Maximuscle
Dark Chocolate Peanut (Protein Nut Bar)
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Unusually high real‑nut content (46% peanuts plus almonds) wrapped in dark chocolate, kept low‑sugar with maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory‑root fiber—no stevia aftertaste, no added seed oils, and fully plant‑based.
When to choose Maximuscle Dark Chocolate Peanut (Protein Nut Bar)
A satisfying, low‑sugar, vegan snack to bridge an afternoon slump or pre‑commute hunger. Less ideal if you need a heavy post‑workout hit or you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols.
What's in the Maximuscle bar?
Maximuscle’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Protein Nut Bar is, first and foremost, a nut bar dressed in dark chocolate. Nearly half the bar is peanuts (with almonds close behind), while a smaller dose of soy protein isolate gives it a plant‑based protein bump.
The fats come naturally from those nuts and from cocoa butter, sugars stay low thanks to a sugar alcohol (maltitol) and a chicory‑root fiber syrup (oligofructose), and the carbs lean more refined‑functional than whole‑food.
Translation: rich chocolate‑peanut flavor from real cocoa and roasted nuts, modest protein, high satiety, and low sugar without artificial high‑intensity sweeteners.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Carbohydrates
- 13 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 227
Protein
1015LOWYou get 10g of protein from a mix of soy protein isolate (6% of the recipe) and the nuts themselves. Soy isolate is a highly processed but complete, dairy‑free protein; peanuts and almonds add a little extra protein alongside their fats. This lands on the lighter side of the protein spectrum—more a nut bar with a protein assist than a post‑workout powerhouse.
Fat
169HIGHThe 16g of fat come mainly from peanuts and almonds, with cocoa butter from the dark chocolate rounding it out. That means mostly monounsaturated fat from nuts plus some saturated fat (largely stearic acid) from cocoa butter—no added seed oils here. Expect solid satiety, though anyone moderating saturated fat should note the chocolate’s cocoa butter contribution.
Carbs
1320LOWAt 13g total carbs, the load is relatively low and built from functional ingredients rather than whole grains: maltitol (a sugar alcohol that sweetens with fewer calories), oligofructose syrup (a chicory‑root prebiotic fiber), and a bit of refined tapioca starch from cassava to bind. This combo tends to blunt blood‑sugar spikes compared with regular sugar, especially with all that nut fat. Some people find sugar alcohols and prebiotic fibers gassy in larger amounts, so pace yourself if you’re sensitive.
Sugar
24MIDSugar stays low at 1.5g because sweetness comes primarily from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and oligofructose (a chicory‑root fiber syrup), not fruit or cane sugar. That keeps the glycemic hit gentler, though it does lean on refined sweeteners rather than whole‑food sugars. As always with polyols and prebiotic fibers, individual digestive tolerance varies.
Calories
227210MIDAt 227 calories, most of the energy comes from fat-dense peanuts, almonds, and cocoa butter, with a smaller share from protein and low‑impact sweeteners. It eats like a satisfying snack or mini‑meal rather than a feather‑light protein bar. If you’re counting, think “fat‑forward fuel with a protein assist.”
Vitamins & Minerals
No single vitamin or mineral clears the 10% Daily Value mark on the label. Any micronutrient bonus likely comes naturally from the nuts and cocoa—think trace magnesium or iron—rather than from fortification. This bar’s strengths are more about macronutrients and satiety than a vitamin boost.
Additives
Beyond nuts and cocoa, the formulation uses a handful of refined helpers: maltitol (bulk sweetener), oligofructose syrup (prebiotic binder/sweetness), tapioca starch (cassava‑derived binder), and soy lecithin (emulsifier) plus natural flavors. They provide sweetness, structure, and that smooth chocolate texture while keeping sugars low. It’s a short, purpose‑driven additive list—moderately to highly processed, typical for low‑sugar chocolate‑nut bars.
Ingredient List
Corn or wheat
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Chicory root inulin
Cocoa beans
Cassava root
Soybeans
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
Taste and texture headline the appeal. Independent reviewers often describe Maximuscle bars as “like a chocolate bar,” and that expectation fits a formula built from roasted nuts and real cocoa.
On Reddit, animalwitch praised the brand’s peanut bar for scratching a sweet itch without “loads of sugar,” while autecouture was just happy to find Maximuscle bars worth grabbing at supermarket prices when on offer.
This specific bar keeps the sweetness gentler and leans into a clean melt from cocoa butter, so it feels more like chocolate than diet candy. The macros are simple and honest: 10g of complete, dairy‑free protein thanks to soy isolate plus nut protein, with mostly monounsaturated fats from peanuts and almonds for stay‑power.
It’s vegan, it’s satisfying, and it doesn’t taste like chalk.
Main Criticism
If you’re chasing a serious protein target, 10g won’t cut it; this is a nut bar with a protein assist, not a recovery bar.
The low sugar comes from maltitol and chicory‑root fiber, which some people find gassy or bloating in larger amounts—especially if you stack it with other fiber‑ or sugar‑alcohol‑heavy foods that day.
A few reviewers across the Maximuscle range find the sweetness a bit much, even when actual sugar is low, and calories at 227 may feel punchy if you wanted a feather‑light snack.
It also isn’t marketed as gluten‑free and does include common allergens (peanuts, almonds, soy).
The Middle Ground
Here’s the trade: big flavor and real‑nut crunch versus modest protein and some functional sweeteners.
Redditor animalwitch’s “sugar hit without loads of sugar” line captures the experience—this bar leans sweet but keeps the glycemic impact in check by using a sugar alcohol and a prebiotic fiber.
That strategy won’t charm everyone; some people prefer fruit‑sweetened bars or dates and oats, and others just don’t get along with polyols. But look at the build: peanuts and almonds first, cocoa mass and cocoa butter for the chocolate, soy isolate for complete protein.
It reads like a legit chocolate‑nut snack that happens to be low‑sugar and vegan.
If you want a 20g post‑lift slab, Maximuscle’s Promax range exists for that; if you want something that feels like food and actually tides you over, this bar hits a different, very practical brief.
And to the Reddit user who said the brand’s bars were “okay”—fair! This one aims for satisfying and steady more than mind‑blowing.
What's the bottom line?
Maximuscle’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Protein Nut Bar is a smart swap for the person who wants the taste and crunch of a chocolate‑covered nut bar, without the sugar rollercoaster. You get 10g of plant protein, mostly monounsaturated fats from real nuts, and a clean dark‑chocolate finish. The sweetness strategy—maltitol plus chicory‑root fiber—keeps sugars low and energy steadier, though it won’t suit every stomach.
Use it as a satisfying snack or mini‑meal: something you can throw in a bag, eat in three bites, and feel genuinely fueled afterward. Skip it if you need high protein per bite, avoid soy, or don’t tolerate sugar alcohols. For everyone else, it’s a tasty, vegan, low‑sugar chocolate‑nut bar that does exactly what it says on the wrapper.
Condensed listicle blurb: A legit dark‑chocolate nut bar with 10g protein, 2g sugar, and 227 calories. Vegan, crunchy, and satisfying—great for the afternoon slump. Watch out if sugar alcohols bother you; not a 20g post‑workout bar.