Barebells
Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Stellar candy-bar texture (crisp shell, chewy center) with 20g of protein and just 2g of sugar—consistently praised by food editors and everyday snackers.
When to choose Barebells Peanut Butter
A post-workout or afternoon sweet-tooth fix when you want dessert-level flavor without a sugar spike—best for folks who tolerate sugar alcohols; contains milk and soy.
What's in the Barebells bar?
Barebells Peanut Butter leans into a candy-bar feel: real peanut butter and roasted peanut pieces deliver the flavor, while cocoa butter and unsweetened chocolate create that chocolatey finish. Under the hood, most of the protein comes from a dairy blend (calcium caseinate plus whey isolate and concentrate), with smaller contributions from soy protein isolate and collagen peptides.
That mix pushes this bar toward the top of the protein pack while keeping sugar low; sweetness is built mostly with sugar alcohols and glycerin, plus a bit of synthetic fiber (polydextrose) to keep the texture soft.
Fat comes mainly from peanuts, with cocoa butter rounding things out, so you get a mix of monounsaturated fats and stearic‑rich saturated fat. If you want a high‑protein, mid‑calorie bar with classic peanut‑chocolate flavors—and you tolerate sugar alcohols—this one fits neatly.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein are driven by a milk protein blend—calcium caseinate with whey isolate and concentrate—so you’re getting complete, highly digestible protein with typically low lactose. A smaller lift from soy protein isolate and collagen peptides helps with total grams and chew, though collagen on its own isn’t a complete protein. Net: a dairy‑led formula that’s high for protein and contains milk and soy allergens.
Fat
89MIDFat comes chiefly from peanut butter and roasted peanuts, with cocoa butter supplying the chocolate snap. Peanuts bring mostly heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats, while cocoa butter adds saturated stearic acid, which tends to be more cholesterol‑neutral than some other saturated fats. The total is moderate—enough for satisfaction without feeling heavy.
Carbs
2020MIDThese are engineered rather than grain‑based carbs: maltitol (a sugar alcohol), glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup that keeps bars soft), and polydextrose (a low‑calorie synthetic fiber) provide most of the 20 grams, with only small amounts from peanuts or chocolate. This blend generally blunts sharp blood‑sugar spikes compared with sugar, so energy feels steadier. If sugar alcohols bother your digestion, ease in and see how you do.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar make it into the bar; most sweetness comes from sugar alcohols (primarily maltitol, with a touch of xylitol), glycerin, and a tiny amount of sucralose for intensity. That keeps sugar low without leaning on fruit, but it does rely on highly refined sweeteners. Sensitive stomachs may want to start with half to test tolerance.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, it sits squarely in the middle of the category. Energy is split across complete protein, moderate fats from peanuts and cocoa butter, and carbohydrates that include lower‑calorie sweeteners and fiber, so fewer calories come from simple sugars. Think snack or post‑workout bridge, not a full meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 10% of daily value thanks to the dairy ingredients—calcium caseinate, whey proteins, and a bit of dry whole milk. Iron and potassium show up in smaller amounts. This isn’t a multivitamin play; its value is firmly in the protein.
Additives
To deliver a candy‑bar texture with low sugar, the recipe uses several refined helpers: polydextrose (synthetic fiber for bulk), glycerin (moisture holder), sugar alcohols for sweetness, sunflower lecithin for smoothness, plus a pinch of sucralose and flavors. They’re common and effective, but decidedly processed. If you prefer minimalist labels or have a sensitive gut, that’s the trade‑off to note.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Corn or wheat
Fats and oils
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Groundnut plant seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
glucose
Cocoa 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 are the reasons Barebells has loyal fans.
Food editors at Bon Appétit and SELF both singled it out for that crunchy coating plus dense, satisfying chew, and an Allrecipes editor went so far as to call it the best protein bar they’ve ever tried.
Regular buyers echo the sentiment: bars are “not gritty,” “taste like a candy bar,” and still bring a legit 20g of protein. Several Redditors say it’s the rare bar that actually quiets a sweet craving and keeps them full—a small but meaningful win for anyone who’s bounced between chalky bars.
The Peanut Butter profile hits a familiar, nostalgic lane, while the macros stay snack-friendly rather than meal-sized. In short: flavor first, with real protein to back it up.
Main Criticism
The same formula that makes Barebells taste like dessert is also the lightning rod. Much of the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols—maltitol is common here—plus a small amount of sucralose.
For some, that combo can cause digestive discomfort, especially if you have two bars in close succession. A few flavors draw mixed reactions (birthday cake in particular has detractors), and some shoppers prefer a crunchier profile than the brand’s dense chew.
Finally, the ingredient list skews engineered rather than minimalist, and the price sits above many grocery-aisle standbys.
The Middle Ground
So where does that leave us? If your priority is a bar that genuinely tastes like a treat, Barebells is hard to beat—there’s a reason one Redditor declared, “Best protein bars out there.
I’ll die on this hill. ” Food media agrees, repeatedly crowning the texture as best-in-class.
But the skeptics aren’t imagining things: sugar alcohols can be a speed bump for sensitive guts, and the sucralose callout is fair if you try to avoid high-intensity sweeteners.
The nutrition leans smartly toward protein with moderate fats and engineered carbs, which helps keep sugar low without worshiping “low sugar” as a virtue; the cost is relying on processed sweeteners instead of fruit.
If you’re ingredient-minimalist or dairy-avoidant, the milk-and-soy blend won’t be your match. Practical path: start with one bar, maybe half if you’re GI-cautious, and stick to the peanut–chocolate flavors if you want the safest bet on taste while you test tolerance.
What's the bottom line?
Barebells Protein Bars earn their reputation by doing the tricky thing well: they deliver a candy-bar experience that doesn’t fall apart on the nutrition side. You get about 20g of complete, dairy-led protein in roughly 210 calories, with classic flavors (like Peanut Butter) that feel indulgent without a sugar rush. The texture is the star—press and Reddit alike keep saying it—and that matters if you’re tired of chalky, dusty, or taffy-like bars.
The caveat is the sweetening system. Most flavors rely on sugar alcohols plus a pinch of sucralose. Many people do fine; some don’t.
If you’re sensitive, go slow and see how you fare. If you value short, whole-food ingredient lists or need to avoid dairy or soy, look elsewhere. But if your wish list reads “tastes like dessert, actually fills me up,” Barebells belongs near the top—especially in the peanut-and-chocolate lane, where it’s at its most convincing.
Condensed listicle version: Candy-bar bite, real protein. About 20g protein, ~210 calories, 2g sugar.
Best for dessert-craving snackers who tolerate sugar alcohols; contains milk and soy. Texture is A+; ingredients are more engineered than minimalist.