PowerBar
Vanilla
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A tri-source protein blend (soy + casein + whey) in a dessert-leaning, soft bar that stays relatively low in fat and delivers quick carbs for recovery at a widely accessible price.
When to choose PowerBar Vanilla
Best for post-workout or between-session refueling when you want about 20 grams of protein with fast carbs. Good fit if you prefer a sweeter bar and don’t mind a more formulated ingredient list.
What's in the PowerBar bar?
PowerBar’s Vanilla Protein Bar pairs a dessert-like, creamy vanilla coating with serious protein: a tri‑source blend led by soy protein isolate, with calcium caseinate and whey isolate rounding out the amino acids.
It sits near the top of the pack for protein, stays relatively light on fat, and leans higher on carbs and sugars thanks to its coating and syrups. The vanilla character comes from vanilla/natural flavors layered into that dairy-based coating, while a sugar alcohol helps keep calories in check.
If you want robust protein and fast energy—and don’t mind a more engineered ingredient list—this bar fits the brief.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 27 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHProtein here comes from a tri‑source blend: soy protein isolate leads, backed by calcium caseinate and whey protein isolate. That mix combines a complete plant protein with fast- and slow‑digesting dairy proteins, giving broad amino acid coverage and a texture that holds up in a bar. It lands near the high end for protein while clearly signaling milk and soy allergens.
Fat
59LOWFat is modest and comes from a few places. The creamy coating uses fractionated palm kernel oil—a tropical fat that’s mostly saturated—while the base includes high‑oleic canola oil (mostly heart‑friendly monounsaturated fat) plus small amounts from almonds and peanut flour. Net effect: more saturated fat than an olive‑oil bar, but not much total fat overall.
Carbs
2720HIGHMost carbs are refined rather than from whole-food starches. You get sweetness and structure from cane invert syrup (glucose+fructose), added fructose, sugar in the coating, and a sugar alcohol (maltitol) that provides bulk with fewer calories, plus a bit of chicory‑root oligofructose for fiber. Expect quick energy; the fiber, protein, and polyol can blunt the spike a touch, though some people find maltitol gassy at higher intakes.
Sugar
144HIGHSugar on the label is driven by the vanilla coating’s sucrose, cane invert syrup, added fructose, and a little lactose from whey/milk—more from refined sugars than from fruit. Extra sweetness comes from a sugar alcohol (maltitol), which adds fewer calories than sugar but can bother sensitive stomachs. It’s a decidedly sweet bar, with the dairy coating delivering that dessert-like profile.
Calories
210210MIDCalories sit around the category average, with a big share coming from protein and the sweet coating rather than from oils. Reduced‑calorie maltitol helps keep the total lower than you’d expect for this level of sweetness, which is why the math from macros may not perfectly match the label. In short: protein‑forward, carb‑driven energy with restrained fat.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients here—nothing crosses 10% Daily Value. You get a nudge of calcium from the milk proteins and a little iron from soy and peanut ingredients, but this bar is built for macros, not vitamins.
Additives
This is a formulated bar with purposeful helpers: soy lecithin to keep the coating smooth, maltitol syrup to replace part of the sugar’s bulk and calories, and chicory‑root oligofructose for a touch of fiber and softness. The fractionated palm kernel oil gives the coating snap and shelf stability. If you prefer short, whole‑food ingredient lists, this one will read more engineered.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk casein
Cow's milk whey
Corn or wheat starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey byproduct
Cow's milk
Soybeans
Vanilla orchid seed pods
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
Taste and texture get unusually consistent love for a legacy bar. Amazon reviewers highlight a soft, not-gritty chew and a vanilla flavor that actually tastes like vanilla, while 220 Triathlon called the texture light and the coating dialed in.
The macros are built for sport: solid protein per bar (typically about 20 grams), relatively low fat so it sits light, and carbs that get to work quickly—an approach USA Home Gym praised for pre/post‑workout energy.
It’s also widely available and fairly priced, which matters if you rely on a daily bar instead of an occasional splurge. Several flavors are marketed as gluten-free, a plus for celiac athletes who need something easy to grab.
In short, it hits the convenience–taste–protein triangle better than many bars in its bracket.
Main Criticism
Sweetness is the main sticking point. Multiple reviewers note it runs very sweet, with refined sugars and a sugar alcohol in some flavors (the vanilla version includes maltitol), which can bother sensitive stomachs.
If you prefer short, whole‑food ingredient lists, the coating oils, syrups, and emulsifiers will read more “lab coat” than “pantry. ” Fiber is modest compared with newer high‑fiber competitors, and a few users find certain flavors dry over time or a bit samey.
Older write‑ups even called the coating a bit chemical and the texture taffy‑like—though formulas change and experiences vary by flavor.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—delicious or too sweet? Probably both, depending on when you eat it and what you want from a bar.
Endurance athletes and lifters often like that sweet, quick-hit carb plus protein after a session; that’s precisely what 220 Triathlon and USA Home Gym praised.
Meanwhile, if you’re trying to keep sweetness low or your gut raises an eyebrow at sugar alcohols, Redditor “maltitol is evil” energy will resonate—especially with the vanilla flavor, which includes it.
Texture critiques from Runner’s World in 2003 feel dated, but they underline a fair point: this is not a minimalist, whole‑food bar. It’s a sports-nutrition product designed for performance and shelf stability, which is why it tastes like dessert and travels like gear.
The truth lives in your use case: for training and recovery, it makes sense; for a tidy-ingredient, lightly sweet afternoon nibble, you have cleaner options.
What's the bottom line?
PowerBar ProteinPlus is a classic for a reason. It pairs a smart tri‑protein blend with fast carbs in a soft, dessert‑leaning package, and it’s priced and distributed for real-life training schedules. Most people will find it easy to eat before or after a workout, and many flavors are labeled gluten‑free—a practical win.
Know the trade-offs. The vanilla variant is quite sweet and uses maltitol, which some stomachs don’t love. The ingredient list is more engineered than “kitchen simple,” and fiber sits on the lighter side.
If you want a clean-ingredient, barely sweet bar, look elsewhere. If you want a dependable, widely available, sweet‑tasting recovery bar with about 20 grams of protein that won’t feel heavy, ProteinPlus is an easy add to the gym bag.