Gatorade
Cookies & Creme
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy-bar–style, multi-layered build that truly tastes like cookies and creme, paired with 20g of whey. It uses real sugar (30g per bar) instead of sugar alcohols or high-intensity sweeteners.
When to choose Gatorade Cookies & Creme
Reach for it right after a tough workout when quick carbs plus protein are the goal—and you want a bar that tastes like a treat. Skip it if you need low sugar, vegan or gluten-free, or a short-ingredient-list option.
What's in the Gatorade bar?
Gatorade’s Cookies & Creme Protein Bar is built like a layered dessert—chocolate coating, caramel enrobing, cookie pieces, and a vanilla creme—wrapped around a dairy-protein core.
It delivers 20g of protein from whey crisps, whey isolate, and milk proteins, but it also sits at the very top of the category for carbs and sugar, with fat coming largely from palm-based oils and some dairy fat.
The cookies-and-creme flavor comes from alkalized cocoa, chocolate cookie pieces (wheat flour), and that sweet vanilla layer—details that shape how this bar fuels you.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 41 g
- Sugar
- 30 g
- Calories
- 350
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20g of protein comes from dairy: whey protein crisps (whey protein concentrate), whey protein isolate in the coating, plus added milk protein and small amounts from milk powders. Whey is a complete, fast-digesting protein; the isolate is relatively low in lactose, while the concentrate and milk powders carry a bit more. In short, high-quality protein—delivered in a candy-style build.
Fat
139HIGHFat here leans on palm kernel and palm oils (in the coatings, creme, and shortening), with added dairy fat (butter and milk fat) and a touch of soybean oil. That mix skews toward saturated fat—palm kernel and dairy fats are more saturated—compared with bars that use nuts or olive oil. Expect a firm set and creamy bite, but if you’re watching saturated fat, note the source.
Carbs
4120HIGHThe 41g of carbs are driven by refined sweeteners—sugar, corn syrup, and glucose syrup—plus refined wheat flour in the cookie pieces and some cornstarch. These are fast-acting carbohydrates that provide quick energy and can spike blood sugar; the bar’s protein and fat will blunt that somewhat, but the base is still high‑GI. Think short burst, not slow-burn.
Sugar
304HIGHWith 30g of sugar, sweetness comes mostly from refined sources: table sugar, corn syrup, glucose syrup, and brown sugar, with a little natural lactose from the dairy. There are no artificial sweeteners here; glycerin helps keep the bar soft but isn’t counted as sugar. Expect a pronounced sweet hit and a rapid rise in blood sugar compared with fruit‑based bars.
Calories
350210HIGHAt 350 calories, this is one of the more energy-dense bars. Calories are split largely between added sugars (sugar, corn/glucose syrups) and fats from palm-based oils and dairy, with protein contributing about 80 calories. It eats more like a dessert-plus-protein than a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands at about 15% DV, thanks to the dairy ingredients (whey, milk powders) and a boost from calcium carbonate used in the whey crisps. Beyond that, there aren’t notable vitamins or minerals listed over 10% DV. This bar’s nutrition story is mostly macros, not micros.
Additives
You’ll see several standard confectionery helpers: soy lecithin and mono‑ and diglycerides to keep coatings and caramel smooth, glycerin to hold moisture, citric acid for balance, and mixed tocopherols to protect freshness. These are highly refined processing aids used in tiny amounts to manage texture and shelf life. If you favor very short labels, know that this layered build relies on a handful of them.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Corn (maize) endosperm
Limestone and chalk
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Soybeans
Soybeans
Cow's milk
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“gatorade chocolate protein bars are so crispy and covered in a layer of really nice chocolate. does not have that protein bar taste or mouth feel at all.”
“Another great option are the Gatorade bars. All flavors taste great.”
“They’re not the most healthy for some, but I love Gatorade whey protein bars, the peanut butter flavor. They have 20 grams of protein each and taste like a better Whatchamacallit candy bar.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love-fest. Multiple Redditors say Gatorade bars “taste great,” one even noting they’re “so crispy” without the usual protein-bar chalkiness.
Amazon reviewers echo that this line is one of the best-tasting, with a just-right bite—neither taffy-pull chewy nor crumbly. The 20g of whey protein is real substance underneath the candy coating and has become a reliable post-workout grab for folks who are tired of shakes.
Fans also appreciate that the sweetness comes from sugar rather than artificial sweeteners or intense sugar alcohol blends, which some people can taste immediately (and dislike). On the road or after the gym, it’s a satisfying, dessert-like way to get protein in fast.
Main Criticism
The pushback is equally clear: this bar is sugar-forward and calorie-dense at 350 calories and 30g of sugar.
Detractors on Reddit bluntly call it “basically a candy bar with whey,” and outlets like Bon Appétit and The Daily Meal have made similar points, with The Daily Meal noting this flavor can pack more added sugar than a Snickers.
The fats lean saturated, thanks to palm kernel oil and dairy fats, which some readers are specifically trying to limit. It’s also not a match for many dietary needs—there’s wheat, soy, and dairy—so it’s off the table for gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-sensitive readers.
Even Reuters reported the bar drew legal scrutiny over sugar-heavy nutrition and “health halo” messaging, underscoring how polarizing its profile can be.
The Middle Ground
So, is it a win or a warning label? Both, depending on the job you ask it to do.
As a post-lift recovery snack, the combo of fast carbs and 20g of fast-digesting whey makes physiological sense: the sugar helps replenish glycogen quickly and the protein supports muscle repair when you can’t get to a meal or a shake.
That’s the scenario Bon Appétit begrudgingly conceded it could fit.
But if you want a low-sugar afternoon nibble or you prefer minimally processed bars, this one will feel like overkill—Reddit’s “too good to be healthy” quip wasn’t entirely wrong for that use case.
The saturated fat and confectionery build aren’t deal-breakers in isolation; they just signal that this is dessert-with-protein, not a “clean” everyday staple. The truth sits squarely in intention: used right after tough training, it’s functional and genuinely enjoyable; used as a casual daily snack, it’s probably more treat than tool.
What's the bottom line?
Gatorade’s Cookies & Creme Protein Bar is unapologetically sweet, undeniably tasty, and not pretending to be a monk. You get 20g of quality whey in a bar that eats like a candy bar, with 350 calories and 30g of sugar to match the experience. That trade-off can be a feature—not a bug—if you slam it after a long run, heavy lift, or two-a-day practice when fast carbs plus protein are exactly what you’re after.
If your goal is a low-sugar, short-label daily bar, look elsewhere. If you’re vegan, gluten-free, or avoiding dairy or soy, this isn’t your lane.
But if you want a recovery bar that tastes like an actual treat—and you’re comfortable with the sugar and calories—this is one of the most enjoyable ways to get 20g of protein on the go. In one sentence: dessert-level sweet, 20g of whey, best right after hard training—smart when intentional, excessive when casual.