Maximuscle
Salted Peanut (Protein Nut Bar)
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A peanut‑first build (58% peanuts) with modest protein and very low sugar achieved via maltitol and chicory‑root fiber—more a lower‑sugar nut bar fortified with soy isolate than a classic 20g‑protein slug.
When to choose Maximuscle Salted Peanut (Protein Nut Bar)
Peanut lovers who want a satisfying, lower‑sugar afternoon snack with steady energy; a light post‑workout top‑up when you don’t need a full shake; anyone who prefers to avoid intense artificial sweeteners.
What's in the Maximuscle bar?
Meet Maximuscle’s Salted Peanut Protein Nut Bar: a peanut-first bar (58% peanuts) with a clean hit of salt, cocoa butter for that chocolate-like snap, and a whisper of vanilla and peanut flavor.
The protein is plant-led—soy protein isolate—backed by the peanuts themselves and a little milk powder. Sugar stays low because sweetness comes from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory-root oligofructose, not cane sugar.
That trade-off shapes an unusual macro profile for a protein bar: lower carbs, very high fat, and a modest protein boost. Translation: slow-burn, nutty energy with classic salted-peanut character, more snack-bar satisfaction than shake-in-a-wrapper.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
1015LOWProtein here comes from soy protein isolate (a refined but complete plant protein), with meaningful backup from the 58% peanuts and a touch of dairy from whole milk powder. It’s a mixed plant-and-dairy profile that covers the amino acid bases, but at 10 grams it’s a lighter lift—think snackable support rather than a full-on recovery bar.
Fat
169HIGHMost fat is peanut-derived—largely monounsaturated—with cocoa butter adding creamy texture and some saturated fat (mostly stearic acid, which tends to be more neutral for cholesterol than other saturates). A little comes from milk powder. The total is high for the category, which helps with fullness but also drives calories upward.
Carbs
1420LOWThe carbs skew engineered-for-gentle: oligofructose syrup is a chicory-root prebiotic fiber with minimal glycemic punch, and maltitol is a sugar alcohol that tastes like sugar but typically causes a smaller blood-sugar rise. A smaller share comes from tapioca starch (a quickly digested cassava starch) and some lactose from milk. Expect steadier energy than a sugary bar, though FODMAP-sensitive folks may feel the fermentable fiber.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 1.9 grams of sugar, mostly naturally occurring lactose from the milk powder. Sweetness instead relies on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a bit of oligofructose (a prebiotic fiber), which cut sugar without resorting to intense artificial sweeteners. If sugar alcohols upset your stomach, note that maltitol is the second ingredient—tolerance varies by person.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, most of the energy comes from fats in the peanuts and cocoa butter, with protein and some calories from sugar alcohols rounding it out. That mix leans toward staying power rather than quick carb fuel. Reduced sugar here doesn’t mean low calorie—it’s the rich nut-and-cocoa-butter base doing the heavy lifting.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals over 10% Daily Value are called out. Any micronutrients here are intrinsic—peanuts can bring a little vitamin E and minerals, and milk powder contributes some calcium—but this bar isn’t aimed at fortification.
Additives
A compact set of modern helpers keeps sweetness and texture on track: maltitol for bulked sweetness, oligofructose syrup (chicory-root fiber) for binding and prebiotic fiber, tapioca starch (refined cassava) to hold things together, and soy lecithin to emulsify. These are fairly processed tools common in low-sugar bars—effective, though not strictly whole-food.
Ingredient List
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Chicory root inulin
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 carry this bar.
The salted‑peanut crunch and cocoa‑butter richness make it feel like a treat, not a chore, and that’s consistent with broader Maximuscle chatter: reviewers often say the brand’s bars punch above their weight on flavor and mouthfeel.
Redditor animalwitch praised a different Maxi Nutrition peanut bar for delivering a “sugar hit without being loads of sugar,” and this one aims for the same trick with maltitol and chicory‑root fiber rather than stevia or sucralose.
The macros skew toward staying power—230 calories with mostly peanut‑derived fats—so it actually holds you for a while. And soy isolate brings a complete plant protein, with peanuts and a touch of milk powder rounding out the profile.
In short, it scratches the peanut‑and‑chocolate itch while giving a genuine protein nudge.
Main Criticism
If you’re chasing big protein, 10g is light for the calories. Think snack support, not recovery centerpiece.
Sweetness leans on maltitol (a sugar alcohol), which many people tolerate fine, but some experience bloating or digestive discomfort at higher intakes—especially alongside chicory‑root fiber; starting with half a bar can be wise if you’re sensitive.
Brand‑level reviews sometimes call Maximuscle bars a bit sweet, and that could apply here depending on your palate. Price can vary and is often flagged as a sticking point for the brand’s bars in general, even if deals pop up.
Finally, it contains milk and soy and isn’t marketed as gluten‑free, so it’s not for strict vegans or certain allergy needs.
The Middle Ground
There’s a real split between what this bar promises and what many people expect from the word “protein.
” Redditors and reviewers often rave about the taste of Maximuscle’s higher‑protein lines; Cyclist and Supplement Reviews UK praised those bars for tasting like a treat while staying low in sugar.
This Salted Peanut bar shares the flavor DNA, but it’s not trying to hit 20g of protein; it’s positioning itself as a lower‑sugar nut bar with a protein boost. If you come in with that frame, it shines: peanut‑forward, satisfying, and not laced with intense artificial sweeteners.
If you show up expecting a turbo‑charged post‑lift bar, you’ll wonder where the other 10 grams went.
And about the sweeteners: animalwitch’s “sugar hit without loads of sugar” line rings true here, but if maltitol or chicory fiber usually bug you, this bar won’t magically be different—your gut, not Reddit, gets the final vote.
What's the bottom line?
Maximuscle’s Salted Peanut Protein Nut Bar is best understood as a delicious peanut bar that moonlights as a protein snack. You get 10g of complete, soy‑led protein, a big roasted‑peanut payoff, and only 2g of sugar, all wrapped in 230 calories that lean toward long‑lasting fullness rather than quick carb fuel. Choose it when you want a lower‑sugar, peanut‑centric snack with real staying power and a clean, chocolate‑adjacent finish from cocoa butter.
Skip it if you need a 20g protein wallop, are sensitive to sugar alcohols or chicory‑root fiber, or require vegan or gluten‑free options. For everyone else: it’s a tasty, dependable way to keep the afternoon crash at arm’s length—more nut bar than protein bar, and that’s exactly its charm.