Barebells
Choco Hazelnut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A widely praised candy‑bar texture—crunchy coating over a dense, nougat‑like center—delivers 20 grams of milk‑protein‑based protein with very little sugar, and real cocoa and hazelnut pieces for honest flavor.
When to choose Barebells Choco Hazelnut
A dessert‑like protein hit after workouts or during the 3 p. m.
slump—especially for people who tolerate sugar alcohols and prioritize taste and texture over a minimalist ingredient list.
What's in the Barebells bar?
Barebells Choco Hazelnut reads like dessert but behaves like a protein bar. The chocolate-hazelnut flavor is built from real cocoa (cocoa mass and fat‑reduced cocoa), cocoa butter, and roasted hazelnut pieces—so the taste isn’t just “flavorings.
” Under the hood, 20 grams of protein come from milk proteins (the casein–whey duo you find in milk) with a helping of collagen peptides, while the low‑sugar profile leans on modern sweeteners like maltitol, polydextrose, and glycerol.
Fats come from cocoa butter, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, and dairy, landing you in a balanced, mid‑calorie snack that’s more confection‑style than whole‑food, but deliberately engineered to keep sugar low.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 16 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 206
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20 grams of protein are from milk proteins—the naturally complete casein–whey blend—supported by whole milk powder. Collagen peptides also appear, which help with texture but are not a complete protein, so the dairy portion does the heavy lifting for muscle repair. High for the category, but note that not every gram carries whey‑level amino acid quality.
Fat
99MIDFat here comes from cocoa butter, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, and a touch from dairy. That means a mix of stearic and oleic acids from cocoa butter, heart‑friendly monounsaturates and vitamin E from hazelnuts, and additional unsaturated fat from sunflower oil. The total lands mid‑pack, giving satisfying richness without tipping into “heavy.”
Carbs
1620MIDThe 16 grams of carbs are mostly engineered rather than grain‑based: polydextrose (a lab‑made soluble fiber) provides bulk, maltitol (a sugar alcohol) brings sweetness with fewer calories than sugar, and glycerol keeps the bar soft. This combo generally produces a gentler blood‑sugar rise than cane sugar, though polyols can bother sensitive stomachs. Expect steadier energy than a candy bar, with the usual sugar‑alcohol caveat.
Sugar
14MIDOnly 1.4 grams of sugar, largely from natural lactose in milk, because sweetness is carried by sugar alcohols (maltitol) and glycerol rather than cane sugar. That keeps spikes in check compared with standard chocolates, though maltitol still contributes some digestible carbs. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, assess your own tolerance.
Calories
206210MIDAt 206 calories, the bar draws roughly similar energy from protein and fat, with the remainder from carbs that include lower‑calorie polyols and fiber. That balance tends to be satiating for a snack without feeling heavy. It sits slightly below average calories for the category, thanks to the reduced‑sugar formulation.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamin or mineral amounts are flagged on the label. You’ll likely get modest calcium and riboflavin from the milk ingredients, a touch of vitamin E from hazelnuts, and small amounts of magnesium from cocoa—useful, but not a replacement for a multivitamin or whole‑food sources.
Additives
To achieve low sugar with a soft bite, the bar leans on a few refined helpers: polydextrose (a synthetic soluble fiber) for bulk, maltitol (a sugar alcohol) for sweetness, glycerol to hold moisture, and lecithins to keep chocolatey fats and proteins playing nicely together. These are common in confection‑style protein bars—effective for texture and sweetness, but decidedly more processed than dates or oats.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Bovine, porcine, fish, chicken tissues
Corn or wheat
glucose
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Corylus avellana tree nuts
Sunflower seeds
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I bought two of the cookies and cream protein bars for my boyfriend and I to try…. These protein bars are absolute FLAMES 🔥 they’re so delicious, they taste like a straight up chocolate bar… with barely any sugar and 20g of protein!!!!”
“Best protein bars out there. I’ll die on this hill.”
“Barebell protein bars are genuinely some of the only protein bars I can eat - I hate the weird flavors and bars that are disgustingly chewy - as someone who struggles with binge ed, I’ve been so grateful to have a brand of protein bars that can satisfy that sweet tooth and keep me full so I don’t gravitate towards all that junky food!”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are the headline. Food editors at Bon Appétit and SELF both single out Barebells for the crunchy‑chewy layering that feels more confection than supplement, and Allrecipes calls the brand the best they’ve tried.
That consensus shows up in everyday reviews, too: people repeatedly say “tastes like a candy bar” without the chalk or grit that plagues many protein bars. You still get the substance—20 grams of protein from milk proteins plus collagen—with a neat 206 calories, which many find satisfying for a snack.
The chocolate‑hazelnut flavor benefits from real cocoa and actual hazelnut pieces, so it reads as chocolate first, protein bar second. For folks managing a sweet tooth, this bar often lands as the rare option that both hits the craving and delivers a meaningful protein bump.
Main Criticism
The biggest caveat is the sweetener system.
This flavor leans on maltitol (a sugar alcohol), polydextrose, and glycerol to keep sugar low; that’s fine for many, but a subset of people report bloating or bathroom sprints if they overdo it.
A few reviewers also flag that not every Barebells flavor is a slam dunk (the birthday‑cake debate is spirited), so taste can vary across the lineup. Another practical note: the protein count includes some collagen, which isn’t a complete protein—milk proteins do the quality heavy lifting.
It’s also not vegetarian and not gluten‑free, and it’s pricier than basic grocery‑store bars.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—genius snack or glorified candy? For most, it’s the former.
The macros are balanced: roughly equal calories from protein and fat, with carbs largely coming from fiber and sugar‑alcohol sweeteners that tend to blunt sugar spikes compared with regular sugar. That engineering is why Bon Appétit and SELF rave about the texture while still awarding it “protein bar” status, not just dessert.
The counterpoint is real: one Redditor swore off the brand after trying a polarizing flavor, and another blamed their gut woes on the sweeteners. Worth noting, though, that the sucralose complaint some people lob at Barebells doesn’t apply here—the Choco Hazelnut ingredient list relies on maltitol and friends.
If your stomach handles sugar alcohols and you value a treat‑like experience, the promise holds up. If you’re sensitive or chasing a short, whole‑food ingredient list, this isn’t your match—and that’s okay.
What's the bottom line?
Barebells Choco Hazelnut delivers what many protein bars only promise: a genuinely candy‑bar bite with 20 grams of protein and just 206 calories. Real cocoa and hazelnut pieces carry flavor, while the milk‑protein core supports recovery; collagen helps with texture but doesn’t replace complete dairy protein. The trade‑off is a modern sweetener blend—maltitol, polydextrose, glycerol—that keeps sugar low but won’t suit every gut.
It’s also not vegetarian, not gluten‑free, and on the spendy side. If you want a dessert‑leaning bar that actually satisfies and you tolerate sugar alcohols, it’s an easy yes. Quick take for listicles: Candy‑bar texture, 20g protein, 206 calories; sweetened with maltitol, so great for sweet‑tooth protein seekers who tolerate polyols, less ideal for ultra‑simple‑ingredient or vegetarian needs.