Pure Protein
Chocolate Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A budget-friendly, candy-bar-style protein bar that delivers about 20g of whey-led protein at roughly 200 calories with only 2g of sugar.
When to choose Pure Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter
Best for a quick post-workout hit or a sweet-tooth swap when you want meaningful protein without turning to a full shake—so long as you’re fine with sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.
What's in the Pure Protein bar?
Pure Protein’s Chocolate Peanut Butter bar is unapologetically whey‑forward, engineered to deliver a big protein punch while keeping sugars low.
The chocolate comes from cocoa processed with alkali for a smooth, less-bitter profile, and the peanut note is real—peanuts, peanut flour, and a dab of almond butter supply the nutty backbone.
Behind the scenes, sweetness leans on sugar alcohols and a pinch of sucralose rather than fruit sugars, and the texture is propped up by moisture‑holding syrups and a little palm‑based fat.
The result: a high‑protein, lower‑sugar snack that tastes like a treat, built more from refined ingredients than pantry staples.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 17 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20g of protein comes from dairy: whey protein concentrate and isolate plus milk protein isolate—complete, highly digestible proteins that deliver a strong amino acid profile. There’s also soy protein isolate and some hydrolyzed collagen; soy adds plant protein, while collagen helps texture but isn’t a complete protein by itself. Together, it’s a whey‑led blend that skews high quality and fast‑acting, with milk proteins adding a steadier trickle.
Fat
79MIDFat here is a mix of nut‑derived and refined sources. Peanuts, peanut oil, and a touch of almond butter bring mostly unsaturated fats, while fractionated palm kernel oil contributes saturated fat that keeps coatings firm and stable at room temperature. At 7g, the total is on the lighter side for bars—good if you want something less heavy—though those limiting saturated fat may want to note the palm kernel oil.
Carbs
1720MIDCarbs are largely engineered rather than from whole grains: sugar alcohols (maltitol) and glycerin provide sweetness and chew, with a small assist from refined tapioca starch and a bit of real sugar. This setup generally blunts blood‑sugar spikes compared with straight sucrose, but it’s not the slow‑burn carb you’d get from oats or sweet potato. If you’re sensitive to polyols, multiple bars in a day can mean bloating or GI rumbling.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2g of sugar because most sweetness comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol) plus a tiny lift from sucralose, a zero‑calorie sweetener. That keeps sugars low without leaning on fruit, but it does mean the sweetness is provided by highly processed ingredients. People who are polyol‑sensitive may prefer to keep portions to one bar at a time.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, this is a lighter bar powered mostly by protein, with modest contributions from engineered carbs and a small fat layer. That balance makes it a tidy snack rather than a full meal replacement. You’re getting meaningful protein per calorie, which is what this formula is built to do.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients here; there isn’t a vitamin or mineral topping 10% of daily value. The small bump of calcium likely comes from milk proteins and a dash of calcium carbonate, while traces of iron and potassium can come from cocoa and nuts.
Additives
You’ll see several functional additives doing specific jobs: glycerin keeps the bar moist, sugar alcohols (maltitol) supply bulked sweetness with fewer calories, soy lecithin helps fats and cocoa play nicely together, and sucralose fine‑tunes sweetness. Fractionated palm kernel oil creates that firm, chocolate‑style bite without melting in your bag. It’s a more processed toolbox than a date‑and‑oat bar, used to deliver a low‑sugar, candy‑bar‑like texture.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Cattle hides, pig skins, fish skins
Groundnut plant seeds
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat starch
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
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
Three things keep pulling people back to Pure Protein. First, the macro efficiency: roughly 20g of high-quality, whey-led protein for about 200 calories is hard to argue with, whether you’re between meetings or leaving the gym.
Second, taste beats expectations for the price—many describe certain flavors as “candy bar–like,” and Chocolate Peanut Butter is often named as one of the safer bets. Third, it’s genuinely satisfying for the size; Prevention even dubbed the line “Most Filling,” which tracks with the blend of fast-acting whey and steadier milk proteins.
Add in wide availability and a wallet-friendly cost, and you get a dependable, dessert-leaning protein fix that doesn’t demand a dozen extra minutes on the treadmill.
Main Criticism
Not everyone is charmed.
The sweetness comes mostly from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a touch of sucralose, and that combo can read a bit artificial to sensitive palates—and cause GI grumbles if you eat multiples.
Texture varies by flavor, and critics call some bars dense, chalky, or overly chewy, with the occasional off-note or odd smell report—common complaints across many high-protein, low-sugar bars. Fiber is low, so this doesn’t behave like a slow-burn, oats-and-nuts bar, and it won’t round out a meal on its own.
Lastly, allergens abound: milk, soy, and peanuts (plus a dab of almond) mean this is not the bar for the allergy‑averse.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the folks who say it tastes like dessert, or the ones calling it mid? Probably both.
If you’re comfortable with engineered sweetness and want maximum protein per calorie, this formula delivers exactly what it promises.
BarBend’s testers described the overall line as dessert-like, and that jibes with a lot of everyday reviews; on the other hand, a Redditor’s “so dense I gag if I eat it too fast” is a fair warning to take your time and keep a drink nearby.
The low sugar is a trade: fewer blood sugar swings for some, more GI sensitivity for others—especially if you go back for bar number two. Flavor choice matters, too; across chatter, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip skew safer, while a few chocolate-only variants get more divisive feedback.
None of that makes it “bad” or “great” wholesale—it just means this is a functional, processed bar designed to mimic a treat, and your palate and stomach will cast the deciding vote.
What's the bottom line?
Pure Protein’s Chocolate Peanut Butter bar is a pragmatic win for people who want dessert vibes with real protein heft. It’s whey-led, snack-calorie light, and consistently affordable, which is why it shows up in gym bags and glove compartments everywhere. The cost of that convenience is a more engineered ingredient list—maltitol, sucralose, glycerin, and palm-derived fats—and a texture that some love and others find dense.
If you’re cool with sugar alcohols, don’t need a fiber bomb, and want a reliable 20g protein boost that tastes like a treat, this is an easy yes—especially as a post-workout or afternoon hold‑you‑over. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, have milk/soy/peanut allergies, or want a short, whole‑food ingredient list, this won’t be your bar. Practical tip: stick to one bar at a time, pair it with fruit or a yogurt for fiber and micronutrients, and start with Chocolate Peanut Butter to see where you land.