Kirkland Signature
Cookies and Cream
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
An unusually strong protein‑to‑calorie ratio (22 grams at 170 calories) at a warehouse‑club price, built on milk protein and whey isolates with low sugar from erythritol and stevia.
When to choose Kirkland Signature Cookies and Cream
Choose it if you prioritize protein per calorie and value, tolerate sugar alcohols, and want a post‑workout or between‑meal bar that keeps you full without the candy‑bar sweetness.
What's in the Kirkland Signature bar?
Kirkland Signature’s Cookies and Cream Protein Bar is built on clean dairy protein—milk protein isolate plus whey isolate—so you get 22 grams of complete protein near the top of the category without a calorie bomb.
The cookies‑and‑cream flavor comes from Dutch‑processed cocoa and natural flavors layered over a creamy cashew‑butter base, with a touch of coconut oil for structure. Carbs come mostly from refined soluble fibers (corn and tapioca) and a fiber‑like syrup (isomalto‑oligosaccharides), while erythritol and stevia carry the sweetness, keeping sugar low.
Big picture: lighter calories, very little fat, mid‑pack carbs that skew fiber‑heavy, and a modern sweetener system rather than fruit‑based sugars.
- Protein
- 22 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
2215HIGHTwenty‑two grams of protein come from a dairy blend: milk protein isolate (casein + whey) and whey protein isolate, with a small assist from whey concentrate. That mix is low in lactose and gives you complete, highly digestible amino acids—casein for staying power, whey for quick delivery—so it lands near the top of the category.
Fat
49LOWFat stays modest at 4 grams, mainly from cashew butter with a smaller contribution from coconut oil. That means mostly monounsaturated fats from the nuts with a touch of saturated fat from coconut—overall not much either way. If you rely on fat for satiety, you may want to pair this bar with something like yogurt or a handful of nuts.
Carbs
2220MIDMost of the 22 grams of carbs are from refined soluble fibers—corn and tapioca resistant dextrins—plus isomalto‑oligosaccharides, a fiber‑like syrup made from starch. These provide chew and generally steadier energy than sugar, but IMO and some “tapioca fiber” can be partly digestible, so blood‑sugar responses vary and sensitive stomachs may notice extra fermentation. A little tapioca starch brings faster‑burning carbs, though it’s not the main driver.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar, mostly inherent to the dairy and nuts—there’s no cane sugar on the label. Sweetness comes from erythritol (a sugar alcohol that contributes minimal calories) and stevia, with fiber syrups providing bulk. That keeps sugar low, but people sensitive to sugar alcohols or big hits of fermentable fiber may want to test their tolerance.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this is a lighter bar because protein does much of the heavy lifting. The carb number includes a lot of low‑calorie soluble fiber and some erythritol (a near‑zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), so digestible energy from carbs is lower than the grams suggest. In short, you get a high protein‑to‑calorie ratio.
Vitamins & Minerals
This isn’t a vitamin‑fortified bar. You do get a modest bump of calcium (about 7% DV) from the milk proteins and a touch of added calcium carbonate, but no other standout micronutrients.
Additives
Functionally, this recipe leans on modern, refined helpers: sunflower lecithin to keep the texture smooth, soluble fiber syrups to bind and lower glycemic impact, and a blend of erythritol and stevia for sweetness without sugar. Dutch‑processed cocoa and natural flavors round out the cookies‑and‑cream profile. The trade‑off is a more processed ingredient list than bars built on oats and fruit.
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Corn starch
Cashew kernels
Corn or wheat starch
Cassava root starch
Coconuts
Cow's milk whey
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 point to a rare combo: big, complete dairy protein for relatively few calories and dollars.
Redditor ChaInTheHat flat‑out calls them “the best protein bar out there,” and ihave3apples highlights what stands out numerically—20 grams of protein or more per ~200 calories—compared with much of the category.
On Amazon (4. 3 stars across thousands of ratings), several reviewers say the chew is satisfying rather than sticky, with Pug Dog owner noting it’s “chewy but not too much.
” Many also mention real satiety; as Ripley J put it, the bar “helps me reach my protein goals” and staves off hunger for hours. Value threads through almost every positive take: diprivan69 sums it up as the best protein‑to‑fiber‑to‑price deal, even if their spouse prefers candy‑bar imitators.
Main Criticism
Texture and taste are the polarizers.
Some Costco shoppers find it overly dense or oddly crumbly—rainyfort1 went so far as “vile… like eating an almost dried out bar of play dough,” while holasoyasian bluntly said, “price is good.
the chewiness is horrible. ” EatingWell’s taste panel flagged a bitter stevia aftertaste that “overpowered the other ingredients,” and Allrecipes grouped the bar among items to skip for being too dense and artificially sweet.
Production consistency pops up, too; Eat This, Not That! collected comments about bars being soft one time and “hard as a rock” the next.
And a subset of people report digestive discomfort from the sweetener/fiber system—erythritol (a sugar alcohol) plus refined soluble fibers can bother sensitive stomachs.
The Middle Ground
There’s a clear split between macro‑first shoppers and taste‑first snackers. If you judge a bar by protein per calorie and how long it keeps you full, this one competes with far pricier brands.
But if you want a dessert‑like experience, the modern sweetener system—erythritol and stevia for sweetness, fiber syrups for body—brings trade‑offs: a slight aftertaste for some and a chew that can read dense.
Redditor ihave3apples praises the numbers and thinks texture is better than most, while guitar-econ’s “Good macros, shit taste” captures the other camp with surgical brevity. The truth probably lives in the middle: it’s a functional, dairy‑protein bar with low sugar and fiber‑heavy carbs that will feel great to some and fussy to others.
If your bar shows up firmer than you like, a brief warm‑up or pairing with coffee can help—but if sugar alcohols routinely bother you, no hack will fix that. Also note the allergens: milk protein is lower in lactose than typical whey concentrate, but it isn’t lactose‑free, and the cashew base means it’s a no‑go for tree‑nut avoiders.
What's the bottom line?
Kirkland Signature’s Protein Bar is a workhorse: 22 grams of high‑quality dairy protein, 170 calories, and 2 grams of sugar, at a price that makes daily use realistic. It’s built for people who want reliable protein and steady energy from fiber‑heavy carbs, not a candy‑bar impersonator. Expect a dense, chewy bite and a stevia‑forward sweetness; some will love the long chew and clean label math, others will be turned off by the aftertaste or texture.
If you value macros and cost above all, and you tolerate sugar alcohols, this is a smart staple. If you’re sensitive to erythritol, crave a melt‑in‑your‑mouth texture, or avoid dairy or cashews, you’ll be happier elsewhere. Your jaw might get a light workout; your wallet won’t—and that’s the point.
Condensed listicle take: A budget workhorse with 22 grams of protein for 170 calories and 2 grams of sugar. Great for macro‑minded shoppers who can handle sugar alcohols; polarizing for texture and stevia aftertaste.