1st Phorm
Carrot Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert-forward, layered bar that actually tastes like carrot cake—cinnamon warmth, graham-crumble vibes—while delivering 20g of whey-based protein. It’s engineered for that candy-bar chew and satisfaction, not a minimal-ingredient vibe.
When to choose 1st Phorm Carrot Cake
Reach for it when you want a post-workout treat that feels substantial, or a mid-afternoon holdover that curbs a sweet tooth without sending sugar sky-high—assuming you tolerate sugar alcohols well.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
Think of this Carrot Cake bar as a dessert-inspired protein delivery system.
It leans on a whey‑forward blend (whey concentrate and isolate) to land 20g of complete protein—well above most bars—then layers in cinnamon, a graham‑style crumble with a touch of molasses, and natural colors (beet, annatto, turmeric) to evoke that carrot‑cake look and taste.
The macros skew rich: 13g of fat (largely from palm and cocoa‑butter–type fats) and 270 calories put it in the higher‑energy camp, while the 20g of carbs come mainly from refined starch sugars and sugar alcohols rather than whole‑food grains or fruit.
In short: big protein, dessert vibes, and a highly engineered ingredient list—great if you want a satisfying post‑workout treat, worth a look if you’re sensitive to certain sweeteners.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20g of protein comes from whey protein concentrate and isolate—high‑quality, leucine‑rich dairy proteins that digest efficiently. Soy protein isolate and a bit of sodium caseinate are also in the mix; they add texture and complete amino acids, though they’re all refined isolates rather than whole‑food proteins. If you’re lactose‑sensitive, whey isolates tend to be lower in lactose than concentrates, but milk and soy allergens are still present.
Fat
139HIGHThe 13g of fat are driven by palm kernel oil and palm oil (more saturated), with cocoa butter contributing saturated stearic acid and sunflower/soybean oils adding unsaturated fats. That makes the profile more saturated than a nut‑butter‑based bar, which can nudge LDL cholesterol upward for some people, even though stearic acid is relatively neutral. If you aim to emphasize unsaturated fats, note the reliance on palm‑based ingredients here.
Carbs
2020MIDCarbs here are mostly ‘factory carbs,’ not whole‑food ones: glucose syrup and maltodextrin (refined starch sugars) plus tapioca starch and rice flour in the graham crumble supply quick energy. Sweetness and chew are rounded out with sugar alcohols—maltitol and sorbitol—and glycerin, which keep sugar grams lower but still add calories. Expect a faster energy release than from oats or fruit; polyols can feel gentler on blood sugar than sucrose yet may bother sensitive stomachs at higher intakes.
Sugar
44MIDSugar is modest at 4g because sweetness leans on sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin, and a tiny dose of sucralose rather than lots of cane sugar. There are still refined sugars present—glucose syrup, sugar, and a little molasses in the graham crumble—but the formulation keeps the “sugar” line low. Remember: maltitol still contributes calories and can raise blood glucose somewhat, and polyols can cause GI upset for some people.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories (on the higher end for bars), this eats more like a small meal than a light snack. Roughly speaking, fat contributes the largest share, with protein close behind and the remainder from carbohydrates (including polyols and glycerin). The palm‑based coating and refined binders are what push total energy up—and also what make it satisfying.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals are listed above 10% Daily Value. You’ll see vitamin‑like ingredients such as beta‑carotene, riboflavin‑based color, mixed tocopherols, and vitamin A palmitate, but they’re primarily used for color or to protect fats rather than to deliver meaningful micronutrients. Don’t count on this bar for vitamins—its strengths are protein and palatability.
Additives
This is a heavily engineered bar: multiple emulsifiers (mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, propylene glycol esters) to keep everything cohesive, humectants and sugar alcohols (glycerin, maltitol, sorbitol) for softness and sweetness, and preservatives like potassium sorbate. Colors include annatto, beet, turmeric—and titanium dioxide, a whitening agent no longer permitted in EU foods but still allowed in the U.S. The payoff is shelf‑stable, candy‑bar texture; the trade‑off is a long list of highly processed additives that some people prefer to limit.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Oil palm fruit
Cattle hides and bones
apples and pears
Cassava root
Sugarcane and sugar beet
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
Fans keep coming back to two things: flavor and texture. Across flavors, people describe a dough-like, satisfying interior with layered sweetness, and Carrot Cake follows suit with warm spice notes and a graham-style crunch.
It doesn’t taste like a chalky diet bar; it eats like dessert and actually fills you up. The protein is legit at 20g, so you get more than just a sweet moment—you get something that can stand in as a small meal replacement when life runs hot.
Reviewers also like the variety in the Level-1 lineup, and the Carrot Cake flavor adds a playful, bakery-counter option that still hits the macro goal.
Main Criticism
The biggest knock is that it’s a heavier bar: 270 calories and 13g of fat is more than many “lean” bars, and the fat leans on palm-based oils.
The sweet profile comes from a mix of refined carbs and sugar alcohols—especially maltitol and sorbitol—plus a touch of sucralose; some folks call that combo “chemical” and a few report GI grumbles.
A recent formula shift adding maltitol turned off loyalists who preferred the older take.
Add in the allergen spread (milk, soy, peanuts, almonds) and the use of titanium dioxide (a whitening agent phased out in the EU) and it’s easy to see why purists, or anyone avoiding certain additives, will pass.
Lastly, the bar contains bovine gelatin—important if you avoid gelatin for dietary or ethical reasons.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “basically candy” crowd or the “best-tasting protein bar I’ve found” camp? Probably both, depending on what you want from a bar.
If your north star is short, whole-food ingredients, Reddit user unknown calling it “basically just candy” won’t feel far off; the label reads like a modern confectionery playbook. But the 20g of complete protein aren’t imaginary, and the dessert build is exactly why many people, like the commenter who praised its doughy interior, actually stick with it.
If maltitol or sucralose tastes off to you—or bothers your gut—you’ll notice it here, and the 270-calorie tag is a feature, not a bug: this is designed to be satisfying. The truth sits in the middle: it’s a protein-forward dessert bar, not a minimalist health food, and that’s either perfect for your use case or a deal-breaker.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level-1 Carrot Cake bar is a treat-style protein bar that delivers on taste and satiety, with 20g of whey-forward protein tucked into a soft, layered, cinnamon-warm bite. It’s a smart pick when you want something that actually feels like a snack, not a compromise—post lift, on the road, or when the office cake magically appears and you’d rather have your own slice. Know the trade-offs: 270 calories and 13g of fat put it on the richer side, the sweetness relies on sugar alcohols (which some find rough on the gut), and the ingredient list is long, including titanium dioxide and bovine gelatin, plus common allergens (milk, soy, peanuts, almonds).
If you’re cool with a dessert-forward build and you tolerate polyols, it’s a delightful way to hit your protein target. If you want minimal processing or you’re sensitive to these sweeteners, keep looking. Either way, this bar is honest about what it is: a carrot-cake-flavored protein dessert that actually satisfies.