MusclePharm
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true candy‑bar build—crisp outside, soft inside—with 20 grams of high‑quality protein and a gluten‑free formula. It’s one of the rare 20‑gram bars people reach for purely because it tastes good.
When to choose MusclePharm Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Choose it when you want a dessert‑like post‑workout bite or an on‑the‑go snack that actually satisfies a chocolate craving without a big sugar hit. Skip it if sugar alcohols upset your stomach or you’re avoiding animal gelatin.
What's in the MusclePharm bar?
MusclePharm’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar is a whey‑forward build—20 grams of protein puts it near the top of the category—backed by soy protein isolate for extra structure and crunch. Instead of oats or dates, its carbs come from chicory root fiber and sugar alcohols, which keep sugars in check, while palm and cocoa fats give that doughy bite.
The cookie‑dough flavor is classic: real chocolate chips made with Dutch‑processed cocoa and cocoa butter plus vanilla do the heavy lifting, and a little gelatin adds chew.
The trade‑offs to know: more saturated plant fats than a nut‑based bar, sweetness delivered largely by maltitol and a touch of sucralose, and a calorie count that lands on the heartier side.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
2015HIGHThis bar’s 20 grams of protein come primarily from a whey blend (concentrate + isolate), with soy protein isolate—also in the soy crisps—adding a supporting role. Whey is a fast‑digesting, leucine‑rich dairy protein that’s low in lactose in its isolate form, while soy is complete but a touch lower in leucine; together they deliver a high‑quality, top‑tier hit. Gelatin is present for chew, but it’s there for texture, not as a complete protein.
Fat
119MIDMost of the 11 grams of fat come from palm kernel oil, palm oil, and cocoa butter, with a touch of soybean oil. These are refined plant fats that skew saturated—great for a firm, cookie‑dough bite, but less heart‑friendly than fats from nuts or olive oil. If you’re watching saturated fat, this is one to enjoy in balance with more unsaturated choices during the day.
Carbs
2020MIDThe 20 grams of carbs lean more engineered than whole‑food: chicory root fiber (a refined prebiotic) and maltitol (a sugar alcohol) do most of the lifting, with smaller amounts from table sugar, glycerin, and a bit of tapioca starch in the soy crisps. That combo keeps sugars modest and tends to blunt sharp spikes compared with straight sugar, but both sugar alcohols and rapidly fermented fibers can bother sensitive stomachs. Expect steadier energy than a candy bar, though not the slow‑burn you’d get from oats or sweet potato.
Sugar
54MIDSugar lands at 5 grams because most sweetness comes from maltitol (a lower‑calorie sugar alcohol) and a tiny amount of sucralose, with smaller contributions from regular sugar and chocolate. That keeps the label sugar modest without making the bar taste “diet,” but remember sugar alcohols still count toward carbs and can cause gas or bloating for some people at higher intakes. There’s no fruit‑based sweetness here—this is a reduced‑sugar strategy built on refined sweeteners.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories, this sits on the higher side for a bar, driven by its blend of saturated plant fats and a substantial protein dose. Roughly speaking, fat supplies the biggest share, protein a solid third, and the rest comes from carbs that include fiber and sugar alcohols. It eats like a small snack‑meal rather than a light nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
You get about 10% of daily iron, largely from cocoa solids and soy ingredients, plus a small calcium bump (around 6%) from the whey proteins. Vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene appear on the label, but they don’t register above 10% DV on the panel. In short, the micronutrient story is a light assist rather than a headline.
Additives
To hold its shape and sweetness, the bar leans on a roster of modern additives: sugar alcohols and glycerin for moisture and bulk, several emulsifiers (lecithins, mono‑ and diglycerides, sorbitan tristearate) for smooth chips and dough, and potassium sorbate to keep microbes at bay. These are highly refined helpers used in small amounts, typical of confection‑style protein bars. If you prefer simpler, whole‑food ingredient lists, this one reads more “engineered” than “pantry.”
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Oil palm fruit
Cattle hides and bones
Chicory root
Corn or wheat
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Vegetable oils and sorbitol
Vanilla orchid seed pods
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
Taste and texture lead the applause. Across Reddit threads and long‑time Amazon samplers, the throughline is the same: a crunchy coating with a soft, cookie‑dough middle that feels like a treat rather than a chore.
Many call out the lack of harsh sweetener aftertaste that plagues other high‑protein bars, and several compare it favorably to popular competitors that skew chalky, dry, or cloying. The 20 grams of protein earns real respect, especially for lifters who want a bar that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Reviewers and editors also note dependable macros across flavors and, often, a friendlier price than some hyped boutique bars. In short, it’s the rare protein bar praised because people actually enjoy eating it.
Main Criticism
Not everyone hears angels sing. A noticeable minority describe batches that are denser or chewier than expected, with less “crunch” and more taffy‑like pull.
A few taste buds pick up synthetic notes, and some report the familiar GI grumbles tied to sugar alcohols and rapidly fermented fiber. From a nutrition lens, the bar leans on saturated plant fats for that candy‑bar bite, and the net carbs sit higher than ultra‑low‑carb competitors.
Lastly, it’s not vegetarian thanks to bovine gelatin, and it contains milk and soy, with peanut and almond present—non‑starters for some.
The Middle Ground
So where’s the truth? It’s mostly in the middle.
Fans are right: for a 20‑gram bar, this nails the candy‑bar experience better than most, and the finish is cleaner than many sucralose‑heavy peers. But BarBend’s note about a taffy‑like chew shows up in real‑world reviews too, and texture can vary with storage heat—those fats soften and the crunch can fade.
Redditor AuntySocialite even admitted it tastes so much like a “real” chocolate bar that she’s suspicious of the macros; the label checks out, but that candy‑like sweetness is achieved with sugar alcohols and chicory fiber, which won’t love everyone’s gut.
If your priority is whole‑food ingredients and slow‑burn carbs, this isn’t your bar. If your priority is a legitimately tasty 20‑gram protein hit that feels like dessert, it very much is.
What's the bottom line?
MusclePharm’s Combat Crunch Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is a crowd‑pleaser for people who want their protein to double as a treat. You get 20 grams of quality protein in a bar that’s gluten‑free and widely enjoyed for its candy‑bar build—crisp outside, soft inside—with only 5 grams of sugar. The trade‑offs are clear and honest: engineered sweeteners and fibers that can bother sensitive stomachs, more saturated fat than a nut‑based bar, and a texture that can lean chewy depending on conditions.
Treat it like what it is: a snack‑meal that leans indulgent while still doing right by your macros. Great after a lift, great when you’re dodging the vending machine, less great if you’re FODMAP‑sensitive or chasing minimalist ingredients. Not vegetarian (thanks to gelatin), and not for those avoiding milk, soy, peanut, or almond.
For everyone else, it’s a reliable “protein bar that doesn’t taste like a protein bar,” which explains the loyal following. Condensed listicle pick: A candy‑bar‑tasting, gluten‑free 20‑gram protein bar with a crunchy shell and soft center. Fantastic flavor and macros; watch for sugar‑alcohol GI quirks and a chewier texture in warm conditions.