Gatorade
Peanut Butter Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
It’s unapologetically candy‑like—crisp, caramel, chocolate—paired with 20g of fast‑digesting whey. Few bars lean this hard into real sugar rather than artificial sweeteners while still delivering solid protein.
When to choose Gatorade Peanut Butter Chocolate
Choose it right after hard training when you want quick carbs plus protein and prefer real sugar over sugar substitutes. Not a daily desk snack; more a purposeful recovery treat.
What's in the Gatorade bar?
This Peanut Butter Chocolate bar looks and eats like a confection—chocolate‑flavored coating, peanut crème, caramel, and a sprinkle of chocolate chips—yet it packs serious dairy protein. The muscle of the bar is whey: isolate in the coating and concentrate inside the crispy bits, plus milk protein concentrate for backup.
That mix pushes protein toward the top of the category, while the energy side leans candy‑style, driven by sugars and syrups. Fats come mostly from palm kernel/palm oils and cocoa butter, with peanuts lending some softer, unsaturated fat.
Flavor-wise, think roasted peanuts and peanut crème, alkalized cocoa in the coating, semisweet chips, and a classic caramel ribbon. Below, we unpack how those choices translate to how this bar fuels you.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 40 g
- Sugar
- 25 g
- Calories
- 350
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g of protein comes primarily from whey—both isolate (in the chocolate coating) and concentrate (in the whey crisps)—supported by milk protein concentrate and a little nonfat milk. Whey is a complete, fast‑digesting protein that’s great for post‑workout repair, though it’s still a milk protein, so not suitable for those with dairy allergies. Expect high-quality amino acids with a quick uptake rather than a slow, casein‑like release.
Fat
139HIGHMost fat here is from palm kernel and palm oil used in the coatings and peanut crème, with cocoa butter and a touch of dairy butter adding richness; peanuts contribute some heart‑friendlier monounsaturated fats. That blend skews toward saturated fat—typical for chocolate‑coated bars—tempered slightly by the peanut component. If you’re watching saturated fat, know that palm‑based fats do a lot of the structural work in this bar.
Carbs
4020HIGHCarbs are largely refined: corn syrup, brown sugar, invert sugar, dextrose, and a caramel layer provide quick fuel, while sweetened brown‑rice crisps (with malted barley flour) and cornstarch add bulk. This is fast energy with a likely spike, closer to a candy bar than a slow‑burn oat or sweet‑potato base. Pairing it with a meal can blunt the rise, but on its own the carbs are more ‘quick hit’ than ‘steady release.’
Sugar
254HIGHSweetness comes mostly from conventional added sugars—corn syrup, brown sugar, invert sugar—plus caramel and semisweet chocolate; dairy ingredients add a little lactose as well. A small amount of sorbitol (a sugar alcohol) and glycerin help keep the texture soft, but they’re not the primary sweeteners. Expect a dessert‑level sweetness profile sourced from refined sugars rather than fruit.
Calories
350210HIGHAt 350 calories, this is a dense bar whose calories are driven mainly by the sugars and oils in the coating, caramel, and peanut crème; protein contributes meaningfully but not the majority. Rough math: carbs and fats together outweigh the protein calories, so it eats like a dessert‑style recovery treat rather than a lean protein snack. Best suited when you truly need both protein and fast energy.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 15% of daily value, largely thanks to milk protein ingredients and the calcium carbonate used in the whey crisps, with smaller contributions from dairy in the coating and caramel. Other vitamins and minerals are modest by comparison.
Additives
You’ll see common confectionery helpers: soy lecithin and mono‑ and diglycerides to emulsify chocolate and peanut crème; glycerin and a bit of sorbitol to hold moisture and softness; citric acid and mixed tocopherols for stability. These are highly refined processing aids that shape texture, gloss, and shelf life more than nutrition—typical of a candy‑like protein bar.
Ingredient List
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Soybeans
Cow's milk whey
Corn (maize) endosperm
Limestone and chalk
Groundnut plant seeds
Corn starch
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 is the clear headline.
Across Reddit and Amazon, people keep saying some version of, “it doesn’t taste like a protein bar,” and they’re not wrong—this one is crunchy, creamy, and chocolatey in a way that reads more confection than supplement.
The texture gets special love: those whey crisps give an actual bite instead of the taffy‑meets-plaster chew many bars have. The 20g of whey protein is another strong point, especially if you want a quick post‑workout option without mixing a shake.
And for folks who dislike the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners, this bar’s sweetness comes mostly from conventional sugars; a few processing aids help texture, but the flavor profile is unmistakably dessert‑forward, not diet‑sweet.
Practical bonus: it’s filling enough to bridge a gap when you’re traveling or heading home from the gym.
Main Criticism
The flip side is just as clear: this is a high‑sugar, high‑calorie bar for its category. At 350 calories and 25g of sugar, it’s closer to a candy‑bar energy hit than a lean protein snack.
The fat blend leans heavily on palm oils, which pushes saturated fat up relative to bars that use more nuts or seeds. Ingredient‑wise it’s quite processed—coatings, caramel, syrups, and emulsifiers build the indulgent layers—so it won’t scratch the “simple, whole‑food” itch.
It’s also not gluten‑free (there’s malted barley flour in the crisps) and contains milk, soy, and peanuts, so some common allergens are in play. As a meal replacement, reviewers are lukewarm; it scratches a craving more than it delivers balanced nutrition.
The Middle Ground
So is it “basically a candy bar with whey,” as one Redditor joked? In spirit, yes—and that’s not automatically a knock.
If you just finished a hard lift or a long practice, a fast hit of carbs plus 20g of whey can be useful for recovery, especially when appetite is low or you can’t get to real food.
That’s the scenario where this bar makes sense. Outside of training, though, the same traits become drawbacks: the sugars are quick, the calories add up, and the ingredient list reads like a confectioner’s toolkit.
Bon Appétit’s cheeky “why not just eat a candy bar with whey injected into it? ” line captures the cognitive dissonance; it tastes great because it was built to taste great.
The truth lands in the middle: used intentionally around workouts, it can be a satisfying recovery treat; used as an everyday snack, you’ll likely be better off with something lower in added sugar or with more fiber and unsaturated fats.
And to the Reddit commenter who said it “tastes like a Snickers”—you’re not wrong; that’s both the compliment and the caution label.
What's the bottom line?
Gatorade’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar is a dessert‑style recovery bar: 20g of quality whey wrapped in candy‑bar architecture. It shines when you actually need quick energy and easy protein—think post‑gym, not mid‑meeting. Expect bold sweetness, a satisfying crunch, and very little of the chalkiness that turns people off protein bars.
Also expect 350 calories, 25g of sugar, and a palm‑heavy fat profile. It’s vegetarian, not gluten‑free, and carries common allergens (milk, soy, peanuts). Consider it a tasty tool, not a daily habit.
Condensed listicle blurb: A candy‑good post‑workout pick with 20g whey and fast carbs. Fantastic taste and crunch; dessert‑level sweetness.
Consider 350 calories, 25g sugar, palm oils; allergens include milk, soy, peanuts; not gluten‑free. Best for recovery, not for everyday snacking.