KIND
Almond Butter Dark Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A real-nut crunch with a dark‑chocolate finish, no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, and complete soy-based protein for a clean flavor without chalkiness.
When to choose KIND Almond Butter Dark Chocolate
Best as an afternoon pick‑me‑up or travel snack when you want something satisfying and tasty with 12g of protein. Skip if you need vegan or low‑FODMAP, or if you’re chasing 20–30g post‑workout.
What's in the KIND bar?
KIND’s Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Bar leans into real nuts and real chocolate for flavor, with protein led by soy protein isolate and a small assist from almonds, peanuts, and a touch of nonfat milk powder.
What might surprise you: despite the “Protein Bar” name, it lands on the lower side for protein compared with many bars, while fat is the star macro—driven by nuts plus chocolate fats and some palm oils—pushing calories toward the higher end.
Carbs are a mixed bag: prebiotic chicory root fiber keeps things steady, while honey, table sugar, and glucose syrup bring quick sweetness. The almond‑meets‑dark‑chocolate profile comes from roasted almonds and a chocolate blend of cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
1215MIDMost of the 12g of protein comes from soy protein isolate—a concentrated, highly processed plant protein that’s complete and digestible, though not quite as high-scoring as dairy proteins. Almonds, peanuts, and a bit of nonfat milk powder add smaller amounts. Net-net, it’s a modest protein dose for a bar, with plant-forward sourcing and a clean amino acid profile typical of soy isolate.
Fat
179HIGHAt 17g, fat does the heavy lifting here. A good chunk is from almonds and peanuts (mainly heart-friendly monounsaturated fats), but the chocolate layer and coating rely on cocoa butter and palm oils for snap and shelf stability—those add more saturated fat, especially from palm. Expect strong satiety and an indulgent texture, with a higher saturated‑fat share than nut‑only bars.
Carbs
1820MIDYou get a split personality of carbs: chicory root fiber (a refined prebiotic fiber) for slower, steadier energy, paired with faster carbs from honey, table sugar, and glucose syrup. That means some quick lift tempered by the bar’s fiber, protein, and fat matrix, which helps blunt spikes. Overall carb load is moderate for the category, but the sources lean more refined than whole‑grain or fruit‑based bars.
Sugar
84HIGHThe 8g of sugars come mostly from honey and table sugar, with glucose syrup adding more sweetness—so they’re added, not fruit-based. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here; it’s classic sugar chemistry supported by fiber and fat to moderate the rise. If you’re minimizing added sugars, note this skews higher than many protein bars.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, this bar sits on the richer side, and fat is the main driver (nuts plus chocolate and palm oils). Protein and carbs contribute, but chicory fiber lowers the net energy from the carb side a bit. Think of it as a more filling snack rather than a light bite.
Vitamins & Minerals
You’ll get about 10% of daily iron, largely from cocoa solids and a smaller contribution from soy. Calcium and potassium are modest (from milk powder and nuts), but this isn’t a vitamin‑fortified bar—its nutrients come from the base ingredients, not a premix.
Additives
A short list keeps the texture together: soy lecithin (an emulsifier from soy oil refining) helps the chocolate set smoothly, and “natural flavor” rounds out taste. Soy protein isolate and chicory root fiber are functional, refined ingredients; palm oils shape the coating. It’s a handful of well‑known processing aids rather than a long, hard‑to‑pronounce roster.
Ingredient List
Almond tree seeds
Groundnut plant seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Chicory root
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Corn, wheat, potato, tapioca starches
Oil palm fruit
Cacao beans
Cow's milk
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“New Kind protein bars. This flavor just happens to be vegan. Also 20 g protein with only 250 calories. They’re so fire I finished it so fast.”
“Kind are S tier bars for sure”
“Omg I wrote off Kind because of the less than ideal macros and honey in everything but this is a GAME CHANGER. Where did you find these, OP?”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the show. Test kitchens and dietitians alike praise KIND’s protein line for a roasty, real‑nut flavor and a crunch that dodges the sawdust vibe many high‑protein bars struggle with.
Food & Wine’s panel even called a sister flavor the best of the lot for its natural peanut character and lack of chalk. Men’s Health put the line at the top for everyday snacking because it uses recognizable ingredients and still delivers 12g of protein.
On Amazon, thousands of ratings trend strongly positive, with recurring notes like “crave‑worthy,” “satisfying,” and “not too sweet.
” This specific Almond Butter Dark Chocolate version stays true to that profile: it tastes like almonds and cocoa, not like a protein shake in disguise, and it’s filling thanks to fat from nuts plus fiber from chicory root.
Main Criticism
If you’re hunting for a heavy hitter, 12g may feel light next to the 20–30g crowd. The sweetness comes from honey, table sugar, and glucose syrup rather than fruit, which some readers prefer to avoid—even if the total is a moderate 8g.
Palm‑derived fats help the chocolate coating snap, but they push up saturated fat versus a nut‑only bar. Chicory root fiber (a refined prebiotic) is a win for some guts and a dealbreaker for others; IBS communities often report bloating or urgent bathroom trips.
A few online reviews call out occasional off textures or an aftertaste—likely batch, storage, or flavor‑to‑flavor variation rather than a universal flaw. Also important for label readers: the nonfat milk powder means this flavor isn’t vegan, and it contains major allergens (soy, peanuts, tree nuts, milk).
The Middle Ground
So which is it: treat in gym clothes or a smart snack? The truth sits between.
Framed as a 20–30g post‑lift bar, this one underdelivers on protein and leans richer on fats—some of them saturated from palm oils. Framed as a nut bar with a protein upgrade, it shines: 12g of complete soy protein, genuine almond‑cocoa flavor, and no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.
One Redditor declared KIND bars S‑tier for taste; another argued they’re basically a few spoonfuls of peanut butter. Both takes have a point.
Calorie‑wise, it’s comparable to a generous smear of PB, but you also get structure from fiber, a pleasant crunch, and a dark‑chocolate finish. If chicory fiber upsets you, Reddit’s IBS warnings are worth heeding.
If you’re simply trying to avoid the chalky, fake‑sweetener thing, this bar is exactly what those fans are celebrating.
What's the bottom line?
KIND Almond Butter Dark Chocolate is best understood as a great‑tasting nut bar with a meaningful protein assist. It’s indulgent enough to feel like a treat, substantial enough to keep you going, and honest about its sweetness—real sugar and honey, no sugar alcohols—which is why the flavor reads clean. The trade‑offs are clear: 12g of protein won’t replace a shake, palm oils nudge up saturated fat, and chicory fiber isn’t for every gut.
For everyday snacking—desk drawer, glove box, travel bag—it’s an easy win, especially if you care about taste and texture and prefer recognizable ingredients. If you need vegan or low‑FODMAP, or you’re chasing 25g right after training, look elsewhere. For everyone else, this is the bar you actually want to eat and still feel good about afterward.