Applied Nutrition
Milk Chocolate Peanut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true candy‑bar build—soft center, caramel layer, crunchies, chocolate shell—paired with high protein (about 21g per 62g bar) and very low sugar. The recent update aimed squarely at making it tastier and smoother without sacrificing macros.
When to choose Applied Nutrition Milk Chocolate Peanut
A sweet‑tooth protein fix after the gym or as a dessert‑like afternoon snack. Best if you’re fine with modern sweeteners and don’t need gluten‑free; less ideal if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols or prefer short, whole‑food ingredient lists.
What's in the Applied Nutrition bar?
Applied Nutrition’s Milk Chocolate Peanut bar leans classic in flavor—think a milk‑chocolate coating, a low‑sugar caramel ribbon, and nibbed peanuts—while using a very modern toolkit to keep sugars down and protein high.
The protein is a multi‑source blend led by milk and whey isolates, with soy and hydrolysed wheat supporting texture and amino‑acid balance, which helps push it into the upper tier for protein among bars.
Carbs skew more “engineered” than oat‑and‑date: refined soluble fibers from cassava and chicory, sugar alcohols, a little glycerin, and a touch of fast starch hold the sweetness and chew with minimal sugar.
Fats stay modest and come mostly from cocoa butter in the coating plus a bit of coconut oil, with a small unsaturated assist from the peanuts. If you like the taste of a chocolate‑and‑peanut treat but want low sugar, this is squarely in that lane—just note the use of polyols if your digestion is sensitive.
- Protein
- 21 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 219
Protein
2115HIGH21.4g of protein comes chiefly from milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate—clean, filtered dairy proteins with complete amino‑acid profiles—supported by soy protein isolate and some hydrolysed wheat protein. That mix lands the bar in the high‑protein bracket and balances texture, though the wheat component means it isn’t gluten‑free.
Fat
69LOWFat stays modest and is driven by the milk‑chocolate layer (cocoa butter) and a bit of coconut oil in the caramel, with a small unsaturated nudge from peanuts. That tilts the fat quality toward saturated, but at this portion the total is lower than many bars.
Carbs
2220MIDMost carbs don’t come from oats or fruit but from refined soluble fibers (e.g., cassava‑derived “soluble tapioca fiber” and chicory‑root oligofructose), sugar alcohols that replace sugar, and a little glycerin, with small amounts of quick starch from maltodextrin/modified maize. Expect a smoother rise than a sugar‑heavy bar, yet maltodextrin and maltitol still contribute usable carbs—and polyols can bother sensitive stomachs if you stack servings.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar—mostly from dairy ingredients like milk powders—with sweetness coming instead from sugar alcohols (maltitol), a tiny lift from an artificial sweetener (sucralose), and mild sweetness from glycerin and prebiotic fiber. That keeps sugars low without turning the bar bland, though maltitol still has a moderate glycemic effect and can cause gas or laxation for some at higher intakes.
Calories
219210MIDCalories land mid‑pack, split between a big protein share, confection‑style carbs (polyols, refined fibers, and a touch of starch), and smaller contributions from chocolate and coconut fats. In other words, it eats like a lighter candy bar that happens to deliver a solid protein dose.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins or minerals over 10% of the daily value. Milk and skim milk powders bring a little calcium and B‑vitamins, and calcium lactate in the caramel may add a token boost, but the bar’s strengths are protein and low sugar, not micronutrients.
Additives
This is a function‑first recipe: emulsifiers to keep chocolate smooth, humectants to hold moisture, refined fibers for body, and small‑dose thickeners for the caramel—all common, highly processed tools that trade simplicity for texture and low sugar. If you prefer short, pantry‑style labels, this one reads more like a confectionery formula.
Ingredient List
Sunflower seeds
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Soybeans
Fats and oils
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Chicory root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Favorite Protein bars : Barebells: White Salty Peanut, Trust Crunch USN: Triple Chocolat, Applied Nutrition: Crunch White Choc Caramel and Grenade Carb Killa: White Chocolate Salty Peanut. What I tend to do with them is chop them, warm them on the microwave and put them in my plain Skyr.”
Main Praise
Fans keep circling back to the taste. Independent reviewers call out a soft, gooey center with a clear caramel‑and‑chocolate hit, and the White Chocolate Caramel and Milk Chocolate Peanut flavors get repeat mentions.
For a 62g bar, the protein lands high at around 21g, which makes it feel like more than a treat—it’s a legitimate protein play. The relaunch in 2024 was all about improving texture and overall eating experience, and early impressions suggest it paid off: same macros, more enjoyable bite.
One Redditor even chops it, warms it briefly, and folds it into skyr yogurt, which tells you the flavor plays well beyond “just okay. ” On balance, it’s widely seen as a candy‑bar‑style option that actually delivers protein without a sugar bomb.
Main Criticism
The sweetness level is the biggest sticking point; if your palate leans subtle, this can read as quite sweet. Despite the name, it’s not a jaw‑cruncher—the texture leans soft with some crispies, not a full snap.
The formula relies on processed tools—sugar alcohols like maltitol, refined fibers for body, a touch of sucralose—which some folks avoid on principle or because polyols can cause bloating if you overdo them.
It also isn’t gluten‑free due to hydrolysed wheat protein in the blend, and there’s soy in the mix, so it’s not for everyone.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you want a short, pantry‑style ingredient list, this isn’t your bar; it’s a function‑first confection engineered to be low in sugar and high in protein.
But if your goal is a dessert‑leaning protein hit that doesn’t taste like a compromise, it’s one of the more convincing options.
Stack3d’s take on the refresh—better taste and texture with the same macros—lines up with what you’ll likely experience: a softer chew, a caramel ribbon, and crispies that add interest more than crunch.
And yes, as r/1200isplenty proved with that skyr hack, it’s flexible: warm it for goo, chill it for snap, or crumble it over yogurt to spread out the sweetness. The caveat is digestive tolerance—maltitol and friends are fine for many at bar‑level portions, but if you’re sensitive, start with half and see how you feel.
The name promises “Crunch”; the reality is more of a polite crunch inside a candy‑bar chew—and for many, that’s exactly the point.
What's the bottom line?
Applied Nutrition’s Protein Crunch Bar is a candy‑bar‑style protein snack with grown‑up macros: about 21g of protein, roughly 209–221 calories, and around 2 grams of sugar per 62g bar. It succeeds where a lot of low‑sugar bars stumble—flavor and texture—thanks to a gooey layer and a chocolate shell that make it feel like a treat, not a chore. The trade‑offs are clear and honest.
You get modern sweeteners and refined fibers instead of dates and oats, and the blend includes milk, soy, and hydrolysed wheat, so it’s not gluten‑free or minimalist. If you’re chasing a dessert‑like protein fix and can handle sugar alcohols, this is an easy yes; if you want a short, whole‑food label or need gluten‑free, keep walking. Think of it as the bar you reach for when you want a candy moment with real protein behind it—and you’re okay with a little science helping it get there.