Quest Nutrition
Strawberry Shortcake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A macro-first dessert impersonator: 20 grams of milk-derived protein at just 200 calories with very low sugar, engineered sweetness, and a flavor that’s surprisingly close to its name.
When to choose Quest Nutrition Strawberry Shortcake
Choose this if you want a filling post‑workout or afternoon hold‑over that leans low sugar and you do fine with sugar alcohols and dairy. Skip it if you’re a whole‑foods‑only purist or have a sensitive GI tract.
What's in the Quest Nutrition bar?
Quest’s Strawberry Shortcake bar leans hard into dairy protein: milk protein isolate and whey isolate (with a touch of sodium caseinate) deliver 20 grams on just 200 calories.
The strawberry‑shortcake vibe comes from real strawberries, natural flavors, and a hint of vegetable‑juice color, while sweetness is built mostly with erythritol, glycerin, and a tiny dose of sucralose—not table sugar.
Carbs skew toward polydextrose, a manufactured prebiotic fiber, and other low‑glycemic ingredients rather than oats or dates. Fats come from almonds alongside more saturated confectionery fats (palm kernel oil and cocoa butter) that keep the bar creamy and stable.
Big picture: upper‑tier protein, very low sugar, keto‑friendly macros—more functional than “whole‑food minimal. ”
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 21 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHThose 20 grams come from a dairy trio: milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate up front, plus a little sodium caseinate. Whey digests fast while casein digests more slowly, so you get a quick bump and some staying power—with relatively low lactose compared with regular dairy. It’s a refined but high‑quality, complete amino acid profile that lands well above average for protein.
Fat
109MIDTen grams of fat are split between whole‑food almonds and confectionery fats like palm kernel oil and cocoa butter. Almonds bring mostly monounsaturated fats and a touch of vitamin E; palm kernel oil and cocoa butter tilt more saturated, which improves texture and shelf life. If you’re watching saturated fat, this sits mid‑pack: pleasantly creamy, but not olive‑oil‑clean.
Carbs
2120MIDMost of the 21 grams of carbs come from polydextrose (a manufactured prebiotic fiber), erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), and glycerin (a moisture‑holding syrup), not from grains or dates. That translates to a low glycemic punch and steadier energy than a sugar‑heavy bar, though it’s more engineered than a whole‑food carb source. A small contribution comes from real strawberries—mostly for flavor, not fuel.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar, largely from the strawberries and trace lactose in the dairy proteins. Sweetness instead relies on erythritol and a pinch of sucralose, with glycerin adding body—highly refined choices that keep sugars low and blood sugar steadier for many people. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, try one bar first and see how you feel.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, it’s on the lighter side for a protein bar. Roughly 80 calories come from protein and ~90 from fat, with the rest from low‑impact carbs (fiber and glycerin; erythritol adds almost none). The net effect is a filling bar where usable energy leans on protein and fats rather than sugar.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands at 10% Daily Value, which tracks with milk‑derived proteins like milk protein isolate and sodium caseinate. Beyond that, this isn’t a fortified bar; any vitamin C from strawberries or vitamin E from almonds is modest at this serving size. Think of it as a macro bar, not a micronutrient booster.
Additives
This is a functional build: polydextrose for fiber, glycerin to keep it soft, erythritol and sucralose for sweetness, and lecithin to help fats and proteins play nicely. These are highly refined, purpose‑built ingredients chosen for texture, stability, and low sugar over simplicity. The trade‑off: long shelf life and keto‑friendly sweetness, with potential GI sensitivity for some.
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Almond tree seeds
Corn or wheat starch
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk casein
Cocoa beans
Fats and oils
Strawberries
Soybeans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I personally love the quest bars. They don’t really taste like the real thing, but they’re a reasonable facsimile. They are nicely soft and chewy and if any particular bar has icing, it is also on the bottom. They do have big chunks of chocolate in them, if applicable. If you’re a sweet tooth person who’s trying not to eat like an asshole these definitely scratch that itch. And a super high protein/calorie ratio for a bar like this. My favorites are Cookie Dough, Raspberry White Chocolate, Lemon Cake, Birthday Cake. Be aware that a lot of people do NOT agree on my picks though haha. Least favorites are the brownie and peanut butter chocolate. Kinda nasty. Best to grab a bunch of singles and give them a try and see which are for you. Also their peanut butter cups are BANGING and their cookies are really good. Just keep an eye on the nutrition facts”
“Quest bars are perfect. A goodly amount of protein in a tasty bar. I’m mad they quit making my favorite from years ago, peanut butter supreme. I don’t like the ones with chocolate coating as much. When I did Adkins I ate them daily. They are high quality.”
“I just want to express my love of them. I really look forward to them every morning like I would a muffin or brownie. I love them melted and I love them cold. I mostly love that they keep me full for hours and hours by some magical science probably called fiber. Who else agrees?”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back to Quest for one reason above all: the protein-to-calorie math actually works in real life. Reviewers across Reddit and Amazon say these bars keep them full for hours, which tracks with 20 grams of complete dairy protein plus a hefty fiber load.
Flavor-wise, the brand gets consistent credit for nailing the brief—Bon Appétit even joked the bars taste freakishly like what they’re imitating, and Men’s Health praised the lack of a chalky aftertaste.
People with a sweet tooth appreciate that it scratches the dessert itch without turning into a sugar bomb. The texture, when fresh, lands in that soft‑chewy zone many look for, and flavors like Lemon Cake, Birthday Cake, and yes, Strawberry Shortcake earn repeat-buyer status.
Main Criticism
The flip side of that low‑sugar promise is how Quest pulls it off: sugar alcohols (like erythritol), polydextrose (a manufactured prebiotic fiber), and a pinch of sucralose. Some stomachs simply don’t love that combo; several reviewers report GI discomfort.
Taste is polarized, too—detractors mention an ‘underlying backnote’ that reads artificial, and The Guardian’s taste test of a different Quest flavor slammed the texture as chalky and plasticky. Freshness matters a lot: a number of one‑star reviews describe bars that were rock‑hard and stale, which can make any bar taste worse than it should.
And if you’re chasing short, whole‑food ingredient lists, this isn’t your bar.
The Middle Ground
The truth sits neatly between the hype and the hate. Nutritionally, the Strawberry Shortcake bar is undeniably efficient: dairy isolates (whey plus casein) for a complete amino profile, 200 calories, and very little sugar.
But it’s engineered to the nines—sweetened with erythritol (a sugar alcohol) and sucralose, structured with polydextrose and glycerin—so you’re trading minimal ingredients for precise macros and a dessert‑like flavor. If you’re like Reddit user “unknown” who swears it keeps them full for hours, the fiber‑plus‑protein combo is probably doing its job.
If you’re like the commenter who says every Quest bar has a weird backnote, your palate might be picking up the sweetener blend; Strawberry Shortcake tends to be gentler than the chocolate‑dipped flavors The Guardian panned, but tolerance varies.
One practical note: a fresh bar is soft and chewy; a stale one can feel like gym-floor taffy. Check the best‑by date, try one bar before bulk‑buying, and you’ll know quickly whether this flavor lives in your gym bag or your ‘never again’ list.
What's the bottom line?
Quest’s Strawberry Shortcake delivers exactly what it promises: high protein, low sugar, and a flavor that plays dessert without the sugar rollercoaster. It’s more ‘functional snack science’ than farmhouse baking—think milk protein isolates, prebiotic fiber, and modern sweeteners working together to keep calories tight and satiety high. If you prioritize macros and portability, it’s an easy win for post‑workout, travel, or a controlled sweet fix.
If your stomach bristles at sugar alcohols or you want a short, whole‑foods ingredient list, look elsewhere. For everyone in the middle, start with a single bar, make sure it’s fresh, and decide with your taste buds. Warm it for 10 seconds or chill it straight from the fridge, and you might find a very cooperative strawberry shortcake riding shotgun to your goals.