1st Phorm
Choco Chip Cookie Dough
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert‑style, layered build that actually tastes like cookie dough while delivering 20g of whey‑based protein. It’s unapologetically indulgent for a protein bar, with higher calories and a polished, candy‑bar texture.
When to choose 1st Phorm Choco Chip Cookie Dough
Best for people who want a satisfying, treat‑like bar as a post‑workout bite or mid‑afternoon mini‑meal. Less ideal if you’re avoiding sugar alcohols, peanuts/soy/dairy, or you prefer very short, minimally processed labels.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
Twenty grams of protein puts 1st Phorm’s Choco Chip Cookie Dough bar near the top of the category, and it gets there with classic dairy proteins—whey concentrate and isolate—backed by soy isolate and a touch of casein.
Carbs land around average, but they’re not oat- or fruit-based; sweetness and chew come mostly from sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin, and a little sugar and glucose syrup—more confection than trail snack.
Fat is on the higher side thanks to palm oils, cocoa butter, and some nut content, which collectively lift calories to a hearty 270. The cookie‑dough flavor is built the traditional way: maltitol‑sweetened chocolate chips, cocoa processed with alkali, vanilla, and a hint of brown sugar.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein come primarily from whey protein concentrate and isolate, with soy protein isolate and a little sodium caseinate rounding out the blend. Whey is a high‑quality, fast‑digesting dairy protein; the isolate form is typically lower in lactose, while soy contributes complete plant protein at slightly lower amino‑acid quality than dairy. The mix delivers a strong leucine hit for muscle repair, but it does introduce both milk and soy allergens.
Fat
129HIGHMost fat here comes from palm kernel/palm oil and cocoa butter, with supporting roles from sunflower and soybean oils and a bit of almond. That gives a blend of saturated fats (from palm and cocoa butter) and omega‑6‑rich seed oils—great for texture and shelf life, but it pushes total fat above many bars. If you monitor saturated fat, note that palm‑derived fats are prominent.
Carbs
2020MIDThese are engineered carbs rather than whole‑food starches: sugar alcohols (maltitol), glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup), and refined syrups (glucose syrup plus a touch of brown sugar/sugar), with small amounts of tapioca starch and lactose from dairy. You’ll get chew and sweetness with a smaller blood‑sugar rise than straight sugar, but glucose syrup is fast acting and the overall profile is still ‘processed carbs’ rather than slow, fiber‑rich fuel. Sensitive stomachs may notice the polyols, especially if the bar is eaten quickly or alongside other sugar‑free items.
Sugar
54MIDSugar is modest at about 5 grams, with most sweetness coming from sugar alcohols and glycerin plus a tiny boost from sucralose—not fruit. The actual sugars present derive from added sugar/brown sugar, lactose in dairy, and some glucose syrup. Polyols help keep sugars low, but they’re highly processed and can bother some people at higher intakes.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories (well above the category average), this eats like a substantial snack. Roughly ~80 calories come from protein, ~80 from carbohydrates (including polyols), and a bit over 100 from fat—chocolate chips and palm/cocoa fats do some heavy lifting. Best treated as a mini‑meal or workout fuel, not a light nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron sits around 10% Daily Value, likely from cocoa/chocolate and soy ingredients. Small amounts of calcium come from the dairy proteins, and almonds contribute a little vitamin E, while “mixed tocopherols” are added mainly to protect oils rather than to fortify. Vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene appear on the label but don’t translate into a meaningful DV bump here.
Additives
Expect a long functional toolkit: emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, sorbitan tristearate, PGMS) for smooth texture; humectants and sweeteners (glycerin, maltitol, sorbitol, sucralose) for chew and sweetness; and potassium sorbate for shelf life. Several colors are used too, including titanium dioxide for whitening (permitted in the U.S., no longer allowed in EU foods). If you prefer very short, minimally processed labels, this one skews industrial.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Oil palm fruit
Cattle hides and bones
Sugarcane and sugar beet
apples and pears
Corn or wheat
Vegetable oils or animal fats
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 are the calling cards. Multiple reviewers—like the r/Volumeeating commenter who praised its “dough like interior”—say Level‑1 feels more like a confection than a chalky protein stick, which makes it easy to eat consistently.
You still get 20g of complete protein from a whey‑led blend, which is plenty for muscle repair after training or to hold you over between meals. Independent outlets echo the convenience angle: Garage Gym Reviews and Stack3d both highlight the flavor lineup and the bar’s ability to stand in for a quick meal when needed.
In short, this is one of the rare bars that many people actually look forward to eating, and that matters when adherence is the goal.
Main Criticism
The trade‑offs are real. Calories sit at 270 with about 12g of fat, and multiple reviewers note this is richer than typical protein bars—great for satisfaction, less great if you’re counting every calorie.
The ingredient deck leans processed: sugar alcohols like maltitol (a low‑calorie sweetener that can upset some stomachs), sucralose for extra sweetness, and several emulsifiers and oils. A Redditor even lamented a formula change that added maltitol.
Some tasters describe a “chemical” note across 1st Phorm’s line, which likely ties back to the sweetener system. Lastly, allergens are everywhere: milk, soy, almonds, and peanuts are in play, and third‑party coverage notes peanuts are included across flavors, which knocks it out of contention for many.
The Middle Ground
So is it candy or a protein bar? The honest answer is: a bit of both.
One Redditor dismissed the lineup as “basically just candy,” while another insisted they’d “never found one I like better” after trying many alternatives. When you look at the numbers, both takes make sense.
The bar earns its dessert reputation with a doughy center, chocolate chips, and a sweetness profile built on sugar alcohols and a pinch of sucralose. But it also brings 20g of high‑quality protein and enough calories to function as a small meal—something most candy bars can’t claim.
If your priority is a lean, minimalist bar with dates and nuts, this isn’t it. If your priority is a protein hit you’ll genuinely want to eat at 3 p.
m. on a chaotic Tuesday, this is squarely in its lane.
The open question is tolerance: if polyols don’t love you back or you’re avoiding additives like titanium dioxide (permitted in the U. S.
, not in EU foods), you may want to pass.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level‑1 Bar, Choco Chip Cookie Dough, is a treat‑leaning protein bar that delivers on flavor and satiety. You get 20g of whey‑heavy protein and a texture that reads more bakery case than locker room—exactly why fans keep buying it. The cost is macros on the heftier side (270 calories, 12g fat) and a label stacked with modern food tech: sugar alcohols, sucralose, multiple emulsifiers, palm‑derived fats, and even titanium dioxide.
Add in common allergens—milk, soy, almonds, peanuts—and a dose of gelatin, and it’s not a fit for vegetarians or those with sensitivities. Treat this as a mini‑meal or post‑lift dessert with benefits, not a “light” snack. If you value taste and adherence over minimal processing, it’s a compelling pick in the indulgent‑protein category.
If you prefer short‑ingredient lists, avoid sugar alcohols, or need peanut‑free, keep looking. Condensed listicle version: A dessert‑style protein bar that actually tastes like cookie dough and packs 20g of whey‑led protein. At 270 calories with sugar alcohols, emulsifiers, and peanuts/soy/dairy on the label, it’s a satisfying mini‑meal for taste‑first shoppers but a miss for ingredient minimalists or those sensitive to polyols.