IQBAR
Almond Butter Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, keto-friendly almond–chocolate bar that skips sugar alcohols, delivers 12g of plant protein, and sneaks in 100% Daily Value of vitamin E—while keeping the ingredient list short and the texture soft with a light crunch.
When to choose IQBAR Almond Butter Chip
Reach for it if you want a low-carb, plant-protein snack with modest sweetness and no erythritol or maltitol. Great between meals or after a lighter workout when 12g of protein is enough—and you prefer vegan and gluten-free options.
What's in the IQBAR bar?
IQBAR’s Almond Butter Chip leans fully plant-based: protein from peas, flavor from real almonds and unsweetened chocolate, and sweetness from a whisper of stevia. It’s a very low-carb, higher-fat formula that draws steady energy from nuts, cocoa butter, and a bit of coconut oil rather than sugar.
What might surprise you is the micronutrient angle—this small bar delivers a full day’s worth of vitamin E, thanks to almonds plus an added boost—alongside meaningful iron and magnesium from cocoa and nuts.
In short, an almond‑chocolate profile built with real almonds, cocoa, and cocoa butter, then rounded with a touch of cinnamon and natural flavors.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 9 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1215MIDThe 12 grams of protein come primarily from pea protein—both as crisps (bound with a little tapioca starch for crunch) and as isolate—plus a small nudge from almonds. Pea protein is a clean, highly digestible plant protein with a complete amino acid profile; it’s a solid snack-level dose here. If you have legume or peanut allergies, note the potential for cross-reactivity with pea protein.
Fat
139HIGHMost of the 13 grams of fat are from almonds, cocoa butter, and a bit of coconut oil. That mix tilts toward heart‑friendly unsaturated fats from almonds, with more saturated fats from coconut and cocoa butter (stearic acid in cocoa butter is considered relatively neutral for LDL). The result is creamy texture and lasting fullness—just keep overall saturated fat in mind if you’re managing cholesterol.
Carbs
920LOWCarbs stay low by leaning on added soluble fibers rather than sugar. The prebiotic blend (soluble tapioca and vegetable fibers—refined, non‑digestible carbs) supplies bulk and a steady feel, while a small amount of tapioca starch helps form the protein crisps. Expect a gentler blood‑sugar response than a sugary bar, though added fibers can cause gas in sensitive stomachs.
Sugar
14LOWSugar is kept to 1 gram, largely the small amount naturally present in nuts and cocoa. Sweetness comes from stevia leaf extract, a high‑intensity, zero‑calorie sweetener used in tiny amounts, so there are no sugar alcohols here. The upside is minimal glycemic impact; a few people notice a light stevia aftertaste.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, most energy comes from fats in almonds, cocoa butter, and coconut oil, with protein close behind. That macro balance makes it more of a satiating snack than a dessert, despite the chocolate notes. You get sustained fuel without a sugar spike.
Vitamins & Minerals
This bar packs 100% Daily Value of vitamin E—driven by the added vitamin E plus naturally vitamin‑E‑rich almonds. Cocoa and almonds also explain the 15% DV iron and 15% DV magnesium on the label. In other words, the chocolate‑and‑nut base brings real minerals along for the ride.
Additives
Beyond the whole‑food pieces, a few modern helpers do the heavy lifting: soluble fibers (manufactured from plant starch) for prebiotic fiber and texture, stevia for sweetness without sugar, and natural flavors to round the almond‑chocolate profile. Lion’s mane appears at a small, functional level. It’s a short list for a low‑sugar bar and notably avoids sugar alcohols.
Ingredient List
Almond tree seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Cassava root
Cassava root starch
Corn or tapioca starch; chicory root
Coconuts
Cacao beans
Cacao tree seeds
Cocoa beans
Inner bark of cinnamon trees
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I love my IQ bars!”
“I just found iQ bars. Really love them and they have a lot flavors. 2-3 net carbs, 1g sugar, 12g protein”
“IQ bars. Healthiest cleanest ingredient list I’ve found, 2-3g net carbs. Sweetened with stevia. Can buy them online from Costco (bulk) or amazon”
Main Praise
Taste and texture get consistent nods from both editors and everyday eaters. Good Housekeeping’s testers called IQBAR a flavorful vegan pick with that soft-meets-crunchy bite, and Verywell Fit’s panel praised the nutty flavor and satisfying crunch.
Women’s Health even tapped the brand as a best keto option, noting the bars are smooth and easy to snack on. Keto Redditors highlight the clean ingredient list and low net carbs, often pointing out the 1g sugar and stevia sweetening.
On Amazon, reviewer A Willi said the bars became a steady, low-sugar lifeline during gestational diabetes and new-parent life. Many also appreciate that it’s under 200 calories yet still feels like a real snack, not a dessert disguised as a bar.
Main Criticism
Stevia is the most common ding—some tasters pick up a faint aftertaste, which Good Housekeeping also flagged. A few reviewers report that the added fibers can be a bit much if you eat more than one, and one Redditor even cautioned against doubling up in a day.
Texture is polarizing at the extremes: while many find it pleasantly soft with a light crunch, a handful of commenters found it off-putting. Plant-protein skeptics call out pea protein specifically.
And separate from the bar itself, some buyers complained about pricey single-bar listings online, which can make it seem more expensive than it is in multipacks.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you like a gently sweet, almond‑forward chocolate bar—and you’re fine with stevia—this flavor delivers what it promises.
If you expect candy-bar sweetness or whey-level punch, 12g of plant protein at 180 calories may feel too modest.
The fiber is part of how this bar stays low in sugar; it’s helpful for many, but the Reddit warning about “more than one a day” is fair for sensitive stomachs.
The “Pea protein. Woof.
” crowd likely won’t be converted here, though thousands of ratings averaging around 4 stars suggest most tasters don’t mind it. Lion’s mane shows up as a small flourish rather than a clinical dose; if you’re managing a condition or medication, a quick check with your provider is sensible.
Net-net: the strongest praise—cleaner ingredients, no sugar alcohols, and a soft-crunch texture—holds up, with the tradeoff that the sweetness reads mild and stevia-specific.
What's the bottom line?
IQBAR Almond Butter Chip threads a tricky needle: it’s plant-based, low in sugar without sugar alcohols, and built from familiar foods (almonds, cocoa, cocoa butter) while still offering 12g of protein in 180 calories. The flavor skews natural and nutty, the texture is soft with little crisps, and you get a surprising micronutrient perk—100% DV vitamin E—alongside meaningful iron and magnesium. It’s an easy yes for low-carb or keto snackers who want a vegan, gluten-free option that feels like food, not a chemistry set.
The tradeoffs are straightforward. If stevia isn’t your thing, you’ll taste it. If you want 20g of protein or can’t do nuts or peas, look elsewhere.
And as with many low-sugar bars, start with one to see how your gut handles the fiber. For everyone else, this is a thoughtful everyday bar: steady, modestly sweet, and refreshingly short on gimmicks. Condensed listicle pick: Plant-based, low-sugar almond–chocolate bar with 12g protein and 180 calories—no sugar alcohols, soft-chewy with crisp bits, plus 100% DV vitamin E.
Best for keto/low-carb snackers who tolerate stevia and want a clean-ingredient, vegan option. Skip if you need 20g protein or avoid nuts/peas.