1st Phorm
Apple Pie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A genuinely dessert-like, layered apple-pie flavor (real apple components, warming spices, white confectionery coating) built around a robust 20g dairy-protein core—remarkably low in sugar for how indulgent it tastes.
When to choose 1st Phorm Apple Pie
Choose this if you want a sweet-tooth-satisfying post-workout or afternoon snack that actually delivers protein, and you like soft, doughy textures. It’s less ideal if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols or need to avoid peanuts or soy.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
Apple pie in bar form?
1st Phorm leans into the flavor with real apple components (apple powder and apple juice concentrate) and a warm spice blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, brightened by a touch of tart malic and citric acids.
Under the hood, the protein is dairy‑led—a blend of milk protein isolate plus whey isolate and concentrate—rounded out with soy protein isolate and a little collagen. Sweetness is kept low on sugar by using a sugar alcohol–sweetened white coating and a moisture‑holding base (think maltitol, glycerin, and inulin) rather than straight sugar.
Fats come from both palm kernel oil (in that coating) and nut butters (almond and peanut), with a bit of coconut for richness. The upshot: a high‑protein, confectionery‑style bar with classic apple‑pie notes and a macro profile that skews higher in carbs and moderate in fat.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
2015HIGHTwenty grams of protein lands near the top of the category, driven mostly by milk protein isolate and whey (isolate and concentrate)—complete, highly digestible dairy proteins with relatively low lactose. Soy protein isolate adds extra grams and a firm bite, while hydrolyzed collagen contributes texture but isn’t a complete protein. Net effect: strong amino acid quality from the dairy blend, with plant and collagen playing supporting roles.
Fat
99MIDThe 9 grams of fat come from two very different places: palm kernel oil in the white coating and whole‑food fats from almond and peanut butters, plus some coconut. Palm kernel oil and coconut are higher in saturated fat, while the nut butters bring heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats. It’s a mixed bag—expect a moderate fat load with both saturated and unsaturated sources.
Carbs
2420MIDCarbs here are mostly confectionery‑style rather than grain‑based: an apple layer built with corn syrup (a fast glucose source), apple juice concentrate, molasses, and starch, balanced by inulin (a chicory‑root fiber). The coating and base rely on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and glycerin for sweetness and softness. Expect a mix of quick energy from the syrups with some blunting from fiber, protein, and polyols.
Sugar
34MIDSugar stays low at 3 grams because most sweetness comes from sugar alcohol (maltitol), a plant‑derived humectant (glycerin), and a tiny dose of the zero‑calorie sweetener sucralose. The apple layer still contributes some fruit‑sourced sugars (from apple juice concentrate and apple powder), but far less than you’d see in a fully sugared bar. If you’re sensitive, note that sugar alcohols and chicory‑root fiber can cause GI discomfort at higher intakes.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, this sits a bit higher than the average bar and reflects a true three‑way split: substantial protein, moderate fat, and a sizable carbohydrate portion. Some of those carbs come from fiber (inulin) and sugar alcohol (maltitol), which typically contribute fewer calories than table sugar. Practically, it eats like a satisfying snack or post‑workout option rather than a mini‑meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no heavy vitamin fortification here. The modest calcium (around 10% DV) likely comes from the dairy proteins and the nonfat milk powder in the coating, with small amounts of iron contributed by ingredients like molasses and soy. Apples bring flavor more than micronutrients once they’re dried or concentrated.
Additives
This is a modern, coated protein bar, so expect more processing: sugar alcohol for sweetness (maltitol), a high‑intensity sweetener (sucralose), moisture holders (glycerin), and emulsifiers (soy lecithin and monoglycerides) to keep the coating smooth. Acids (malic, citric) sharpen apple flavor, while inulin adds fiber and creaminess. Not a short‑list, whole‑food bar—but a typical approach for low‑sugar, candy‑bar‑style formulas.
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk
Soybeans
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Sugar cane and sugar beet
Chicory root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“1st Phorm level-1 bar -PB Pretzel Flavor 🤌”
“Blueberry muffin and peanut butter lover are probably my favorite, they have almost a dough like interior.. very satisfying”
“I like 1st Phorm bars. I don’t like the strange chewy nougat texture of most of them or they taste off. Over several weeks I tried many that people recommended and I never found one I like better.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture consistently top the praise list. Across threads, people rave about the dough-like interior and the way flavors land like actual bakery treats rather than chalky “protein” approximations.
For many, the bar feels more like a proper dessert without the typical sugar crash—a neat trick given the 3g sugar. The 20g of protein is another anchor point; dairy-led protein blends tend to be complete and satisfying, and this one fits that mold.
Reviewers also appreciate the lineup breadth—plenty of flavors to rotate through—which suggests the Apple Pie option has a familiar, proven base with seasonal appeal. In short, it’s the rare candy-bar-style protein bar that a lot of people actually finish and immediately want again.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is charmed.
A few users report a “chemical” aftertaste in some flavors, and one complaint making the rounds is the switch to maltitol; if sugar alcohols bother your stomach, this can be a nonstarter.
Others frame Level-1 as “basically candy,” calling out the white coating, palm kernel oil, and a generally indulgent build.
Third-party reviews also flag that macros can skew heavier on fat and carbs relative to leaner bars in the category, and the brand’s flavors commonly include peanuts and soy—deal-breakers for some.
Price is sometimes mentioned as a sticking point, especially if you’re treating it as a daily staple rather than an occasional treat.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the dessert devotees or the ingredient skeptics? Both have a case.
The Apple Pie bar is undeniably confectionery: a white-coated, layered build with real apple components, sweetened primarily via maltitol (a sugar alcohol that keeps sugar low but can upset sensitive stomachs) plus a bit of sucralose.
At the same time, the protein quality is legit: a dairy-forward blend that delivers a complete amino acid profile, with soy and a touch of collagen playing supporting roles. Calories are moderate at 230, not a mini-meal but solid snack territory; carbs are significant, though partly buffered by fiber and the bar’s protein.
When one Redditor gushes about the “dough-like interior,” that squares with what you’ll bite into here. When another calls the brand “basically candy,” that’s not entirely wrong either—this is a candy-bar-style experience engineered to carry 20g of protein.
The truth lives in the middle: craveable and protein-dense, but not a minimal-ingredient, whole-food bar.
What's the bottom line?
If you want an apple-pie dessert that also checks the protein box, 1st Phorm’s Level-1 Bar in Apple Pie makes a strong case. It’s soft and layered, earns its hype on taste and texture, and brings 20g of complete, dairy-led protein in a 230-calorie package. The sugar stays low because the sweetness mostly comes from maltitol and a touch of sucralose, which some people tolerate just fine—and others decidedly do not.
It’s gluten-free but includes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, and coconut, and it isn’t vegetarian due to collagen. Use it as a post-workout sweet finish, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a dessert swap when you want something candy-like without a blood sugar spike. Skip it if you’re chasing ultra-simple ingredient lists, if sugar alcohols don’t sit well with you, or if you have relevant allergies.
In a sentence: a convincingly indulgent apple pie in protein-bar clothing—great for flavor-first protein seekers, less great for purists. Condensed listicle take: 1st Phorm Level-1 Bar, Apple Pie—layered, cinnamon-forward, and dessert-like with 20g protein and only 3g sugar in 230 calories.
Fantastic if you love soft, doughy bars and tolerate sugar alcohols. Not for peanut/soy avoiders or anyone who wants a short, whole-food ingredient list.