Pure Protein
Chocolate Mint Cookie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A high protein‑to‑calorie ratio (19g at 180 calories) with only 2g of sugar, achieved through sugar alcohols and an intensely chocolate‑mint profile that many say tastes like dessert—at a budget price.
When to choose Pure Protein Chocolate Mint Cookie
Best for value‑minded gym‑goers and sweet‑tooth snackers who want a cool mint‑chocolate bite with hefty, mostly dairy‑based protein and are fine with sugar alcohols and a bit of sucralose. Not ideal if you avoid milk, soy, peanuts/tree nuts, or you prefer whole‑food ingredient lists.
What's in the Pure Protein bar?
Pure Protein’s Chocolate Mint Cookie bar plays to dairy’s strengths: a milk-and-whey–led blend (with soy protein isolate in support and a bit of collagen for texture) delivers 19g protein—comfortably above average for the category.
Carbs land around the middle at 20g, but most of the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols rather than table sugar, keeping sugars to just 2g. Fat is modest at 4.
5g, which helps hold calories to 180—lighter than many bars. Flavor-wise, cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, and “natural flavor” do the heavy lifting to create that cool chocolate‑mint cookie bite.
- Protein
- 19 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1915MIDProtein comes primarily from a dairy blend—milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate—backed by whey concentrate, calcium caseinate, and milk protein concentrate. Soy protein isolate adds plant-based backup, while hydrolyzed gelatin (collagen) helps texture more than amino‑acid quality. The result is 19g of mostly complete, highly digestible protein with typically low lactose from the isolates—great for muscle repair, though not suitable for milk or soy allergies.
Fat
59LOWMost fat here rides in with fractionated palm kernel/palm oils and cocoa butter from the chocolatey elements, with smaller contributions from canola oil, ground almonds, and a touch of milkfat. Palm‑based fats skew saturated, while canola and nuts bring friendlier unsaturated fats; cocoa butter is saturated but largely stearic acid, which is relatively neutral for LDL. At 4.5g total, the serving’s saturated load stays modest, but this isn’t a nut‑oil‑forward bar.
Carbs
2020MIDThese are engineered carbs more than whole‑food carbs. The bar leans on sugar alcohols (maltitol syrup and maltitol) and glycerin for sweetness and softness, with a little refined tapioca starch and a touch of sugar. Expect a smaller blood‑sugar bump than a sugary candy bar, but not the slow, sustained energy you’d get from oats or dates; sensitive stomachs may notice GI rumbling if multiple bars are eaten close together.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2g of sugar, because sweetness mainly comes from sugar alcohols (made from refined starch) plus a tiny dose of an artificial sweetener (sucralose). That keeps sugars low and blunts spikes versus sucrose, though sugar alcohols still count toward carbs and can bother sensitive guts at higher intakes. There’s a small amount of added sugar and a little natural lactose from the dairy proteins.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, this sits on the lighter side for protein bars. Most calories split between protein and reduced‑calorie sweeteners/starch, with relatively little coming from fat. That balance makes it an easy add after a workout or between meals without crowding your daily calorie budget.
Vitamins & Minerals
You’ll see about 10% Daily Value for both calcium and iron. Calcium is largely from the milk‑derived proteins and added calcium carbonate; iron likely comes from cocoa/chocolate and soy protein isolate. Helpful bonuses, but this isn’t a multivitamin bar.
Additives
This is a classic engineered bar: sugar alcohols (for sweetness and softness), glycerin (moisture), soy lecithin (emulsifier), sucralose (intense sweetener), refined oils (palm fractions and canola) for structure, and calcium carbonate for minerals. The lineup is effective for texture and shelf life, but more processed than bars built around oats, nuts, and fruit.
Ingredient List
Corn or wheat starch
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Bovine, porcine, and fish collagen
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Sugarcane and sugar beet
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Pure protein > Kirkland Signature protein bars. The pure protein bars actually taste like candy bars to me. The Kirkland Signature protein bars have a texture like chewing on soft leather. That's a no for me!”
“I'm eating a lemon cake Pure Protein bar right now and I can attest that it absolutely slaps. It is a flavor that seems like it could get old quick though. Regardless they have a ton of flavors and the consistency of the bar is pleasing to say the least. 20g of protein with 190 calories isn't too bad either.”
“I buy Pure Protein Bars at Costco. They are my favorite. I find the Kirkland Bars to be too chewy. I have not tried the others you have shown here. I also like the Robert Irvin Bars.”
Main Praise
Fans consistently point to value and taste: the bar often gets compared to a candy bar for its chocolate‑mint vibe, and several reviewers call it their affordable, dependable go‑to.
BarBend’s testers even said the line “tastes like dessert,” and Prevention highlighted Pure Protein for feeling surprisingly filling relative to its calories—both points that show up in thousands of Amazon ratings as well.
The macros are a clear draw: 19g of mostly complete protein at 180 calories is a tidy way to cap a workout or bridge a long meeting, without feeling like you just drank a chalky shake.
Many also like the texture for what it is—firm, fudgy, and cohesive rather than sticky taffy—especially compared with chewier competitors. Add the gluten‑free formula and broad availability, and it’s a practical, easy‑to‑find pick.
Main Criticism
Taste is polarizing. For every “candy bar” compliment, there’s a counter of “dense,” “chalky,” or “have to choke it down,” and a few outliers even report odd aromas in certain chocolate flavors.
The sweetness approach—sugar alcohols plus a touch of sucralose—keeps sugars low but doesn’t agree with everyone’s stomach; if you’re sensitive, two bars back‑to‑back can mean rumbling. Ingredient purists won’t love the engineered lineup (maltitol, glycerin, palm‑based oils, soy lecithin), and the bar isn’t vegetarian due to gelatin.
Fiber isn’t a standout either, so you won’t get the slow, oat‑and‑nut kind of fullness here.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the dessert crowd or the detractors? Both, depending on what you value.
If your priority is protein density per calorie and you like mint chocolate, this flavor gives you a strong shot at enjoyment; mint tends to soften the whey/collagen notes that some people detect in plainer chocolates.
If texture is your deal‑breaker, know that it leans fudgy‑dense; Redditors who prefer softer, nougat‑like bars sometimes call it “mid,” while others praise it specifically because it’s not leathery.
The artificial‑sweetener conversation is real: sugar alcohols are starch‑derived sweeteners that provide fewer calories and smaller blood‑sugar bumps, but they’re only partly absorbed—great for macros, not always great for sensitive guts.
As for the occasional “off smell” comments, they’re not universal and may reflect batch variation or how dairy proteins and collagen age; thousands of positive ratings suggest that’s not the norm, but it’s worth noting if you’re picky about aromas.
Bottom line: it’s an engineered bar that delivers on numbers and value, not a farmer’s‑market granola cousin—and that’s either exactly what you want or exactly what you don’t.
What's the bottom line?
Pure Protein’s Chocolate Mint Cookie is a pragmatic win: 19g of mostly dairy‑based protein, 180 calories, and a cool chocolate‑mint flavor that, for many, scratches the dessert itch without the sugar swing. It’s gluten‑free and budget‑friendly, which makes it easy to keep in a gym bag or desk drawer. The trade‑offs are the ones you’d expect from an engineered bar—sugar alcohols, a touch of sucralose, palm‑based oils, and a texture that some call dense—plus a full slate of allergens (milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts) and gelatin, which knocks it out for vegetarians.
If you’re comfortable with those trade‑offs, this is a reliable post‑workout or afternoon snack. Pair it with fruit or a yogurt for fiber and micronutrients, and maybe stick to one at a time if sugar alcohols and your stomach aren’t friends. If you want short‑ingredient‑list, whole‑food bars, look elsewhere; if you want a mint‑chocolate protein hit that keeps calories in check, this one earns its spot.
Condensed listicle blurb: Pure Protein Chocolate Mint Cookie — 19g protein, 180 calories, 2g sugar. Why we like it: dessert‑leaning mint‑chocolate taste with standout protein‑per‑calorie value. What to know: uses sugar alcohols and sucralose; contains milk, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts; texture runs fudgy‑dense.