PROBAR
Cookie Dough
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, gluten-free bar that actually tastes like cookie dough, delivers 20g of soy-based protein, and uses real sugar (no sugar alcohols).
When to choose PROBAR Cookie Dough
Plant-based eaters and sweet-tooth athletes who want dessert-like fuel for pre/post-workouts or a satisfying afternoon pick-me-up—assuming soy works for you.
What's in the PROBAR bar?
PROBAR’s Cookie Dough Protein Bar leans into the comfort of cookie dough—almond butter for that doughy base, chocolate and cocoa for the “chip,” and a mix of cane sugar, tapioca syrup, and a touch of molasses for brown‑sugar notes—while building its strength on soy protein isolate.
It sits toward the top of the category for both protein and carbs, so it eats more like an energy‑forward bar that also delivers a full protein serving. Fats come from cocoa butter, palm kernel and safflower oils, and almonds—there for softness and flavor more than heft—making this a sweet, chewy bar with plant protein at its core.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 33 g
- Sugar
- 15 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
2015HIGHThe muscle of this bar is soy protein isolate—a highly refined but complete plant protein that brings a solid amino acid profile without dairy. It’s responsible for the 20g protein hit and performs well for recovery, even if whey typically edges it on a gram‑for‑gram basis. If you want a vegan, neutral‑tasting protein source, this is a clean, reliable choice among plant isolates.
Fat
79MIDThe 7g of fat comes from a blend: palm kernel oil and cocoa butter (more saturated) paired with safflower oil and almond butter (mostly unsaturated). That mix creates a creamy, cookie‑dough texture without a heavy fat load. Saturates are present but modest per bar; almonds add some vitamin E and heart‑friendly fats.
Carbs
3320HIGHMost carbs come from refined, quick sources—tapioca syrup and cane sugar—with a little molasses and tapioca starch; glycerin adds moisture and mild sweetness. There’s also soluble tapioca fiber (a refined resistant dextrin) that can blunt spikes somewhat, but overall this skews toward fast energy rather than slow‑burn carbs. Expect a sweet lift, softened by the bar’s protein and small amount of fat.
Sugar
154HIGHYou’ll taste real sugar here: tapioca syrup, cane sugar, and a touch of molasses, plus the sugars naturally tied to chocolate. That puts it on the sweeter end for protein bars, with no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols in the mix. Protein, fiber, and fats help steady the ride a bit, but this is classic added‑sugar sweetness rather than fruit‑based sugars.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories, this sits on the higher side for bars, driven mainly by sugars and other digestible carbs, with protein close behind and a smaller share from fats. Think of it as an energy‑forward bar that also supplies a full protein serving. Great before or after training; less ideal if you’re chasing a very light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
The label’s standouts are minerals, not added vitamins: iron around 20% Daily Value and calcium about 10%. Those likely come from soy protein isolate, cocoa, molasses, and almonds. Useful bonuses, but this isn’t a fortified multivitamin bar.
Additives
A handful of functional ingredients keep the bar soft and cohesive—vegetable glycerin (a plant‑derived humectant), soluble tapioca fiber (a refined resistant dextrin), and lecithins from sunflower and soy (emulsifiers). They’re common in bars and used in tiny amounts, though they’re more refined than whole‑food ingredients. If you prefer ultra‑simple labels, note their presence.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cassava starch
Cassava root starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Oil palm fruit
Sugarcane stalks
Cacao beans
Cacao tree seeds
Safflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“ProBar (peanut butter) is delicious and uses only real sugar”
“Also ProBar is outstanding.”
“I love probar!!!!”
Main Praise
Taste leads the applause. Reviewers keep calling PROBAR’s Base bars “candy bar–like,” and Cookie Dough leans into that with a doughy chew and chocolate that feels indulgent without going artificial.
Amazon reviewer Jordan simply called them “like a candy bar,” while long-timer M. Stewart said they’ve had “nothing but good things to say” for years.
The nutrition support is substantial: 20g of complete soy protein without dairy, plus enough carbs to actually move the needle after a workout or on a long day.
Healthline’s Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, praised the line’s rich chocolate flavor and recovery-friendly macros, and The Manual pointed out these bars can stand in as a mini meal when life happens between meetings or miles.
Another quiet win: no sugar alcohols, which many readers prefer over the cooling aftertaste or GI quirks some alternative sweeteners can bring.
Main Criticism
The flip side of that dessert vibe is the sugar load.
Some reviewers balk at the added sugar, with one Amazon shopper saying it’s “entirely too much,” and a Reddit commenter flagging 11 grams as a deal-breaker on their label; this Cookie Dough flavor clocks in at 15 grams total sugar, so it’s on the sweeter end for a protein bar.
Texture splits the room, too: several sources describe the BASE line as dense and occasionally dry, and one Amazon reviewer called out chalkiness and crumbliness in a different flavor. Soy is another fork in the road—great for many, off-limits for some—so the allergen profile (soy and almonds) narrows the audience a bit.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “outstanding, candy-bar good” crowd or the “too sweet and a little dry” camp? Honestly, both.
The macros and ingredients explain the divide.
With 20 grams of soy isolate and 270 calories, this is built to satisfy, and the real-sugar approach (tapioca syrup, cane sugar, a touch of molasses) delivers a classic cookie-dough sweetness instead of the ultra-diet taste of some bars.
That’s exactly what fans love. But it also means a sweeter bite and a higher carb hit than the minimalist, low-sugar bars that Reddit user casipera and others prefer.
Texture-wise, PROBAR tends to run dense; Cookie Dough usually eats softer and doughier than some of its siblings, but “dense” is still part of the personality—great with coffee or water, less great if you’re expecting nougat fluff.
The nutrition label adds helpful minerals (notably iron), which is a nice bonus, yet the headline remains taste, protein, and energy, not minimalism. If you want a barely sweet, super-light bar, you’ll likely shrug; if you want dessert-adjacent fuel that’s vegan and dependable, you’ll probably smile.
What's the bottom line?
PROBAR Base Cookie Dough is a plant-based bar for people who like their fuel to feel fun. It’s sweet, chewy, and generously chocolatey, with 20 grams of complete soy protein and enough carbs to make it a legitimate pre- or post-workout option—or a hold-you-over snack when lunch ran late. The sugars here are classic pantry sugars, not sugar alcohols, so the flavor reads “cookie dough,” not “chemistry set,” and the texture lands on the doughy side of dense.
That same profile sets the guardrails. If you’re avoiding soy or looking for ultra-low sugar, this isn’t your bar.
If you want a vegan, gluten-free option that eats like dessert and actually tides you over, it’s one of the more satisfying picks in the aisle. Call it what it is: a sweet, energy-forward protein bar that trades austerity for enjoyment—and for many, that’s exactly the point.