Barebells
Wild Cherry
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A bright, candy-bar-style cherry-chocolate flavor with standout texture—crisp outside, dense-chewy middle—delivering 20g of milk-protein-based protein with just 1g of sugar.
When to choose Barebells Wild Cherry
Sweet-tooth moments that still need real protein—post-workout, a 3 p. m.
save, or a dessert swap—provided you’re fine with sugar alcohols and dairy/soy.
What's in the Barebells bar?
Barebells Wild Cherry is built like a modern, candy-adjacent protein bar—bright cherry tang from natural and artificial flavors plus a little citric acid, ruby hue from beet powder, and a chocolatey finish.
Under the hood, the 20g of protein sits in the upper tier for bars and comes from a milk-protein blend (casein and whey) with a supporting cast of soy protein isolate and a bit of collagen for chew.
Sugar stays low because the sweetness leans on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a micro-dose of sucralose rather than fruit. Carbs land mid-pack, but they’re mostly fiber and polyols rather than grains or dates, while the moderate fat comes from cocoa butter and sunflower oil.
If you’re picturing real cherries, that’s the surprise—this flavor is crafted, not fruit-based.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHThis bar’s 20g of protein is anchored by a milk‑protein blend—calcium caseinate plus whey isolate and concentrate—supported by a little soy protein isolate and bovine collagen peptides. Dairy proteins bring top‑tier amino acid quality and relatively low lactose, with casein digesting more slowly and whey more quickly; collagen is incomplete on its own, but here it mainly improves texture while the milk proteins do the heavy lifting.
Fat
89MIDThe 8g of fat come largely from cocoa butter and sunflower oil, plus a little from unsweetened chocolate and dry whole milk. That means a mix of saturated fat (mostly stearic acid from cocoa butter, which is relatively neutral for LDL) and unsaturated fat from sunflower oil—moderate overall for a coated bar.
Carbs
1920MIDMost of the 19g carbs don’t come from fruit or grains; they come from glycerin (a plant‑derived moisture holder), maltitol (a sugar alcohol that mimics sugar’s bulk), and polydextrose (a low‑calorie soluble fiber), with a small assist from refined tapioca starch. This engineered mix usually leads to smaller blood‑sugar swings than straight sugar, though some people get GI rumblings from sugar alcohols at higher intakes.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1g of sugar—mostly residual lactose from milk and traces from chocolate. Sweetness instead comes from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a tiny dose of sucralose (an artificial sweetener), which keeps sugar low without fruit; helpful for minimizing spikes, but worth noting if you avoid polyols or artificial sweeteners.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, it sits near the category average, with a big share coming from protein and the rest split between fats and carbohydrate carriers like maltitol, glycerin, and fiber. Because many of those carbs aren’t fast sugars, energy tends to feel steadier than a sugar‑forward bar.
Vitamins & Minerals
You get roughly 10% of daily calcium, courtesy of the dairy proteins and a bit of dry whole milk. Otherwise, this isn’t a vitamin‑fortified bar, so think of it as protein‑forward rather than a micronutrient vehicle.
Additives
This is a thoughtfully engineered recipe: glycerin keeps it soft, polydextrose adds fiber and bulk, maltitol supplies sugar‑like sweetness, sunflower lecithin helps everything blend, and sucralose fine‑tunes the sweetness. These are highly refined, functional ingredients common in low‑sugar bars; they shape texture and taste well, though sugar alcohols can bother sensitive stomachs.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
glucose
Cocoa beans
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
Taste and texture lead the love-fest.
Fans across Reddit and Amazon call Barebells the rare bar that actually eats like a treat, not a compromise, and multiple publications (Bon Appétit, SELF, Allrecipes) agree the layered, candy-bar build is the brand’s superpower.
The center is dense-chewy without that chalky grit, the chocolate coating provides a satisfying snap, and the cherry flavor brings a fun, slightly tangy pop instead of medicinal notes. For many, it’s the easiest way to land 20g of protein without forcing down something that feels like homework.
It’s also reliably satiating for its size, which makes it a popular afternoon anchor or post-workout holdover until a proper meal.
Main Criticism
The biggest friction point is the sweetening system. Maltitol—a sugar alcohol used here for sweetness and structure—can leave sensitive stomachs gassy or crampy, especially if you stack bars or pair them with other polyols that day.
Sucralose shows up too, which is a no-go for some on principle or taste.
A few dissenters find the texture overly dense or prefer a crunchier style, and flavor hits can be personal—wild cherry reads fun and candy-like to many, but if you want real fruit notes, this isn’t that.
Allergens matter as well: it contains dairy and soy, which rules it out for some.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth sit? If you like the idea of a cherry-chocolate candy bar that secretly carries 20g of high-quality milk protein, Wild Cherry mostly nails it.
The protein blend (casein plus whey, with a little soy and collagen for texture) is the kind athletes and gym-regulars actually use, and the low sugar keeps energy steadier than a syrupy fruit bar.
The tradeoff is engineered sweetness: maltitol and a pinch of sucralose. For many, that’s invisible; for Reddit user “Unknown,” two days in a row was a GI gauntlet—plausible, because polyol tolerance varies and dose matters.
Texture criticism exists but is a minority view; it seems to split along what people want from a bar—Barebells leans nougat-chewy with a crisp coat, while the “give me crunch” crowd (hello, Fit Crunch fans) simply wants a different style.
The cherry itself is crafted rather than orchard-true, so think cherry-chocolate candy, not dried fruit. That’s the bargain, and it’s a clear one.
What's the bottom line?
Barebells Wild Cherry is a dessert-leaning protein bar that earns its macros. You get a playful cherry-chocolate profile, a snackably good texture, and 20g of protein in 210 calories with just 1g of sugar—great for post-workout, commute days, or nights when you want something sweet without punting your goals. The fine print is familiar in the low-sugar universe: maltitol can bother sensitive stomachs, and sucralose plus dairy and soy won’t suit everyone.
If you’re comfortable with sugar alcohols and want a bar that genuinely tastes like a treat, this one’s easy to recommend. If your stomach protests polyols—or you’re avoiding dairy or soy—skip it and look for a fruit-sweetened or plant-based option. Otherwise, consider Wild Cherry your protein candy bar with a conscience.
Listicle pick (condensed): Barebells Wild Cherry — candy-bar crunch and cherry pop with 20g protein, 210 calories, and 1g sugar. Sweetened with maltitol and a touch of sucralose; gluten-free but contains dairy and soy. Great dessert swap or post-workout treat if you tolerate sugar alcohols.