MusclePharm
Chocolate Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy-bar build—crisp bits, soft interior, chocolate coating—paired with a whey‑forward 20g protein blend. It uses fiber and sugar alcohols to keep listed sugars low while preserving that confection-like texture.
When to choose MusclePharm Chocolate Cake
A post‑workout or between‑meal treat that actually fills you up and tastes like dessert. Best if you tolerate sugar alcohols and want a high‑protein bar with staying power, not a minimalist ingredient list.
What's in the MusclePharm bar?
MusclePharm’s Chocolate Cake bar leans into a classic whey-forward formula, backed up by soy, to deliver a hefty 20g of protein—well into the top tier among bars. The cake-like chocolate flavor comes from Dutch-processed cocoa and cocoa extract, with soy crisps adding a bit of crunch.
Carbs aren’t built from oats or dates here; they mostly come from chicory root fiber and maltitol (a sugar alcohol), with a little sugar and some tapioca starch in the crisps.
Fat is driven largely by palm and palm kernel oils, which give that fudgy, shelf-stable texture but skew saturated. It’s a 250-calorie, dessert-leaning bar that trades table sugar for polyols and fiber to tame spikes, while keeping the protein high and texture confection-like.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 250
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes primarily from whey protein concentrate and isolate, with soy protein isolate playing a supporting role and a touch of bovine gelatin for chew. Whey is fast-digesting and leucine-rich, so it’s excellent for muscle repair; soy adds complete plant protein, though slightly lower in amino acid quality than dairy. At 20g, this sits near the top of the pack, with the blend favoring quick, high-quality protein—good around workouts—while the isolate helps keep lactose relatively low for many people.
Fat
119MIDThe 11g of fat is largely from palm kernel oil and palm oil, which create a stable, creamy texture but contribute more saturated fat than oils like olive or canola. A small amount of soybean oil and emulsifiers appear lower on the list, but they don’t change the overall profile. Expect satisfying richness and structure, with the tradeoff that saturated fat is higher than in nut- or olive-oil–based bars.
Carbs
2020MIDCarbs come mostly from chicory root fiber and maltitol, with smaller contributions from sugar, tapioca starch in the soy crisps, and a bit of glycerin for moisture. This mix leans refined rather than whole-food based—more lab-built sweetness and fiber than oats or fruit—yet it typically leads to steadier energy than a sugar-heavy bar. Note that maltitol is still a digestible carb and can bother sensitive stomachs if you stack multiple polyol-containing foods in a day.
Sugar
54MIDOnly 5g of sugar is listed because most sweetness comes from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a pinch of sucralose (an intense, zero‑calorie sweetener). The little bit of sugar likely comes from the base and cocoa components, so it’s not fruit-derived. Expect a smaller blood-sugar bump than a traditional candy bar, but remember polyols still add carbs and, in larger amounts, can cause gas or loose stools for some.
Calories
250210HIGHAt 250 calories (on the higher side for bars), energy is split across a robust 20g of protein, 20g of carbs, and 11g of fat—with the palm oils adding notable density. In practice, the fat plus protein make this feel more like a small meal than a light snack. If you’re after staying power, it delivers; if you want something lighter, you may prefer a lower‑fat option.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron sits around 10% of daily value, plausibly from soy protein isolate and cocoa. You’ll also get small amounts of calcium from whey and potassium from cocoa, but nothing stands out above 10% DV beyond iron. Vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene appear in tiny amounts (for color/fortification), but not enough to headline the label.
Additives
This is a confection-style build: sugar alcohols (for lower sugar and bulk), glycerin (keeps it soft), emulsifiers like soy/sunflower lecithin and mono‑/diglycerides (blend fats and improve texture), potassium sorbate (preservative), and sucralose (intense sweetener). These ingredients are highly refined and used to mimic a dessert-like bite with fewer sugars and a long shelf life. It’s not a minimalist bar—function and texture take priority over pantry-only simplicity.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Oil palm fruit
Cattle hides and bones
Chicory root
Corn or wheat
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Defatted soybean flakes
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Cacao tree seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Seriously 'Combat Crunch' are the best I have eaten if protein is your goal. They taste the best in my opinion and actually have texture (crunchy outside soft inside) without the heavy sweetener aftertaste of other 20g protein bars.”
“Combat crunch! I've tried literally every bar these are the only ones that don't have a garbage after taste (sorry quest vega good fats rxbar etc) maybe it's just something I notice more than other people.”
“So my Costco just started carrying Combat Crunch protein bars...literally the best fucking bars I have EVER eaten. Two flavors, cookie dough and chocolate peanut butter cup. I think we have reached the pinnacle, these protein bars taste exactly like a candy bar possibly even better.”
Main Praise
Fans consistently praise the taste and texture.
Redditors call out the crunchy‑outside/soft‑inside combo with far less of that bitter “protein bar” aftertaste, and more than a few swear it’s the closest thing to a candy bar they’ve found with 20 grams of protein.
Independent reviewers back that up: the layers, toppings, and chocolate coating make it feel indulgent while the macros stay dependable across flavors. For lifters and busy folks, the whey‑first blend delivers quick, high‑quality protein that suits a post‑workout window.
And compared to some boutique bars, it’s often priced competitively, which helps if this becomes a daily habit.
Main Criticism
Not everyone gets the magic. Several buyers report batches that skew dense or overly chewy, with BarBend noting a taffy‑like bite and occasional synthetic notes in certain flavors.
The sweetness strategy—maltitol plus a touch of sucralose—keeps listed sugar low but can bring digestive drama for people sensitive to sugar alcohols. Net carbs land in the double digits, so this isn’t a strict low‑carb or keto play.
Fat leans saturated from palm oils, which create that fudgy bite but won’t thrill those trying to minimize saturated fat. And a few long‑time fans still mourn discontinued flavors, which fuels the nostalgia but not consistency.
The Middle Ground
The features people love are the same ones critics side‑eye. Those palm oils that make it taste like a candy bar?
They’re also why the saturated fat is higher than nut‑based bars. The maltitol and chicory fiber that keep sugar to 5 grams and texture dessert‑like?
They can mean more net carbs than some low‑carb competitors and may bother sensitive stomachs. Redditor AuntySocialite joked the bars seem too good to be true—yet the macros pencil out when you remember sugar alcohols add bulk and sweetness without behaving exactly like table sugar.
Meanwhile, BarBend’s “taffy‑like” callout is fair; some flavors and batches do chew longer than the label suggests. If your ideal bar is five ingredients you can picture in a kitchen, this isn’t that.
If your priority is a protein‑heavy sweet fix that doesn’t taste like chalk, this is squarely in your lane.
What's the bottom line?
Combat Crunch is a dessert‑leaning protein bar that delivers on flavor without abandoning function. You get 20 grams of fast‑digesting, leucine‑rich protein (whey plus a supporting role from soy) in a 250‑calorie package that genuinely satisfies a chocolate craving. The tradeoffs are intentional: more processed sweeteners and palm‑based fats to achieve that candy‑bar bite, with net carbs and saturated fat that won’t align with every nutrition goal.
If you tolerate sugar alcohols and want a post‑workout or afternoon option that feels like a treat and keeps you full, it’s a strong pick. If your stomach bristles at maltitol, your plan is very low carb, or you’re chasing the shortest, whole‑food ingredient list, look elsewhere. For the rest of us, it’s the rare “tastes‑good” bar that earns its keep—more protein dessert than pantry‑purist snack, and that’s exactly the point.