PhD Nutrition
Milk Choc Hazelnut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar format—milk chocolate and caramel—wrapped around a four‑way protein blend (casein, whey, soy, and collagen) that keeps sugar very low while delivering a serious protein hit. Hazelnut flavor without actual nuts on the label.
When to choose PhD Nutrition Milk Choc Hazelnut
Reach for it when you want a sweet, filling post‑workout top‑up or an afternoon hold‑you‑over snack and you’re fine with sugar alcohols. Skip it if you prefer minimally processed carbs or have a sensitive gut.
What's in the PhD Nutrition bar?
PhD Nutrition’s Milk Choc Hazelnut Protein Bar reads like a dessert but lifts like a gym buddy: a milk‑chocolate coating and caramel layer wrapped around a four‑way protein blend of calcium caseinate, whey concentrate, bovine collagen peptides, and soy isolate.
That mix pushes protein into top‑tier territory for bars while keeping measured sugar low by leaning on sugar alcohols (mostly maltitol), glycerol, and isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) for sweetness and chew.
Calories land on the higher side, driven by cocoa butter and canola oil plus those carbohydrate binders; and a heads‑up—the hazelnut character comes from flavorings, not actual nuts on the label.
- Protein
- 22 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 245
Protein
2215HIGHThe 22 grams of protein come from a blend of dairy (calcium caseinate and whey), bovine collagen peptides, and soy protein isolate. Dairy and soy are complete and highly digestible, while collagen is incomplete on its own—so pairing it with casein/whey/soy helps cover the essential amino acids. Net effect: a high protein payload with a mixed source profile that prioritizes function and texture.
Fat
99MIDMost fat comes from cocoa butter in the milk chocolate and rapeseed (canola) oil, with smaller contributions from dairy ingredients. Cocoa butter tilts saturated (largely stearic acid, which is relatively neutral for LDL), while canola brings predominantly unsaturated fats, so the 8.5 grams land in a balanced, mid‑range zone. Here, fat is doing flavor and chocolate‑texture work more than piling on excess.
Carbs
2220MIDThese carbs are built from refined sweeteners and binders rather than oats or fruit: maltitol in the chocolate and caramel, glycerol to keep things soft, IMO for bulk, plus a little tapioca starch and some lactose/sugar from condensed milk. They generally blunt sharp blood‑sugar spikes compared with table sugar, but still contribute calories and, for some, can cause bloating at higher intakes. Expect steady, confection‑style energy rather than the slow burn of whole‑grain carbs.
Sugar
24MIDSugar stays low (1.9 grams) because sweetness relies mostly on sugar alcohols—chiefly maltitol—along with a little glycerol and IMO for bulk and texture. The residual sugar comes from condensed milk in the caramel and milk solids in the coating. Low sugar doesn’t mean sugar‑free: polyols still count toward carbs and may bother sensitive stomachs if you have more than one serving.
Calories
245210HIGHAt 245 calories, it’s on the higher end for bars, with energy coming fairly evenly from protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Sugar alcohols and IMO trim sugar but don’t erase calories, and cocoa butter/canola add satisfying richness. As a snack it’s substantial; as a light meal stand‑in, the protein plus modest fat can hold you for a while.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamin or mineral fortification here. You’ll pick up small, incidental amounts of calcium and B vitamins from the milk ingredients and a touch of minerals like magnesium from cocoa, but nothing that reliably clears 10% of daily value. Think protein and taste first; micronutrients are incidental.
Additives
This is a deliberately engineered bar: sugar alcohols (maltitol) supply sweetness without much sugar, glycerol keeps it moist, soy lecithin helps the chocolate layer behave, and IMO binds it all together. These are highly refined tools for texture and lower‑sugar sweetness. If you prefer minimally processed carbs, it may feel busy; if you want a candy‑bar experience with more protein and less sugar, it fits the brief.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Soybeans
Vegetable oils and animal fats
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
Across reviews, the Smart Bar wins consistent applause for taste and variety. Several Amazon reviewers call it one of the best‑tasting protein bars they’ve tried, with a true chocolate experience rather than the usual chalk.
Fitness outlets echo that it delivers meaningful protein for recovery while keeping sweetness in check, making it a reliable everyday choice rather than a once‑in‑a‑while splurge. Redditors also point to the broader Smart range—even plant versions—so there’s a flavor or format for most routines.
The 22 grams of protein per bar is substantial, and the blend of dairy and soy proteins does the heavy lifting for satiety and muscle repair. When discounted or bought in bulk, some reviewers say the value feels strong for what tastes like a confection with sports‑nutrition numbers.
Main Criticism
The biggest knock is gastrointestinal: high amounts of maltitol and other sugar alcohols can upset sensitive stomachs, especially if you have more than one. Texture is another divider—some flavors read a bit chewy or slightly gritty, which a few reviewers noticed alongside cocoa nibs or the caramel layer.
Taste isn’t universally loved either; a couple of Reddit users called specific flavors “rank,” a reminder that candy‑bar style doesn’t guarantee universal appeal. Compared with ultra‑lean bars, carbs and fats sit a touch higher, so it’s not the lightest macro profile out there.
And if you’re chasing the fastest, cheapest post‑workout protein, a whey shake still beats any bar on convenience and cost per serving.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the people calling it the best bar going, or the ones who couldn’t finish a Toffee Popcorn? Both can be true.
If you want a candy‑bar experience with real protein, low sugar, and you tolerate sugar alcohols, the Smart Bar nails that brief, which is why outlets like Men’s Fitness and Coach give it a nod for everyday recovery.
If you’re polyol‑sensitive or prefer oats, dates, and nuts to do the binding and sweetening, this engineered approach will feel fussy—and your stomach may provide editorial feedback. Reddit’s warning to “don’t eat more than one a day” is less drama and more practical GI management.
And while some flavors split opinion, Milk Choc Hazelnut sits near the safer end of the spectrum: classic chocolate‑caramel flavor, hazelnut by way of aroma rather than whole nuts. The truth is that it’s a confection‑leaning protein bar by design; judge it against that purpose, and it shines.
What's the bottom line?
9 grams of sugar. You’re trading minimally processed carbs for engineered sweetness—mostly maltitol and friends—which keeps sugar low but can bother sensitive guts. The protein blend is thoughtful, the satiety is real, and the flavor is one many people genuinely enjoy.
If you like the idea of a candy bar that earns its place in a gym bag, this is an easy yes for post‑workout or a late‑afternoon save. If you’d rather keep ingredients closer to the farm than the lab, or sugar alcohols don’t love you back, there are better fits. Check the label if you avoid dairy or soy, note that the hazelnut is flavoring rather than whole nuts, and—seriously—start with one bar before you consider a second.