PowerBar
Chocolate Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A tri‑source protein blend (soy isolate, casein, whey isolate) for fast‑ and slow‑digesting protein, wrapped in a soft, candy‑bar‑adjacent package that’s easy to find almost anywhere.
When to choose PowerBar Chocolate Peanut Butter
Great for pre‑ or post‑workout when you want 20g of protein with a softer bite and don’t mind a sweeter, more engineered bar. Not ideal if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols or prefer ultra‑short ingredient lists.
What's in the PowerBar bar?
PowerBar’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar leans on a tri‑source protein blend—soy protein isolate, calcium caseinate, and whey protein isolate—to pack 20g of protein (near the top of the category). The flavor is built the classic way: peanut butter and partially defatted peanut flour for roast‑y peanut notes, plus cocoa and a chocolate‑flavored coating.
Carbs skew higher for a protein bar and come from a mix of refined sugars, a sugar alcohol, and chicory‑root fiber, while fats stay modest, split between nut oils and the coating’s palm‑derived fat.
Translation: big protein, a noticeable sweetness, and a more “engineered” ingredient list that trades minimalism for texture and shelf stability.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHA tri‑source blend—soy protein isolate, calcium caseinate, and whey protein isolate—delivers 20g of protein, which is high for the category. Whey and casein (dairy) bring top‑tier amino acid quality with fast‑ and slow‑digesting fractions, while soy isolate adds a solid plant protein and helps with texture. Lactose is typically low in isolates, but milk proteins make this unsuitable for dairy‑free diets.
Fat
69LOWAt 6g, fat is on the lower side and comes from two places: peanuts/almonds and peanut oil (mostly unsaturated) and the coating’s fractionated palm kernel oil (a saturated, processed fat that keeps the coating firm and shelf‑stable). Net effect: mostly modest fat with a mix of heart‑friendlier nut fats and some saturated fat from the coating.
Carbs
2520HIGHThe 25g of carbs are driven by refined sweeteners—cane invert syrup (split sucrose), fructose, and sugar in the chocolate coating—plus maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and oligofructose from chicory root. That mix leans toward quick energy; protein, fat, and the added fiber help temper the rise, but expect a sweeter, faster burn than oats or sweet potato would provide. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, maltitol can cause GI discomfort at higher intakes.
Sugar
124HIGHWith 12g of sugar, this bar is on the sweeter end for protein bars, primarily from cane invert syrup, fructose, and the sugar in the chocolate coating, with a little lactose from dairy. Sweetness is further boosted by maltitol, a reduced‑calorie sugar alcohol, so the ‘sugars’ figure understates how sweet it tastes. If you prefer fruit‑sweetened bars, this one leans more refined.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, it sits mid‑pack. Most calories come from protein and carbohydrates; using maltitol and chicory fiber keeps the total lower than if all the sweetness were regular sugar. With only 6g of fat, this eats lighter, though it may feel less rich than higher‑fat nut‑based bars.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients—nothing exceeds 10% DV. You’ll get a small bump of calcium (about 8% DV) from the milk proteins and a touch of iron likely from soy and cocoa, but this isn’t a vitamin‑focused bar.
Additives
This is a deliberately engineered recipe: a chocolate‑flavored coating stabilized with fractionated palm kernel oil and soy lecithin, sweetness from a blend of refined sugars and maltitol, and body from chicory‑root fiber. Those choices keep texture soft and shelf life long, but they also mean a more processed ingredient list. Sensitive stomach? The sugar alcohol + added fiber combo can be the wildcard.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Corn or wheat starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Cacao tree seeds
Cow's milk whey byproduct
Cow's milk
Soybeans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“PowerBar's Pure Protein Plus was my favorite protein bar until they vanished.”
“PowerBar Protein Plus. They're gluten free (I have celiac), but the macros alright, they're affordable, and they're ubiquitous.”
“I love the power bar vanilla protein bar but it is so hard to find unless I want to just order a whole box.”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for three things: protein, texture, and reliability. The 20g of protein from soy, casein, and whey checks the recovery box for many lifters and endurance athletes who like a mix of fast and slow digestion.
A lot of reviewers call out the softness—more nougat‑y than taffy—so it’s easier to eat on the go than the jaw‑workout bars of yesteryear. Taste gets surprisingly warm marks, especially for classic flavors; even publications like 220 Triathlon praised the light, fluffy feel and approachable sweetness (while noting it runs sweet).
It also wins points for being gluten‑free and widely available, which matters when you need “good enough” nutrition in a pinch and don’t want a scavenger hunt. Add in that it’s often seen as budget‑friendly, and you get a dependable, gym‑bag‑friendly choice that doesn’t require a special trip.
Main Criticism
The sweetness won’t be for everyone, and some people find the coating tastes a bit artificial. A few critics describe the texture as dry or taffy‑like; that discrepancy likely comes down to batch, flavor, or expectations.
The ingredient list is intentionally engineered—think a chocolate coating, refined sweeteners, chicory‑root fiber, and maltitol (a sugar alcohol)—so minimal‑ingredient purists will balk. Maltitol in particular can cause GI grumbles for sensitive stomachs, especially if you’re also getting it from other foods that day.
And while 12g of sugar isn’t excessive for a dessert, this bar will taste sweeter than fruit‑sweetened options and won’t feel as “whole‑food” as nut‑and‑date bars.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—deliciously fluffy or oddly artificial? The truth is somewhere in the middle and depends on your palate and your stomach.
If you like a softer, candy‑bar‑style protein bar, this one delivers that experience with a legit 20g of protein. If you’re chasing “short‑list” ingredients, the fractionated palm oil, chicory fiber, and maltitol will read like a red flag.
One Redditor called maltitol “evil”—we wouldn’t go that far, but it can cause discomfort for some, so it’s worth testing tolerance. Older takes about a heavy, chemical‑tasting coating likely reflect earlier formulations or different flavors; more recent reviews lean kinder on texture while still flagging the sweetness.
And quick fact‑check for anyone who swears it has no sugar alcohols: the label lists maltitol. Bottom line: it’s a deliberately built bar with trade‑offs—excellent protein delivery and convenience in exchange for a sweeter, more processed profile.
What's the bottom line?
PowerBar ProteinPlus Chocolate Peanut Butter is the classic gym‑bag move for people who want a soft, sweet bar with real protein heft. The tri‑source blend is a smart play for training windows, the 210 calories won’t sink a light lunch, and the gluten‑free, vegetarian formula suits a lot of diets (just not dairy‑free or nut‑free). If your goal is a dessert‑leaning protein fix you can find almost anywhere, this fits neatly.
If you prefer simple ingredients or have a touchy gut around sugar alcohols, it’s probably not your match. Condensed listicle take: Soft, candy‑bar‑style 20g protein bar with a tri‑blend (soy/casein/whey) and a very sweet chocolate‑peanut‑butter profile. Gluten‑free and easy to find, but contains maltitol and reads more engineered—best for pre/post workout, not for sugar‑alcohol‑sensitive or ultra‑clean eaters.