Maximuscle
Chocolate Peanut Caramel (Vegan Creamy Core)
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, candy‑bar‑style bite—dark‑chocolate shell, peanut crunch, creamy core—with strikingly low sugar, built using modern fibers and maltitol, but with a lighter 8g protein hit than many bars.
When to choose Maximuscle Chocolate Peanut Caramel (Vegan Creamy Core)
Best for plant‑based snackers who want a chocolate‑peanut fix and a modest protein bump without the sugar spike. Skip it if you need gluten‑free or if sugar alcohols tend to upset your stomach.
What's in the Maximuscle bar?
Maximuscle’s Chocolate Peanut Caramel (Vegan Creamy Core) leans into a plant-protein blend and candy-bar textures, then keeps sugar remarkably low. The protein comes from pea protein, soy protein isolate, and a touch of almond protein—plus a little from the peanuts themselves—so you’re getting a vegan mix rather than whey.
The sweetness and soft, “creamy core” feel are built with modern fibers and polyols (think maltitol‑sweetened dark chocolate, polydextrose, oligofructose, and glycerin) instead of table sugar.
Fat lands in the middle-high range for a bar, courtesy of peanuts, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and rapeseed (canola) oil—great for flavor and satiety, with a blend of unsaturated and saturated fats.
Calories stay on the lighter side for a bar, making this more snack than meal. Flavor-wise, the chocolate shell (cocoa), real peanuts, and a caramel-like center created with those fibers and oils deliver the “chocolate–peanut–caramel” promise without piling on sugar.
- Protein
- 8 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 12 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 172
Protein
815LOWProtein here is fully plant-based: primarily pea protein, joined by soy protein isolate and a little almond protein, with peanuts contributing a bit more. Soy isolate and pea protein are among the higher‑quality plant proteins (complete and well‑digested), but the total lands on the lighter side for a protein bar, so think snackable protein rather than a post‑workout heavyweight.
Fat
109MIDFat comes from peanuts, cocoa butter in the dark chocolate, coconut oil, and rapeseed (canola) oil. That mix gives you mostly heart‑friendlier unsaturated fats from peanuts and canola, plus saturated fats from coconut and cocoa butter for that creamy snap and structure. At this level, fat is doing real work for flavor and fullness.
Carbs
1220LOWMost carbs are delivered via low‑sugar sweetening and bulking ingredients rather than whole grains: maltitol‑sweetened dark chocolate, polydextrose (a low‑calorie fiber), oligofructose (a prebiotic fiber from chicory root), and a little glycerin and refined starches for texture. Expect a steadier rise in blood sugar than a sugar‑heavy bar, with the caveat that sugar alcohols and some fibers can bother sensitive stomachs. These are more processed carbohydrate sources, tuned for low sugar and chew, not the slow-burn carbs you’d get from oats or sweet potato.
Sugar
14LOWSugar stays very low because sweetness comes mainly from a sugar alcohol (maltitol) in the dark chocolate, plus mildly sweet fibers (oligofructose) and glycerin rather than added sugar or fruit. That can mean a gentler glucose response than a typical candy bar. Just note: sugar alcohols are well tolerated by many people at bar‑sized amounts, but some experience gas or GI upset if they stack multiple polyol‑sweetened treats in a day.
Calories
172210LOWCalories are on the lighter side for a bar, and fat is the biggest contributor, with smaller shares from the fiber‑rich carb system and a modest protein portion. That balance makes it satisfying for its size, but it’s not meant to replace a full meal. If you want a leaner macro split skewed toward protein, you’ll likely need to pair it with additional protein elsewhere.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins or minerals here (no added fortification). You’ll get small, incidental amounts—magnesium from cocoa, vitamin E and niacin from peanuts—but not enough to clear the 10% daily value bar.
Additives
This bar uses a modern toolkit—polydextrose and oligofructose for fiber and body, glycerin to keep the core soft, modified starches for stability, and emulsifiers like soy lecithin and mono‑/diglycerides to keep fats and water playing nicely. They’re effective and highly refined, which is how you get a low‑sugar chocolate‑peanut‑caramel profile with a creamy bite. If you prefer minimally processed ingredient lists, this reads more formulated than whole‑food‑based bars.
Ingredient List
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Soybeans
glucose
Groundnut plant seeds
Yellow pea seeds
Fats and oils
Defatted soybean flakes
Chicory root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I recently discovered maximuscle high protein bars and I love them!! Only £1 a pop at sainsburys but I think they were on sale hehe”
“I like the Maxi Nutrition creamy core protein bars. My fav is the peanut caramel; 181 cals, 15g protein, and gives me that sugar hit without being loads of sugar.”
Main Praise
The headline praise is taste and texture.
Independent reviewers of Maximuscle bars routinely say they eat like a real chocolate bar, and that carries here: the dark chocolate, peanut notes, and soft center feel surprisingly indulgent for a vegan, low‑sugar build.
Cyclist likened the brand’s bars to treating yourself while still fitting a recovery brief, and Gymtalk went to bat for the “soft and chewy” feel that actually satisfies a sweet tooth.
On Reddit, fans of the peanut caramel flavor say it scratches the dessert itch without the sugar load, which matches this bar’s 1g of sugar.
The 10g of fat helps a small bar feel more filling than the calories imply, and the brand is widely available in UK shops—sometimes popping up on sale, as u/autecouture happily discovered—making it an easy grab‑and‑go.
Main Criticism
Two recurring knocks: sweetness strategy and expectations.
The low sugar comes from maltitol and fiber syrups; many people tolerate that fine, but those sensitive to sugar alcohols can experience gas or bloating—especially if they stack multiple polyol‑sweetened snacks in a day.
A few reviewers note the taste can skew a bit too sweet. Value is another theme: compared with protein powder, bars are a pricier way to get protein, and this vegan creamy core version tops out at 8g—light for post‑training recovery.
Lastly, there’s label confusion across the Maximuscle family; Reddit threads sometimes cite higher protein counts that apply to other variants, not this one. And for allergens and diet needs, this flavor contains peanuts, almond, soy, coconut, and wheat dextrin, so it’s not gluten‑free and won’t suit nut/soy allergies.
The Middle Ground
If your top job for a bar is “make me forget I’m eating something functional,” this one earns its keep. The chocolate‑peanut‑caramel combo hits nostalgia buttons, and the low sugar will appeal to anyone who prefers a gentler blood‑sugar rise than a candy bar.
Where the criticism bites is use‑case: with 8g of protein, this isn’t a heavy hitter for post‑lift recovery. You can still make it work—pair it with a soy yogurt or a shake—but solo, it’s a snack.
As for the sweeteners, the truth sits between extremes: maltitol and chicory‑derived fibers help keep sugar down and texture up, and many people handle a bar without issue; others, like your friend who can’t share a car after a sugar‑free gum, will want to test tolerance.
And yes, Reddit user u/animalwitch mentioned a peanut‑caramel Maximuscle bar with more protein—but that’s a different variant. This one is the plant‑based, dessert‑leaning option: more treat‑with‑benefits than macro powerhouse.
What's the bottom line?
Maximuscle’s Vegan Creamy Core Chocolate Peanut Caramel is a plant‑based bar that leans into pleasure: real chocolate notes, peanut richness, and a soft center—all while holding sugar to 1g. It gives you 8g of protein and 172 calories, which places it squarely in the snack lane rather than the meal‑replacement or post‑workout category. If you want a vegan, low‑sugar chocolate fix that won’t torpedo your day, it fits beautifully.
If you need 20–30g of protein in one go, look elsewhere or plan a combo snack. And if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, start with one bar and see how you fare. Allergens and gluten‑free eaters should steer away from this flavor.
For everyone else, it’s a smart compromise: the joy of a candy bar with enough protein and fat to take the edge off hunger, minus the sugar crash. Condensed listicle take: A vegan chocolate‑peanut‑caramel treat with just 1g of sugar and 8g of protein.
Best for afternoon sweet‑tooth moments or a light pre‑ride snack; not for big post‑workout protein targets. Watch for sugar alcohol tolerance, and note it’s not gluten‑free.