Optimum Nutrition
Chocolate Sweet Coconut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar experience—milk chocolate, 12% grated coconut, marshmallow‑soft bite—with a legitimate 18 grams of complete protein from milk and soy.
When to choose Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Sweet Coconut
Coconut‑and‑chocolate fans who want a dessert‑leaning protein boost after training or as a morale‑saving afternoon snack. Less ideal if you avoid soy, added sugars, sugar alcohols, or collagen.
What's in the Optimum Nutrition bar?
Optimum Nutrition’s Chocolate Sweet Coconut feels like a meeting point between a protein bar and a candy bar. The protein comes from a blend of dairy protein and soy protein isolate, with a bit of hydrolysed collagen folded in.
Carbs lean confectionery—table sugar and glucose syrup from the milk-chocolate coating—tempered slightly by low‑glycemic humectants that keep the bar soft. Fat arrives mainly from cocoa butter and a generous 12% grated coconut, giving that truffle‑like texture alongside more saturated fat than a nut‑based bar.
Net‑net: you get an above‑average 18 grams of protein, but also higher‑end sugar, fat, and calories—a chocolate‑coconut treat that also brings real protein.
- Protein
- 18 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 255
Protein
1815MIDThe 18 grams of protein come from a mix of dairy protein and soy protein isolate, with a supporting role from hydrolysed collagen. Dairy protein is a high‑quality, complete protein; soy is also complete and solidly digestible, while collagen boosts grams but is incomplete on its own. Translation: good overall protein quality, but not the same as 18 grams purely from milk or whey.
Fat
129HIGHMost of the 12 grams of fat come from cocoa butter in the milk chocolate and the 12% grated coconut. That means a saturated‑leaning profile (stearic from cocoa butter, lauric from coconut) with some oleic mixed in—more dessert‑like than olive‑oil‑light. The higher fat helps slow sugar absorption and adds lush texture, while nudging calories up.
Carbs
1920MIDCarbs here are mostly refined: table sugar and glucose syrup supply quick energy in the coating and filling, with some lactose from the dairy ingredients. A smaller share comes from sugar alcohols (sorbitol syrup) and glycerol, which add sweetness and keep the bar soft while hitting blood sugar less sharply. Expect fast, candy‑like energy softened a bit by the bar’s fat and protein—not the slow burn you’d get from oats or legumes.
Sugar
124HIGHThe 12 grams of sugar come mainly from table sugar in the milk chocolate and sugar syrup, plus a little natural lactose from milk ingredients. There are no intense artificial sweeteners; instead, sweetness is rounded out by sugar alcohols (sorbitol) and glycerol—both highly refined, lower‑glycemic sweeteners that can bother sensitive stomachs in larger amounts. The sweetness profile is decidedly confectionery rather than fruit‑forward.
Calories
255210HIGHAt 255 calories, this is a substantial snack. A sizable portion of those calories comes from cocoa‑and‑coconut fats and the added sugars, with protein contributing roughly a third. Think chocolate‑coconut confection first, protein boost second.
Vitamins & Minerals
No added vitamin blend is present, and there aren’t standout micronutrients over 10% Daily Value. Expect small contributions of calcium and riboflavin from the milk ingredients and a touch of magnesium from cocoa—helpful, but not headline‑worthy.
Additives
To keep the bar chewy and shelf‑stable, it uses humectants (sorbitol syrup and glycerol) for moisture, soy lecithin to keep chocolate smooth, and tiny amounts of phosphoric acid and potassium sorbate for pH control and mold prevention. These are common, highly refined processing aids across snack bars. If you prefer pantry‑only ingredients, this skews more toward confectionery technology.
Ingredient List
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Cocoa beans
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Cow's milk whey
Soybeans
Cow's milk
Glucose syrup from corn starch
Vegetable oils and animal fats
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“First time trying this one, and it’s become a favorite already! I love the new granola/puff type of protein bar! It’s so much different than the classic soft and chewy chocolate ones! I can definitely recommend this! Macros are on the last picture! I also are yet to try their Marshmallow White Chocolate and Nutty Caramel! 🤤🤤🤤”
“Just had the marshmallow crunch and it was excellent. Very different from most bars I've tried. Similar to fitness bars.”
“- Optimum Nutrition Marshmallow crunch. Tastes extactly like a marshmallow rice crispy bar with some white chocolate.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the applause. Reviewers consistently highlight Optimum’s unusually soft, marshmallow‑like bite—the kind you sink your teeth into without the usual dense chew.
Runner’s World UK singles out this exact flavor for Bounty lovers, which tracks with the 12% real coconut and creamy milk‑chocolate coating. Across the ON lineup, Redditors also note how the brand plays with lighter, crisp or puff elements that make the bars feel more like treats than chores.
Given all that, getting 18 grams of protein from milk and soy in something that eats like a candy bar is a genuine win for people who prioritize enjoyment and adherence over austere ingredient lists.
Main Criticism
Flavor intensity can be hit‑or‑miss: independent reviewers have said ON’s coatings and layers sometimes taste milder than their names suggest, and not everyone adores chocolate‑coconut to begin with. The sweetness here is confectionery—12 grams of sugar plus refined sweeteners—so it’s not built for strict low‑sugar plans.
A few consumers report stomach grumbles with ON bars more broadly, likely from sugar alcohols like sorbitol used to keep the texture soft; if you’re sensitive, that’s worth noting. Finally, hydrolysed collagen helps bump the protein count but makes the bar unsuitable for vegetarians, and soy and dairy are baked into the formula.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth settle? Somewhere between “treat with benefits” and “solid post‑workout reward.
” Stack3d’s love letter to the pillowy consistency squares with what you taste here; this is a far cry from the brick‑like bars of old. But the same review slate notes milder flavor intensity, and Runner’s World flags the obvious: if coconut isn’t your thing, keep moving.
On Reddit, one keto‑leaning commenter celebrated 5 grams of net carbs in an ON bar—but that’s a different variant; this Chocolate Sweet Coconut version lands at 19 grams of carbs and 12 grams of sugar, so it’s not designed for ketosis.
And yes, the humectants that make the texture so pleasant can annoy sensitive stomachs; some folks sail through, others don’t. Net‑net: ON aimed for joy in the bite and got it, with the honest trade‑offs of added sugar, refined sweeteners, and a not‑vegetarian protein blend.
What's the bottom line?
Optimum Nutrition’s Chocolate Sweet Coconut is for the person who wants their protein with a wink. It tastes like a Bounty‑adjacent candy bar, delivers 18 grams of complete protein, and avoids the chalky chew that turns so many people off bars altogether. At 255 calories with confectionery‑style sweetness, it’s best slotted as a dessert‑leaning snack or post‑workout treat rather than a daily staple if you’re chasing minimal ingredients.
If you love coconut and value pleasure alongside protein, you’ll likely be delighted. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, need vegetarian‑only protein, or want a low‑sugar, pantry‑simple formula, this isn’t your match. But judged on what it sets out to do—make protein feel like a treat—it sticks the landing.