Power Crunch
French Vanilla Crème
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true wafer‑cookie protein bar with a hydrolyzed whey blend—light, crispy, and fast‑digesting—rather than the dense, chewy format of most bars. It’s confection‑leaning: lower carbs, higher fat, and very low fiber.
When to choose Power Crunch French Vanilla Crème
Choose it when you want a sweet, crisp snack that won’t sit heavy—post‑workout when dense bars sound unappealing, or as a “dessert‑with‑benefits” after lunch. Skip if you avoid artificial sweeteners, need gluten‑free, or don’t do dairy.
What's in the Power Crunch bar?
Power Crunch’s French Vanilla Crème is a wafer‑style protein bar built around the brand’s Proto Whey blend—hydrolyzed whey peptides plus whey and milk protein isolates—for 14 grams of fast‑digesting, complete dairy protein.
The macro story is unusual for a bar: lower carbs than most (driven by wafer flour rather than oats or fruit), higher fat (from palm, palm kernel, and canola oils), and moderate calories.
Sweetness comes from a small amount of sugar and fructose, then is finished with tiny doses of sucralose (a zero‑calorie artificial sweetener) and stevia extract (a purified plant sweetener). The “French vanilla crème” character leans on natural flavors and the creamy oil‑based filling rather than vanilla bean.
Ahead, we’ll unpack what each macro is made of—and what that means for energy, fullness, and everyday use.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 11 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 220
Protein
1415MIDProtein here comes from a Proto Whey blend: hydrolyzed whey ‘micro‑peptides’ and whey isolate (both fast‑digesting, low in lactose) plus milk protein isolate for a casein‑and‑whey mix. You get complete, highly digestible amino acids with a middle‑of‑the‑pack 14g per bar—solid for recovery or a snack. Dairy‑sensitive readers should note it’s milk‑based and low‑lactose, not lactose‑free.
Fat
139HIGHMost of the 13g of fat come from palm and palm kernel oils that give the crème its structure and wafer its snap, with canola oil adding softer, unsaturated fats. That mix skews more saturated than nut‑based bars, which helps texture and shelf life but isn’t the most heart‑friendly profile. If you’re watching saturated fat, this is one to enjoy in moderation.
Carbs
1120LOWThe 11g of carbs are driven by refined grains in the wafer (enriched wheat flour with a touch of malted barley) plus small amounts of sugar and fructose. Think quick, accessible energy rather than the slow burn you’d get from oats or fruit; the bar’s higher fat and protein will blunt the spike compared with a cookie, but fiber is minimal. Net takeaway: more “treat‑like” carbs than whole‑food carbs.
Sugar
54MIDSugar lands at 5g from refined sugar and fructose, while most of the sweetness is carried by sucralose (a zero‑calorie artificial sweetener) and stevia extract (a high‑purity, zero‑calorie sweetener from stevia leaves). So the bar tastes sweet with modest sugar, but the sweetness comes from highly processed additives rather than fruit. If you avoid non‑nutritive sweeteners, note their presence here.
Calories
220210MIDAt 220 calories, it sits slightly above the bar average, with most calories coming from fat, then protein, then carbs. That fat‑forward ratio suits low‑carb preferences without being keto, and explains the creamy mouthfeel. Practically, it eats like a substantial snack rather than a light bite.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients: nothing tops 10% Daily Value. The small calcium bump (about 4% DV) likely comes from the dairy proteins, and a trace of iron and B‑vitamins rides along with enriched flour—useful, but not enough to rely on for vitamins.
Additives
This is a more engineered bar: emulsifiers (soy lecithin) stabilize the crème, leavening agents (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate) aerate the wafer, and high‑intensity sweeteners (sucralose and stevia) deliver sweetness without much sugar. These are common, tightly dosed ingredients in snack foods, but they’re a step away from a short, whole‑food ingredient list. Choose it for taste and texture; don’t expect a minimalist label.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk cheese whey
Cow's milk whey
Skim cow milk
Oil palm fruit
Wheat grain endosperm
Sprouted barley grain
Petrochemical-derived pyridine synthesis
Mineral salts from elemental iron
Synthetic vitamin B1 salt
Microbial fermentation or chemical synthesis
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Power Crunch bars. There are a ton of flavors and they don't have that gross chemical taste like a lot of protein bars (Quest, FitCrunch).”
“Powercrunches SLAP, I have a dedicated shelf of them in my fridge 🥹”
“power crunch is amazing, especially the strawberry =]”
Main Praise
Fans rally around two things: taste and texture. The vanilla reads clean and nostalgic—more cream‑filled wafer than chalky shake—and the bar breaks with a satisfying snap instead of the usual tire‑tread chew.
Editors at SELF and Verywell Fit highlight the lack of chalk and the craveable crunch, while Amazon parents say kids treat it like a cookie (handy when protein is a battle).
The macro balance is snack‑friendly: 14g of complete dairy protein with fewer carbs than many chewy bars, so it feels light rather than syrupy. Value comes up often too; it’s widely regarded as one of the better‑tasting options at an accessible price.
And unlike high‑fiber bars, there’s no gummy texture to fight through.
Main Criticism
Not everyone loves the sweet finish. If you’re sensitive to sucralose or stevia, the aftertaste can overshadow the vanilla—several Amazon and Reddit comments land squarely there.
The wafer can be crumbly and messy; eat it over a napkin or you’ll wear it. Nutrition‑wise, the fat skew is mostly from palm and palm kernel oils, so you’re getting more saturated fat than you would from a nut‑based bar.
Fiber is negligible, meaning this won’t keep you full like an oat‑or‑nut bar might. Finally, it’s milk‑based and contains wheat and soy; if you’re lactose intolerant or avoid dairy, this likely won’t sit well.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where both camps have a point. If you crave a bar that actually tastes good, this delivers in a way most dense, high‑fiber blocks don’t—the wafer and crème are the whole show.
But that same confectionery build explains the trade‑offs: 13g of fat, much of it saturated for structure and that melt, and a sweetness profile that some palates read as “artificial. ” One Amazon reviewer called it “pure fat,” which isn’t quite fair—about half the calories come from fat, not all—but the perception makes sense because the filling is rich.
BarBend’s tip to eat it slowly is smart; the protein can “build” on the tongue and those delicate layers shed crumbs if you rush. If you want a minimalist, whole‑food ingredient list or serious fiber, you’ll be happier elsewhere.
If you’re sweetener‑averse, you’ll notice it; if you’re not, you’ll likely just taste vanilla and wonder why other bars can’t be this pleasant.
What's the bottom line?
Power Crunch French Vanilla Crème is a protein‑forward wafer cookie: 14g of quick‑digesting whey in a crisp, creamy package most people actually enjoy eating. Think of it as a strategic treat—light, sweet, and satisfying—rather than a meal replacement or a “clean‑eating” badge. The nutrition leans fat‑forward and fiber‑light, so pair it with fruit or yogurt if you want staying power or a bit more nutrition density.
Buy it if texture and taste usually sink your bar habit; this one flips that script. Pass if you avoid artificial sweeteners, need gluten‑free, or don’t do dairy. moments when willpower—and a chalky brick—just won’t cut it.
Listicle blurb: Crisp wafer, creamy vanilla, 14g whey protein, 220 calories. Tastes like a cookie, eats like a snack; lower carbs, higher fat, very low fiber.
Best for a sweet, light post‑workout or afternoon pick‑me‑up. Contains milk, wheat, and soy; sweetened with sucralose/stevia.