KIND
Sweet & Salty Caramel Peanut Crisp
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo: 20g of soy‑based protein with a big, roasted‑peanut crunch and just 1g of sugar, sweetened mostly with allulose and fiber rather than syrups.
When to choose KIND Sweet & Salty Caramel Peanut Crisp
Best for peanut lovers who want a high‑protein, low‑sugar, crunchy bar for post‑workout or an afternoon hold‑you‑over—especially if you do well with chicory root fiber and allulose. Skip if you avoid soy, dairy, or peanuts, or if you’re sensitive to added fibers.
What's in the KIND bar?
KIND’s Sweet & Salty Caramel Peanut Crisp packs 20 grams of protein, driven mainly by soy protein isolate, putting it near the top of the pack for muscle-building power.
The flavor cues are classic: real peanuts supply the crunch and roasted depth, sea salt sharpens the finish, and the caramel look and sweetness lean on allulose and a touch of annatto rather than spoonfuls of sugar.
Most of the labeled carbs come from soluble fibers (tapioca and chicory) with a small role for tapioca starch to hold the crisp, so the energy skews steadier than syrup-based bars and fits a keto-friendly approach.
One note: palm kernel oil helps keep the bar firm and shelf-stable—more of a saturated fat—balanced by the mostly monounsaturated fats naturally present in peanuts.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g of protein is anchored by soy protein isolate, a highly refined but complete plant protein that delivers a dependable amino acid profile. Peanuts and a bit of milk powder add supporting protein, rounding out texture and taste. Expect solid satiety and recovery benefits, with soy’s quality just a step below dairy and the milk component nudging it upward.
Fat
139HIGHFat comes from peanuts and peanut oil (mostly monounsaturated) paired with palm kernel oil, a more saturated tropical fat that lends structure and snap. Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) are there to keep those oils fresh. The result is a higher-fat bar for sustained fullness, with a meaningful saturated-fat contribution from the palm kernel side.
Carbs
2420MIDMost of the 24g of carbs aren’t from table sugar or syrups but from soluble fibers (tapioca fiber and chicory root fiber) and allulose, a low-calorie sugar, with a small assist from tapioca starch and a bit of glycerin for softness. That mix typically has a gentler effect on blood sugar than bars built on brown rice syrup or cane sugar. In practice, the energy you feel will lean more steady-and-slow than spike-and-crash.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1g of sugar shows up here, likely from naturally occurring lactose in the milk powder and trace sugars in peanuts. The sweetness instead relies on allulose—a rare sugar that tastes like sugar with minimal impact on blood glucose—plus a little plant-derived glycerin and fiber syrups for body. That’s friendly for blood sugar, though some sensitive stomachs can notice rumbling if they overdo rare sugars and fermentable fibers.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories, this bar sits on the higher end, driven largely by its fats from peanuts/palm kernel oil and its 20g of protein. Many of the listed carbs come from low-digestible fibers and allulose, so fewer of those carbohydrate grams translate into usable calories. The macro balance skews toward staying power rather than quick sugar energy.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron lands at 15% of daily value, thanks largely to soy protein isolate (soy is naturally iron‑containing) with a small assist from cocoa and peanuts. Calcium appears modestly (8% DV) from the milk powder. The vitamin E listed is used mainly as an antioxidant to keep oils fresh, not as a significant nutrient boost.
Additives
This is a modern, engineered bar: soy lecithin keeps the mixture stable, glycerin holds moisture, annatto provides a caramel-like hue, and mixed tocopherols protect the oils from going rancid. Allulose plus chicory and tapioca fibers replace much of the sugar, giving sweetness and chew with fewer digestible carbs. The payoff is low sugar and good texture, with the trade‑off of a longer, more refined ingredient list.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or beet fructose syrups
Cassava root starch
Chicory root
Oil palm fruit
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Cassava root
Cow's milk
Peanuts
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 praise parade.
Food & Wine’s panel has lauded KIND Protein for nailing real roasted‑peanut flavor without the chalky protein feel, and this caramel peanut spin follows the same playbook with an even bigger protein number.
On Amazon, the line holds a strong 4. 6 average with 77% five‑star ratings—fans call it crave‑worthy, satisfying, and a reliable way to hit protein targets without a sugar bomb.
Several reviewers highlight the crunch and salty‑sweet balance as the reason they keep a box on hand. And while some outlets have historically dinged KIND for modest protein, this bar’s 20 grams flips that script without turning into a fudge brick.
Reddit love shows up too—one user simply crowned KIND “S tier,” which, in internet terms, is high praise indeed.
Main Criticism
The most consistent complaint isn’t flavor—it’s digestion and density. Chicory root fiber (a refined inulin) and allulose can be tough on sensitive stomachs; at least one Redditor with IBS called this line an immediate trigger.
A few tasters describe the texture as hard or overly crisp, occasionally veering dry, and one gluten‑free poster reported a chemical aftertaste and a filmy mouthfeel. Ingredient purists will also notice palm kernel oil (a saturated tropical fat) and the engineered sweetener/fiber mix—effective for low sugar, yes, but not “minimalist.
” Finally, it’s not vegan and won’t work for peanut, soy, or dairy avoiders.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If your top priority is a bar that eats like a peanut snack—not a candy‑bar‑cosplay or protein taffy—this one is unusually successful.
The 20 grams of soy‑based protein and peanut crunch deliver serious satiety, and most people report a clean, roasted flavor rather than protein powder vibes. The flip side is the modern toolkit that makes that possible: allulose, chicory, and tapioca fibers plus palm kernel oil.
For many, those ingredients mean low sugar and steady energy; for a subset (especially the IBS crowd), they can mean rumbling.
One Reddit OP compared KIND Protein to “three mouthfuls of peanut butter,” but that misses the point: this clocks in at 240 calories with 20 grams of protein and a bundle of mostly nondigestible carbs—quite different from straight PB.
In short, the bar is legitimately high‑protein and blood‑sugar‑friendly, just not a short‑list, whole‑foods purist’s dream. If you’re okay with engineered sweetness and you like your snacks loud and crunchy, it’s an easy win.
What's the bottom line?
KIND’s Sweet & Salty Caramel Peanut Crisp is a peanut‑first, crunch‑heavy protein bar that earns its keep: 20 grams of protein, 240 calories, and only 1 gram of sugar, with sweetness coming from allulose and fiber rather than syrups. It’s satisfying, tastes like actual peanuts, and avoids the gummy, chalky pitfall that sinks so many high‑protein bars. Trade‑offs are clear and fair.
The ingredient list is modern rather than minimal; palm kernel oil adds structure, and chicory/allulose may bother sensitive guts. It’s not vegan and it won’t fit soy, dairy, or peanut‑free diets.
For everyone else—especially peanut lovers who want steady energy and a bar that crunches like a snack, not a supplement—this is one of the more convincing high‑protein options on the shelf. Call it high‑protein peanut brittle with a nutrition plan.