Maximuscle
Hazelnut Nougat
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true confection profile—hazelnut nougat and chocolate—paired with low sugar and moderate calories, powered by whey and casein for complete protein, with collagen supplying that nougat chew.
When to choose Maximuscle Hazelnut Nougat
Reach for it when you want a chocolate‑hazelnut fix after a workout or with coffee but don’t need a 20‑gram protein hit. It suits low‑sugar snackers who are comfortable with sugar alcohols.
What's in the Maximuscle bar?
Maximuscle’s Hazelnut Nougat Protein Bar leans into classic chocolate–hazelnut: a nut nougat cream with real hazelnuts and cocoa, plus cocoa butter and cocoa mass for that smooth melt. Protein comes from a blend of milk proteins (whey isolate and calcium caseinate) alongside collagen peptides, landing at 14 grams—mid‑pack for bars.
Carbs are on the low side among bars, but they’re mostly from processed sweeteners (maltitol) and glycerin rather than oats or dates; sugar stays low at 1. 5 grams.
Fat runs higher (think shea butter and cocoa butter balanced by hazelnuts), which explains the creamy bite, while calories sit at a lighter 193 per bar.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 193
Protein
1415MIDThe 14 grams of protein are built on milk proteins—calcium caseinate and whey isolate—backed by collagen peptides. Whey and casein are complete, high‑quality proteins; collagen is not, so the milk proteins do the heavy lifting for muscle repair while collagen mainly supports texture. The result is a respectable, mid‑range protein hit with a mixed amino‑acid profile.
Fat
119MIDMost fat comes from shea butter and cocoa butter in the nougat/chocolate layers, with extra from hazelnuts and a touch of sunflower oil. That means a mix of saturated plant fats (stearic‑rich shea and cocoa) balanced by hazelnuts’ heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats. It skews higher in fat than many bars, which delivers a creamy, satisfying chew.
Carbs
1420LOWCarbs here are largely from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and glycerin (a moisture‑holding syrup), with a little from dairy. These processed sweeteners keep sugars down and typically blunt sharp spikes compared with table sugar, though maltitol can upset sensitive stomachs at higher intakes. They’re not ‘whole‑food’ carbs, so expect steady but modest energy rather than slow‑burn fuel from grains or fruit.
Sugar
24MIDSugar is low at 1.5 grams, largely from dairy, while sweetness comes mainly from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) plus a tiny dash of sucralose (an artificial sweetener). That keeps sugar down without losing sweetness, though maltitol still counts toward carbs and may cause bloating for some. If you prefer sweetness from fruit or honey, this isn’t that style of bar.
Calories
193210MIDAt 193 calories, this bar is lighter than many, but most of its energy still comes from fat—fat simply carries more calories per gram. Protein adds a solid share, while the polyol sweeteners contribute fewer calories than sugar would. Net effect: compact energy with a rich texture, not a heavy, high‑carb load.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no vitamin fortification flagged, so don’t expect big %DVs. You’ll likely get small, natural amounts—vitamin E from hazelnuts, a bit of calcium and B12 from dairy, and trace minerals from cocoa. Think flavor‑first with modest micronutrient bonuses.
Additives
This recipe uses a few refined helpers: maltitol and sucralose for sweetness, glycerin to keep the bar soft, and lecithins (sunflower and soy) to blend fats and water. They’re common in low‑sugar confections and used in small amounts for texture and shelf life. The trade‑off is a very smooth bite versus a minimalist ingredient list.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Corn or wheat
Sugar cane and sugar beet
Bovine, porcine, fish, chicken tissues
Shea tree kernels
Corylus avellana tree nuts
Defatted cacao bean solids
Cow's milk
Sunflower seeds
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 consistently tops the praise list. Reviewers of the Maximuscle bar range say they satisfy a sweet tooth in a way few protein bars do, with soft, chewy texture and a legitimate chocolate feel.
Cycling media have applauded their dessert‑like flavor while still ticking the recovery box, and fitness blogs call out how effective they are for curbing cravings between meals. On Reddit, fans mention the creamy‑core styles for giving a sugar‑hit feel without much actual sugar, and some even nabbed them at friendly prices in supermarkets when on offer.
Translating that to Hazelnut Nougat: it brings the same confection DNA—rich cocoa, nutty notes, and a polished finish—inside a tidy 193‑calorie package. For a low‑sugar, sweet‑leaning bar, the taste‑to‑calorie ratio is a standout.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is smitten. Some find Maximuscle bars on the sweet side, especially if they’re used to less processed snacks.
Multiple reviewers point out the cost per serving can feel steep compared with simply mixing a scoop of protein powder, and a few Redditors have noted confusion when calories vary across flavors or packaging updates.
If you want a heavy protein payload, 14 grams may feel light next to 20‑gram competitors. And while low in sugar, the sweetness relies on maltitol and a touch of sucralose, which isn’t the ingredient profile everyone wants.
The Middle Ground
The divide makes sense once you look under the hood. This bar is engineered to taste like a chocolate‑hazelnut treat: cocoa butter and shea give it that melt, whey and casein supply complete protein, and collagen adds the nougat pull.
The sugar stays low because maltitol and a dash of sucralose do the sweetening; for many, that means dessert energy without the crash, but for some, maltitol can be a digestive nuisance—try one before a long meeting, not during it.
If you want maximal protein per bite, this 14‑gram bar is more of a light recovery snack than a full meal stand‑in; Maximuscle’s own higher‑protein variants may suit that brief better.
Price is context‑dependent too: Reddit’s autecouture was thrilled to find them for about a pound on sale, but deals come and go. Meanwhile, Redditor animalwitch praised the line for scratching a sweet itch without much sugar—exactly what Hazelnut Nougat aims to do.
The truth sits in the middle: it’s a treat‑first, low‑sugar bar that smartly includes quality dairy protein, not a minimalist, whole‑food energy bar.
What's the bottom line?
Maximuscle’s Hazelnut Nougat Protein Bar is for the person who wants chocolate‑hazelnut comfort with a reasonable macro trade: 14 grams of milk‑derived protein, about 193 calories, and very little sugar. It shines as an afternoon fix or a lighter post‑workout bite. If you avoid sugar alcohols or prefer fruit‑sweetened bars, the ingredient panel won’t win you over; and if you need vegetarian options, the collagen knocks this one out.
It also contains milk, hazelnuts, and soy lecithin, and it isn’t marketed as gluten‑free, so label‑check if you have allergies. Condensed listicle version: A dessert‑leaning chocolate‑hazelnut bar with 14g protein and ~193 calories that tastes like a treat while keeping sugar low.
Best for sweet‑tooth snackers and light post‑workout refuels. Watch out for maltitol if you’re sensitive, and note it isn’t vegetarian.