KIND
Crunchy Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo of real roasted‑peanut flavor and loud, satisfying crunch—without the chalkiness common in protein bars—and it skips sugar alcohols.
When to choose KIND Crunchy Peanut Butter
Peanut lovers who want a genuinely tasty, gluten‑free snack with moderate protein for an afternoon lift or a pre‑meeting hold‑over. Not ideal if you need 20g‑plus protein per bar or if chicory root fiber bothers your stomach.
What's in the KIND bar?
Crunchy Peanut Butter isn’t just a flavor here—it’s the blueprint. KIND builds this bar around roasted peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut flour, then ties everything together with honey for that classic sweet–salt crunch.
The protein leans plant-forward via soy protein isolate (with help from peanut protein and a touch of nonfat milk powder), landing at a modest 12 grams—more snack than meal replacement.
Where it really flexes is fat: most of the 250 calories come from peanut fats plus a bit of palm kernel oil, making this one of the richer, more satisfying bars on the shelf.
Carbs sit on the lower side for bars and split between prebiotic chicory root fiber and fast-acting sugars from honey, glucose syrup, and sugar—so you get quick lift, buffered by some fiber.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Carbohydrates
- 17 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 250
Protein
1215MIDMost of the protein comes from soy protein isolate—a concentrated, complete plant protein—backed by peanut flour and the peanuts themselves, with a small assist from nonfat milk powder. That blend delivers 12g per bar, on the lighter side for a protein bar but solid for a nut-forward snack. You get broad amino acid coverage with a plant-leaning profile.
Fat
189HIGHThe fat story is peanut-first: whole peanuts and peanut butter provide mostly monounsaturated fats that help with fullness, with peanut oil rounding things out. Palm kernel oil appears too—a tropical oil higher in saturated fat that firms the bar and boosts shelf stability. With 18g total fat, it’s a rich, nut-driven bar that eats like a small meal.
Carbs
1720MIDCarbs come from two camps. Chicory root fiber supplies prebiotic fiber and a bit of sweetness that slows digestion, while honey, glucose syrup, and a touch of table sugar bring quick energy and that sticky-crunchy bite. The result is some fast lift tempered by fiber—steadier than a candy bar, not as slow-burn as oats or brown rice.
Sugar
84HIGHSweetness comes from familiar sources—honey, glucose syrup, and table sugar—plus a little natural lactose from the milk powder. At 8g, it sits on the sweeter end for protein bars but avoids artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. Expect a noticeable sweet note, softened by the bar’s fiber and fat.
Calories
250210HIGHAt 250 calories (on the higher side for bars), most of the energy is coming from fats in the peanuts and added oils, with protein and carbs playing supporting roles. That density makes it satisfying and portable. If you’re counting calories, know the fat-first design is what drives the number.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients here—nothing tops 10% Daily Value. Small amounts of iron and potassium likely come from peanuts and peanut flour, while the nonfat milk powder contributes a touch of calcium. Think energy and protein first, micronutrients second.
Additives
For function, KIND uses a few refined helpers: glucose syrup binds and keeps the texture chewy, chicory root fiber adds body without much digestible sugar, and soy lecithin helps everything hold together. Soy protein isolate is a highly processed but reliable way to lift protein without changing flavor, and palm kernel oil lends structure. It’s a familiar mix of whole foods (peanuts, honey) plus a handful of refined ingredients typical of crunchy nut bars.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Chicory root
Defatted soybean flakes
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Corn, wheat, potato, tapioca starches
Oil palm fruit
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
Cow's milk
Soybeans
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 is where this bar wins, repeatedly.
Food & Wine’s panel crowned it best overall for its peanut‑forward flavor and snack‑worthy crunch, and that tracks with countless buyer notes about it feeling like “real food” rather than a protein‑powder delivery system.
Men’s Health and Prevention both highlight the approachable ingredient list and steadying combo of protein and fiber, which helps it function like a solid bridge between meals. On Amazon, the overall rating sits high, with fans calling it crave‑worthy, satisfying, and a smarter way to scratch a peanut butter itch.
A common thread in positive reviews: no chalky aftertaste and no sugar‑alcohol sweetness—just honey‑salt‑peanut harmony. It’s also reliably filling for its size, which matters when you want a snack to actually end a snack attack.
Main Criticism
The big knock is right in the name: this is a peanut bar first and a protein bar second. At 12g, it won’t compete with the heavy hitters for post‑lift recovery.
A few reviewers find it sweeter or tougher to bite than expected, with occasional complaints about a waxy or cardboard‑like note—experiences that may vary by palate and freshness. The fat is mostly from peanuts (a plus), but the inclusion of palm kernel oil nudges up saturated fat, which some folks would rather skip.
And while chicory root fiber adds prebiotic fiber and structure, people with IBS often report it as a trigger for bloating or urgent sprints—worth noting if you’re sensitive.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “S‑tier snack” crowd or the “just eat peanut butter” skeptics? Both have a point.
One Redditor wrote it off as basically spoonfuls of peanut butter in bar form, but that misses the details: you’re getting portion control, a crunchy texture that scratches a different itch, and added protein plus prebiotic fiber for a steadier curve than straight nut butter on its own.
On the flip side, if your non‑negotiable is 20g of protein, KIND won’t magically be 20g because it tastes good; choose a higher‑protein bar for that job. The sweetness is noticeable—8g of sugar from honey and sugar—not a sugar bomb, but you’ll taste it.
People who avoid sugar alcohols will appreciate the approach; those who avoid chicory fiber may not. The fat profile is majority peanut‑driven (nice), with a cameo from palm kernel oil for structure (less exciting).
The truth lives in your use case: snack satisfaction and real‑peanut flavor versus maximal protein per calorie.
What's the bottom line?
KIND Protein Crunchy Peanut Butter is what happens when a brand leans into flavor and texture first, then builds in enough protein to matter. It’s 12g of protein wrapped in a wildly crunchy, roasted‑peanut experience, sweetened with honey and sugar, and anchored by fats that make it feel like a small meal. That’s why food editors, dietitians, and thousands of everyday snackers keep it in rotation: it tastes like peanuts, not compromise.
If you want a gluten‑free, sugar‑alcohol‑free bar that actually feels like a snack you’re excited to eat, this is a strong pick. If your goals demand 20g‑plus protein, dairy‑free or vegan formulas, or you know chicory root fiber doesn’t love you back, you’ll be happier elsewhere. For the rest of us peanut people, it’s a dependable afternoon bridge with enough substance to tide you over—and enough crunch to make you look forward to it.