Kirkland Signature
Chocolate Brownie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
It delivers a top-tier protein-per-calorie ratio with whey and milk isolates, keeps sugar ultra-low using erythritol and stevia, and has a short, clearly engineered ingredient list that favors resistant fiber over syrupy carbs.
When to choose Kirkland Signature Chocolate Brownie
Macros-first shoppers who want a budget-friendly, protein-forward snack or post-workout bite, don’t mind a firm chew, and are okay with stevia and sugar alcohols.
What's in the Kirkland Signature bar?
Kirkland Signature’s Chocolate Brownie bar is built like a modern protein-first snack: a top‑tier hit of dairy isolates for muscle repair, chocolate made from real cocoa (unsweetened chocolate, alkalized cocoa powder, cocoa butter), and sweetness dialed in without much sugar.
Most of the carbs come from soluble tapioca fiber—a refined resistant dextrin—rather than grains or syrups, while erythritol and stevia handle the sweetness with minimal glycemic impact. Fat stays modest, coming mainly from cashews (heart‑friendly monounsaturates) and cocoa butter (stearic and oleic acids).
The result is a bar that leans more engineered than pantry-made, yet lands lighter in calories than many. If you want big dairy protein with brownie vibes and a steadier energy profile than a sugary treat, this is the lane it drives in.
- Protein
- 21 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
2115HIGHProtein comes from a blend of whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate—filtered dairy proteins with most lactose removed. Whey digests quickly while the casein fraction in milk protein releases more slowly, giving a fast‑and‑steady amino acid stream. At 21g, it’s a top‑tier, complete protein dose that supports satiety and recovery.
Fat
69LOWThe 6g of fat are mainly from cashews (mostly monounsaturated fats) and cocoa butter in the chocolate. Cocoa butter is rich in stearic and oleic acids; stearic is a saturated fat that tends to be more neutral for LDL cholesterol than palmitic. Overall fat stays modest, so the bar eats lighter than many nut‑heavy options.
Carbs
2220MIDMost of the 22g of carbs come from soluble tapioca fiber, a refined resistant dextrin made from cassava, plus sugar alcohols (erythritol) used for sweetness. A smaller share comes from cashews and cocoa. Expect a steadier rise in blood sugar than you’d get from syrups or cane sugar, though fiber and sugar alcohols can bother sensitive stomachs if you stack servings.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2g of sugar appears because sweetness is built with erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol made by fermenting corn starch) and stevia extract (a high‑intensity sweetener from stevia leaves). Any residual sugar likely comes from cashews or trace lactose in the protein. The trade‑off is low glycemic impact, with the usual note that larger sugar‑alcohol loads can upset sensitive guts.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this sits on the leaner side for protein bars. Calories are driven primarily by the 21g of complete dairy protein and a little fat, while the resistant fiber and erythritol contribute less usable energy than sugar or starch. In practice, it delivers strong protein per calorie without feeling heavy.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals here. You get a small calcium lift from the milk proteins and a touch of iron from cocoa and cashews, but this isn’t a fortified bar. Think protein-first nourishment rather than a multivitamin play.
Additives
To keep sugar low and texture chewy, the bar uses soluble tapioca fiber (a manufactured resistant dextrin), erythritol (bulk sweetener), stevia extract (intense sweetener), and sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier). Each is effective but refined. If you prefer strictly whole‑food ingredient lists, this sits in the middle: concise, but clearly engineered.
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cassava root starch
Cashew tree kernel
Cacao beans
Corn or wheat starch
Cocoa beans
Sunflower seeds
Stevia leaves
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“They’re still the best protein bar out there, in my opinion”
“I love them, they are very chewy so they’ll give your jaw a workout . I think they have the best protein to fiber ratio with respect to value (price). That being said my wife prefers the brand that tastes like a candy bar.”
“That, and the Kirkland bars are the only ones I have found at Costco that offer great macros (20g protein or more per 200 calories), and they taste substantially better and have better texture too.”
Main Praise
Fans rally around three things: protein quality, efficiency, and value. You get 21g from whey and milk protein isolates—a fast-and-slow combo for recovery and staying full—packed into just 190 calories.
That protein-to-calorie math is exactly what Redditor ihave3apples praised as “great macros,” and it’s why others, like ChaInTheHat, call it their top pick. Many buyers also say it keeps them satisfied for hours; Amazon reviewer Ripley J credits it with helping hit protein goals and curb hunger.
The sweetness strategy—erythritol for bulk, stevia for lift—keeps blood sugar steadier than sugary bars, which some appreciate during long workdays.
And while the chew is divisive, a contingent finds it pleasant; one Amazon review summed it up as “chewy but not too much,” which is exactly the feel some lifters and desk-sloggers like in a slow-snack bar.
Main Criticism
Texture and taste top the complaints list. Multiple reviewers describe the bars as dense, sticky, or even hard—“jaw workout” territory—while others report occasional boxes that seem firmer than usual.
Taste-wise, stevia divides the room; EatingWell’s testers found it bitter and overpowering, and Allrecipes called the overall flavor artificially sweet. There’s also the gut question.
Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that many people tolerate well in single servings, but some get bloating or GI grumbles—Eat This, Not That! notes that tolerance varies widely.
Finally, consistency gets dinged: some shoppers say bars swing from soft to rock-like across batches, which doesn’t help the texture debate.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “best bar at Costco” crowd or the “hard as a rock” camp? Probably both.
This is a purpose-built, protein-first bar. If you’re expecting a candy bar, you’ll side with ObviousOpinion1644, who did not mince words about taste and texture.
If you buy a protein bar for, well, protein, you’ll feel closer to ChaInTheHat and the many reviewers praising the macros and staying power.
The stevia-erythritol combo is the real fork in the road; people who barely perceive stevia’s bitter edge tend to like these, and those who are sensitive to it find it impossible to ignore.
Production consistency is another variable—Eat This, Not That! highlights soft one box, firm the next—which might explain why rainyfort1 called one bar “crumbly/sandy” while others report an ideal chew.
Practical note if you’re on the fence: a 10–15 second warm-up or crumbling it over yogurt softens the texture and smooths out the sweetness. That won’t convert a stevia-averse palate, but it can turn “hmm” into “hey, that works.
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What's the bottom line?
Kirkland Signature’s Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar is a value-forward, macro-efficient pick that does exactly what a protein bar should: deliver a complete 21g hit without a calorie pile-on. It leans engineered—resistant tapioca fiber for structure, erythritol and stevia for sweetness—and the reward is steadier energy than sugary bars and impressive protein per bite. The trade-offs are real: a firm, sometimes too-firm chew; a sweetness profile that stevia-sensitive folks will clock; and occasional batch-to-batch texture swings.
If you prioritize protein and price over dessert-level flavor, it’s an easy add to your rotation. If you’re stevia-averse or frequently bothered by sugar alcohols, you’ll likely be happier with a bar that uses a bit of regular sugar or dates and accepts a few extra calories.
Quick take for the list: A protein-per-calorie powerhouse with warehouse-store value. Love it if you want serious dairy protein and can handle a firm, stevia-sweet chew; skip it if you need candy-bar taste or have sugar alcohol sensitivities.