Barebells
Holiday Crisp
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A seasonal, layered candy-bar experience—crisp, chocolate, chewy center—with 20g of predominantly dairy-based protein and just 1 gram of sugar.
When to choose Barebells Holiday Crisp
Dessert-leaning protein seekers who want a satisfying post-workout or afternoon snack and are comfortable with sugar alcohols and sucralose.
What's in the Barebells bar?
Holiday Crisp reads like a chocolate-forward, high‑protein treat: 20 grams of protein anchored by a milk protein blend (caseinate plus whey isolate and concentrate), a small dose of bovine collagen for chew, and a touch of soy isolate.
The festive flavor cues come from chocolate and cocoa butter, with “natural and artificial flavors” doing the seasonal lifting; tapioca starch helps build that light, crispy bite. Carbs skew engineered rather than whole‑food—glycerin, a sugar alcohol (maltitol), and a soluble fiber (polydextrose) keep sugar low while maintaining softness.
Fat sits in the middle of the pack and is driven mostly by cocoa butter (think silky melt) with a little sunflower oil and milk fat for richness. You also get a modest calcium boost from the dairy proteins.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20 grams come from a milk protein blend—casein (calcium caseinate) and whey (isolate and concentrate)—a high‑quality combo that’s both complete and well‑digested. Collagen peptides are added for texture but are not a complete protein, and a smaller amount of soy isolate appears to round out structure. Net effect: a predominantly dairy‑based, upper‑tier protein punch with fast (whey) and slower (casein) digestion working together.
Fat
89MIDThe 8 grams of fat mainly come from cocoa butter, with help from sunflower oil and the milk in the chocolate components. That means a mix of saturated fat (notably stearic acid from cocoa butter, which is relatively neutral for LDL in studies) and unsaturated fat from sunflower oil. Expect creamy mouthfeel and chocolatey snap without an overly heavy fat load.
Carbs
1920MIDAt 19 grams, the carbs lean more engineered than whole‑food: glycerin for moisture, a sugar alcohol (maltitol) for bulked sweetness, polydextrose for soluble fiber, and a bit of refined tapioca starch to help the crisp. This matrix typically yields steadier energy than a sugar‑dense bar, though tapioca is quickly digested. If you’re sensitive to polyols or synthetic fibers, note they can cause GI rumbling at higher intakes.
Sugar
14LOWJust 1 gram of sugar—most sweetness comes from a sugar alcohol (maltitol) plus a tiny amount of sucralose, with glycerin contributing a gentle sweetness. That keeps sugars low without leaning on fruit or honey, which some prefer; the trade‑off is a more processed sweetener profile. People who are sensitive to sugar alcohols may want to test tolerance.
Calories
200210MIDTwo hundred calories land in a balanced way for a protein bar: a large share from protein, with the rest split between carbs and fats. The dairy proteins do much of the heavy lifting, while cocoa butter/sunflower oil and the low‑sugar carb system fill in the rest. It’s a sensible between‑meal snack when you want protein first without a calorie bomb.
Vitamins & Minerals
You get about 10% of daily calcium, largely from the dairy proteins (calcium caseinate, whey) and dry whole milk. Beyond that, vitamins and minerals are modest, which fits a bar built for protein and texture rather than micronutrient fortification.
Additives
This is a modern, engineered bar: polydextrose (a synthetic soluble fiber) for body, glycerin to keep it soft, maltitol for bulked sweetness, sunflower lecithin as an emulsifier, and a pinch of sucralose for a final sweetness lift. These choices deliver low sugar and a soft chew, but they are highly refined additives. If you prefer simpler, whole‑food formulas, this label will feel busier.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Fats and oils
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Corn or wheat
glucose
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Cacao beans
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 steal the show. Food editors from Bon Appétit, SELF, and Allrecipes all singled out Barebells for that layered “candy bar” feel—crisp coating, plush center, and a clean bite without chalkiness.
The macro setup (20 grams of protein, 200 calories) hits a sweet spot for a legit snack that doesn’t sprawl into meal-replacement territory.
Across Reddit and Amazon, fans talk about it like a treat they look forward to rather than a chore to choke down, which matters if you’re trying to build a sustainable habit.
Several reviewers also note that the bar satisfies a sweet craving and keeps them full, which tracks with the blend of whey and casein for both quick and steadier protein digestion.
Main Criticism
The sweetness comes with caveats.
Holiday Crisp relies on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) plus a touch of sucralose, which some people dislike on principle and others feel in practice—think bloating or GI grumbles if you’re sensitive or have more than one.
The ingredient list is engineered rather than pantry-simple, which won’t please whole‑food purists. It’s also dairy- and soy-based and includes collagen, so it’s not vegetarian or suitable for those avoiding those allergens.
Finally, flavor love isn’t unanimous; some Barebells varieties are darlings while a few misses pop up in threads.
The Middle Ground
There’s a pretty clear split between taste-first fans and ingredient-minimalists.
On the one hand, Holiday Crisp delivers an unusually convincing candy-bar texture with 20g of complete dairy protein (plus a little collagen for chew) in a tidy 200 calories—hard to argue with how well that works for a snack.
On the other, the low sugar comes courtesy of processed sweeteners, and maltitol can upset sensitive stomachs. Reddit has both extremes—one person declared these the best bars on earth, another called a different flavor “vile”—but 17k-plus Amazon ratings averaging 4.
4 suggest most people fall in the happy middle.
From a nutrition standpoint, the whey-and-casein combo is a meaningful win for satiety and muscle repair, and you even get a modest calcium bump; the trade-off is accepting a modern, additive-forward formula.
If you’re curious but cautious, start with one bar on a day you’re not already playing GI roulette and see how you do.
What's the bottom line?
Barebells Holiday Crisp is a high-protein bar that eats like an actual treat: crisp chocolate shell, soft center, and no gritty afterthought. It’s a smart macro package for an afternoon bridge or post-workout bite, especially if flavor is the reason you stick with a routine. The caveat is philosophical and personal.
You’re signing up for a processed sweetener system (maltitol and a touch of sucralose) and a dairy/soy/collagen blend that rules it out for vegetarians and anyone avoiding those allergens; it’s also not gluten-free. If you’re good with that, Holiday Crisp is one of the most convincing “dessert-y” protein bars out there. If you’re not, look for a simpler-ingredient bar and accept that it may not taste like the holidays wrapped in chocolate.