for a long time but we’ve taken the concept a stage further and developed biscuit bars using root vegetables.

“Rootles taste like a traditional chocolate biscuit but are naturally sweetened with carrot and sweet potato. They are deliciously unconventional and really have to be tasted to be believed!”

Helen is launching the product on the national stage at a food and drink trade show this week.

Her work in mentoring and supporting international business students at the University of Nottingham inspired Helen to develop the healthy snack. The concept of using veg in biscuits was developed as a market research project, which sparked her interest in the idea.

Later, Helen received funded support from Mission Ventures and the Good Food Fund, which identified Rootles as being a winning healthy snack to help fight obesity.

Rootles are available to buy online www.rootles.co.uk or Amazon and are also currently on sale in a number of outlets in Derbyshire including the Spar in Chesterfield, the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath, Winster Village Shop, White’s Calver and Croots Farm Shop at Duffield as well as the Luke Evans Bakery shop in Riddings.

The recommended retail price is £1 to £1.20 per 27g pack.