Barebells
Key Lime Pie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A tart‑and‑creamy, candy‑bar‑style protein bar with 20g of high‑quality milk protein and only 1g sugar in 200 calories.
When to choose Barebells Key Lime Pie
Best for dessert‑leaning post‑workout snacks or afternoon cravings if you tolerate sugar alcohols/sucralose and don’t need gluten‑free or vegetarian.
What's in the Barebells bar?
Barebells Key Lime Pie is built on dairy protein—calcium caseinate plus whey isolate/concentrate—for a hefty 20g, with a little soy isolate and collagen added mostly for texture. The carbs are engineered rather than oat- or date-based: sugar alcohols (maltitol), glycerin, and polydextrose keep sugar to just 1 gram and total calories to 200.
Fat comes mainly from cocoa butter with a touch of sunflower oil, giving a creamy, candy‑bar coating without going heavy.
That bright key‑lime character is created with natural and artificial flavors and a squeeze of tang from citric acid; turmeric and spirulina lend the lime-green hue, while dry whole milk helps the custardy “pie” feel.
If you like high protein with low sugars via modern sweeteners, this bar leans into that formula—here’s how the pieces play out.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20 grams come from a milk protein blend—slow‑digesting casein plus fast‑acting whey—giving a high‑quality, complete amino acid profile. A bit of soy protein isolate adds plant protein, while bovine collagen helps texture but is incomplete on its own. Net effect: dairy proteins do the heavy lifting for muscle support, landing this bar well above average for protein.
Fat
79MIDFat here comes chiefly from cocoa butter and a small amount of refined sunflower oil, with traces from dry whole milk. Cocoa butter brings that creamy melt (mostly stearic and oleic fats), while sunflower oil contributes unsaturated fats—together keeping richness without excess. At 7 grams, it’s on the lighter side for a coated bar.
Carbs
1820MIDThese are more engineered than “whole‑food” carbs. Maltitol (a sugar alcohol), glycerin (a plant‑derived humectant), and polydextrose (a low‑calorie soluble fiber) do most of the work, with a smaller boost from tapioca starch and a little lactose from the dairy. Expect a smoother rise in blood sugar than a sugar‑sweetened bar, though some people get digestive rumbling from sugar alcohols—especially if they stack servings.
Sugar
14LOWSugar stays at 1 gram, largely residual lactose from dairy ingredients. Sweetness instead comes from maltitol (a lower‑calorie sugar alcohol) plus a tiny dash of sucralose, while glycerin keeps the chew soft. That approach lowers sugar, but polyols can bother sensitive stomachs if you overdo it.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, it sits in the lower‑middle range for protein bars. Protein provides a big share, with the rest split between modest fat and a carb system that includes low‑calorie fiber and partly absorbed polyols—one reason the total lands lower than simple 4‑4‑9 math suggests.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium reaches about 10% of daily value, thanks to the milk protein blend and dry whole milk. Beyond that, vitamins and minerals are modest.
Additives
This is a modern, highly formulated bar: polydextrose, maltitol, glycerin, lecithin, citric acid, and sucralose keep it moist, sweet, stable, and tangy with very little sugar. Natural and artificial flavors deliver the key‑lime profile, while turmeric and spirulina add the green tint. The trade‑off is a longer, more refined ingredient list in exchange for texture and low sugar.
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
Cocoa beans
glucose
Cow's milk
Defatted soybean flakes
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
Barebells has a reputation for making protein bars that eat like candy, and Key Lime Pie sticks the landing. Editors at Bon Appétit, SELF, and Allrecipes all praise the brand’s texture—crisp shell, chewy center—and the consistent 20g of protein across flavors.
Reviewers echo the no‑grit, no‑chalk experience, calling the bars “a treat rather than a supplement,” with one Redditor declaring, “Best protein bars out there. I’ll die on this hill.
” The lime note is punchy without turning sour, and the creamy middle channels the “pie” part nicely. At 200 calories, it’s a satisfying, portable sweet fix that actually pulls its weight on protein.
Main Criticism
Most complaints circle the sweetener system, not the flavor. Maltitol—the main sugar alcohol—can cause bloating or bathroom sprints for some people, especially if they eat more than one a day, and a few shoppers balk at sucralose entirely.
Texture isn’t universally beloved either; some folks prefer a puffed, crunchier bite and find Barebells a touch too dense. Practical note: it contains dairy and soy, includes bovine collagen (so it isn’t vegetarian), and it’s not labeled gluten‑free.
The Middle Ground
Both camps are right.
Barebells delivers a remarkably candy‑like bar with legit protein—there’s a reason food editors keep giving it “best texture” nods—and Key Lime Pie adds a fun, tart twist to the usual chocolate lineup.
But the low sugar is achieved with modern sweeteners, and bodies vary: one Redditor loved the taste but said, “Only problem is the sucralose,” while another warned maltitol messed with their stomach when they stacked bars on back‑to‑back days.
One dramatic Redditor called a different flavor “the most vile thing” they’ve ever eaten; another said Barebells are the only bars they can stomach. Same brand, wildly different taste buds.
If you do fine with sugar alcohols and want something that feels like dessert without the big sugar hit, you’ll likely be thrilled. If you want short, whole‑food ingredients or avoid artificial sweeteners on principle, you’ll find this too engineered.
Also remember the diet boxes: not vegetarian, not gluten‑free, and contains soy and milk.
What's the bottom line?
If you’re chasing a bright, dessert‑like protein bar that actually tastes good, Barebells Key Lime Pie is an easy recommendation. It packs 20g of complete dairy protein into 200 calories, wraps it in a crisp coating, and lands a clean lime tang that makes the last bite as fun as the first. Know the tradeoff: 1g of sugar means sweetness comes from maltitol plus a touch of sucralose, which some people don’t tolerate.
rescue. Quick take for the listicle: candy‑bar texture, tart‑creamy lime, 20g protein, 200 calories, 1g sugar—great if you’re sweetener‑tolerant; skip if you need vegetarian, gluten‑free, or minimal‑ingredient bars.