PhD Nutrition
Dark Choc Raspberry
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A confectionery-style protein bar—real dark chocolate and raspberry caramel—wrapped around a high-protein milk-based core with just 1.3g sugar. Few bars feel this much like dessert while delivering 21g of protein.
When to choose PhD Nutrition Dark Choc Raspberry
Reach for it when you want a post‑workout treat or a 3 p. m.
dessert‑ish snack that actually advances your protein goals. Best for people who tolerate sugar alcohols and don’t need a vegetarian/vegan option.
What's in the PhD Nutrition bar?
PhD Nutrition’s Protein Bar in Dark Choc Raspberry is a high‑protein, low‑sugar confection with a serious dairy backbone.
Its 21g of protein comes chiefly from milk proteins (calcium caseinate and whey), with soy isolate and a little bovine collagen for texture—hence the strong showing on protein (93rd percentile) and that satisfyingly chewy bite.
Sugar stays low (1. 3g) because sweetness leans on sugar alcohols and starch‑derived binders rather than fruit or cane sugar, while carbs sit mid‑pack at 22g.
Fat is moderate (9. 2g) and driven by cocoa butter with a touch of sunflower oil, delivering the glossy snap and melt of real dark chocolate.
Flavor-wise, the dark chocolate couverture (55% cocoa solids) and a raspberry‑flavor caramel do the heavy lifting, with beetroot and berry‑type pigments (anthocyanins) giving that ruby ripple.
- Protein
- 21 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 251
Protein
2115HIGHMost of the 21g of protein is from milk proteins—calcium caseinate and whey concentrate—rounded out by soy protein isolate and a small hit of bovine collagen. Whey and casein are complete and highly digestible, soy is complete but a notch lower on amino‑acid quality, and collagen is incomplete, so not every gram is equally ‘muscle‑ready.’ Net effect: a high‑protein bar built on reputable dairy proteins, with plant and collagen added for structure and chew.
Fat
99MIDThe 9.2g of fat comes mainly from cocoa butter in the dark‑chocolate coating and caramel, plus a smaller contribution from refined sunflower oil and a little dairy fat. Cocoa butter is rich in stearic and oleic acids, giving a clean melt; sunflower oil adds mostly unsaturated fat, though it’s typically higher in omega‑6 unless a high‑oleic variety is used. Overall, it’s a moderate fat load that supports texture and satiety without veering into heavy grease.
Carbs
2220MIDThese 22g of carbs are built more from confectionery ingredients than whole grains or fruit: sugar alcohols (primarily maltitol), a tapioca‑derived binder called isomaltooligosaccharide, glycerol for softness, a little tapioca starch, and a touch of condensed milk in the caramel. Compared with straight sugar, this mix tends to soften blood‑sugar spikes, though many IMOs digest much like regular carbs and sugar alcohols can bother sensitive stomachs at larger servings. Expect steadier energy helped by the bar’s protein and fat rather than a quick‑sugar surge.
Sugar
14MIDOnly 1.3g of sugar appears on the label because sweetness is coming from sugar alcohols and starch‑derived ingredients rather than fruit or cane sugar. Sugar alcohols like maltitol and the humectant glycerol provide bulked sweetness with fewer calories and a gentler rise in blood sugar, while the tapioca‑based syrup (IMO) often behaves like digestible carbohydrate despite the ‘fiber‑like’ name. It’s a smart way to keep sugar low, though polyols can cause GI upset for some people if eaten in big portions.
Calories
251210HIGHAt 251 calories (on the higher side for bars), the energy is fairly evenly split across protein, carbs, and fat. The chocolate layers and bulking sweeteners make it more snack‑meal than light nibble. That can be a plus post‑workout or for long gaps between meals.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals are listed above 10% of daily value here. You may get small amounts of calcium from the milk proteins and trace iron/magnesium from the cocoa, but this bar is built for macros, not micronutrients.
Additives
This is a confectionery‑style build, so you’ll see functional helpers: emulsifiers (soy lecithin) to keep chocolate silky, humectants (glycerol) for softness, and sugar‑reduced sweeteners (maltitol, IMO) for chew and stability. They’re highly refined tools that deliver low‑sugar sweetness and shelf life, at the cost of being more processed than whole‑food binders. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, consider how this fits with the rest of your day.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk
Cow's milk whey
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Defatted soybean flakes
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Soybeans
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Sugarcane and sugar beet
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Smart PhD bars are fantastic and the one I ate in the video. Comes in a variety of different flavours. You can also get these in plant / vegan editions.”
“I loved the mini phd smart blondie bars for a season, they were so so good.”
“PhD smart plant is my go to if I want something more filling, 21g of protein and definitely satisfies the hunger craving”
Main Praise
Fans call out two big wins: taste and protein. Multiple reviewers—from casual snackers to fitness writers—praise Smart Bar’s chocolatey, not-too-sweet profile and the way it satisfies a craving without the syrupy sugar hit.
At roughly 21g of protein, it sits on the high end for bars and uses well-regarded dairy proteins (whey and casein) for a complete amino acid profile. People also like that it feels substantial—more snack‑meal than airy nibble—so it can bridge a long afternoon or serve as an easy post‑workout top‑up.
Add in the broad flavor lineup (with plant-based versions available in the broader range), and there’s plenty of choice if Dark Choc Raspberry isn’t your thing.
Main Criticism
The most consistent knock is the sweetening strategy: lots of polyols (like maltitol) and starch-derived binders. Sensitive stomachs may notice gassiness or urgency, especially if you have more than one in a day.
Texture is another point of debate; some love the satisfying chew and cocoa crunch, while others call certain flavors gritty or overly dense.
Taste isn’t universal either—one Redditor flat-out called a flavor “disgusting,” and another said a Toffee Popcorn variant was “rank,” which is a reminder that Smart Bar’s restrained sweetness won’t scratch every sweet-tooth itch.
Finally, at around 251 calories with mid‑pack carbs and moderate fat, this isn’t a featherweight bar.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land between “fantastic” and “disgusting”? Likely somewhere between your taste buds and your stomach.
If you like darker chocolate and a tart berry note, the Dark Choc Raspberry combo reads grown‑up and satisfying; if you want a candy-bar sugar rush, Coach’s take—“not the bar to reach for when you want to satisfy a serious sweet craving”—tracks.
The macros back up its utility: 21g protein is legit for recovery or staying power, though at 251 calories and 22g carbs, it’s more everyday snack-meal than keto darling. A few Reddit threads rave about PhD’s lower‑carb variants, but net-carb math varies wildly with sugar alcohols, so consider your own tolerance rather than the label math gymnastics.
Men’s Fitness UK flags the polyol caveat, and that’s the real pivot point: if maltitol sits well with you, the low‑sugar sweetness is a win; if not, pace yourself or pick a different build.
And while shakes still win for instant post‑workout efficiency, this bar wins for the post‑gym walk home when you want something you can actually chew.
What's the bottom line?
PhD Smart Bar (Dark Choc Raspberry) is a dessert‑leaning protein bar that mostly earns the “smart” label. It delivers high‑quality dairy protein in a candy‑adjacent format, checks sugar without going saccharine, and offers a texture that feels like a treat, not a compromise. The trade‑offs are clear and fair: processed sweeteners, a notably chewy bite, and taste that skews toward dark‑chocolate subtlety rather than kid‑candy fireworks.
If you tolerate sugar alcohols and want a protein bar that feels like a real snack, this is an easy yes. If your gut says no to polyols—or you’re vegetarian or vegan, since this flavor includes bovine collagen—the broader PhD line or a whole‑food bar might suit you better. Start with one, maybe half if you’re new to sugar alcohols, and let your palate (and your digestion) cast the deciding vote.
3g sugar. Great as a post‑workout or afternoon snack if you handle sugar alcohols; chewy, not ultra‑sweet, and more snack‑meal than light bite. Not suitable for vegetarians/vegans due to collagen.