Julian Bakery
Dark Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
An ultra‑short, plant‑based ingredient list that delivers 20 grams of protein and just 1 gram of sugar, sweetened with monk fruit—not sugar alcohols—at 190 calories. It’s vegan, gluten‑free, soy‑free, and keto‑friendly.
When to choose Julian Bakery Dark Chocolate
Carb‑conscious, dairy‑free eaters who want a not‑too‑sweet protein hit and don’t mind a very chewy texture. Ideal as a post‑workout refuel or a mid‑afternoon hold‑you‑over snack.
What's in the Julian Bakery bar?
Julian Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Protein Bar keeps the ingredient list tight and the story clear: 20 grams of protein from pea protein isolate, sweetness from monk fruit instead of sugar, and chew from tapioca‑derived soluble fiber.
The rich chocolate comes from real cocoa, while organic sunflower seed butter lends a creamy base and a gentle lift of healthy, unsaturated fats.
On paper you’ll see higher total carbs than many low‑sugar bars, but that number is largely driven by the added fiber rather than flour or syrups, which helps keep calories modest and sugar at a whisper.
In short: plant protein up front, dark‑chocolate flavor intact, and a modern sweet‑fiber combo doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
2015HIGHTwenty grams of protein here come from pea protein isolate—the bar’s primary protein source—so you get a dairy‑free, soy‑free hit with strong digestibility. It sits near the top of the category for protein, and because it isn’t a whey blend, it suits people avoiding milk, though anyone with peanut or other legume allergies should approach pea protein cautiously.
Fat
79MIDMost fat comes from organic sunflower seed butter—a whole‑seed paste rich in unsaturated fats and naturally high in vitamin E—with a little help from cocoa. At 7 grams, the fat is moderate for a protein bar: enough for satiety without feeling heavy. Sunflower skews omega‑6, so overall balance across your day still matters.
Carbs
2420MIDThe carbohydrate line is driven by soluble dextrin fiber made from tapioca, a refined cassava‑starch fiber that builds chew and contributes far less digestible carbohydrate than sugar or flour. It’s labeled “IMO‑free,” signaling they avoided a syrup‑type fiber that can act more like sugar; expect steadier energy than a sugar‑sweetened bar, though highly processed fibers can bother sensitive stomachs in larger amounts.
Sugar
14LOWSugar stays low at 1 gram, likely the small amount naturally present in cocoa and sunflower seeds. Sweetness instead comes from monk fruit extract, a highly concentrated plant sweetener that adds flavor without sugar’s blood‑sugar rise—helpful if you’re managing carbs, with the trade‑off that the sweetness comes from a refined extract rather than fruit.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this is a relatively lean bar for the amount of protein. Calories are anchored by protein and a modest dose of sunflower fats, while the tapioca‑derived fiber keeps digestible carbs—and thus energy—lower than the total‑carb number might suggest.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamins or minerals clear the 10% Daily Value bar on the label. Any gentle micronutrient lift would come from sunflower seed butter (vitamin E, magnesium) and cocoa (magnesium, iron), but not in headline amounts.
Additives
The recipe is short and purposeful: a tapioca‑derived soluble fiber for structure, pea protein for the payload, cocoa for flavor, and monk fruit for sweetness. The fiber and sweetener are both highly processed ingredients used to dial down sugar and net carbs, but there aren’t long lists of emulsifiers, gums, or sugar alcohols here.
Ingredient List
Cassava root
Yellow pea seeds
Sunflower seeds
Cacao tree seeds
Monk fruit
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I know they got a lot of hate but they were my go-to protein bar because they were the only ones not overly artificially sweet like most are, a ton of protein & fiber & super low carb.”
“Very upset about this. I love their sweet cream bars”
“The only protein bars I’ve seen with better macros and nutrients than quest bars are the ones from Julian Bakery (some are paleo/pegan, but the macros of the non-paleo ones are amazing)”
Main Praise
Fans rally around three things: the macros, the restraint, and how surprisingly filling it is. A 20‑gram protein payoff at 190 calories is efficient, and the low sugar plus hefty fiber mean steadier energy for many readers than bars built on syrups.
People who avoid dairy or sugar alcohols appreciate that the sweetness comes from monk fruit and that the ingredient list stays short and recognizable. Several reviewers also note that it’s not cloying—more “fuel” than “candy”—which is exactly what some athletes and keto‑leaning folks want.
Flavor‑wise, darker chocolate and espresso‑adjacent notes get the most love, and a quick warm‑up (a few seconds in a pocket or warm water) helps the bar soften and bloom in flavor.
For those with sensitive digestion around sugar alcohols, this formula can be easier to live with.
Main Criticism
Texture is the recurring complaint. Many describe it as taffy‑like or even hard if eaten cold—chewy enough to be distracting if you’re trying to talk between bites.
Taste can be polarizing too: a subset picks up a lingering monk‑fruit sweetness or a slightly “off” chocolate note. There are also reports of inconsistency from box to box, with some batches markedly firmer or drier than others.
And while the fiber source keeps sugar low, a large intake of processed fiber in one sitting can bother sensitive stomachs.
The Middle Ground
This is a bar that’s very intentional about trade‑offs. You get plant protein, extremely low sugar, and no sugar alcohols; the toll you pay is a denser chew and a sweetness profile that won’t mimic dessert.
The nutrition panel backs up the appeal—20 grams of protein with moderate fat and 190 calories is hard to argue with—but mouthfeel matters, and for some it’s a deal‑breaker.
A few Reddit and blog reviewers called it “rock‑hard,” which tends to happen if bars built on fiber and seed butter are stored cold; keep it at room temp or warm it briefly and you’ll get closer to chewy than concrete.
Others love the minimal sweetness and call out the steady energy—proof that your preferences around sweeteners and texture will drive your experience more than the macros. The remaining question is consistency: feedback across years suggests texture can vary by flavor and batch, and that’s something the brand still needs to nail.
What's the bottom line?
Julian Bakery’s Dark Chocolate Protein Bar is purpose‑built fuel: simple ingredients, plant‑based, 20 grams of protein, and minimal sugar, with a decidedly chewy bite. If you want a bar that eats like candy, you’ll be happier elsewhere; if you value low‑sugar steadiness and a short ingredient list, this can be a smart staple—just keep it out of the fridge and give it a little warmth before you dig in.
Quick take: A minimalist, vegan, keto‑friendly bar with 20 grams of pea protein and 1 gram of sugar; expect a dense, chewy texture and restrained sweetness. Best for people who avoid dairy and sugar alcohols and want steady energy more than a dessert‑like experience.