SimplyProtein
Peanut Butter Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, gluten-free bar with a true Rice Krispie‑style crunch, built on soy protein crisps and real peanuts, that keeps sweetness gentle without stevia or sucralose. It delivers 13 grams of protein in 170 calories, more snack than meal replacement.
When to choose SimplyProtein Peanut Butter Chocolate
Choose this if you want a lighter, dairy‑free protein snack with an actual crunch and restrained sweetness. Great between meals, with coffee, or after a light workout when you want something tidy and not cloying.
What's in the SimplyProtein bar?
SimplyProtein’s Peanut Butter Chocolate bar leans into real peanuts and unsweetened chocolate for flavor, then builds its structure around soy protein crisps—soy protein isolate formed into crunchy bits.
You’ll notice a lighter macro profile than many bars: modest calories and carbs, very little sugar, and fats that mostly come from peanuts plus small amounts of peanut and sunflower oils.
Sweetness and softness are helped along by chicory‑root inulin (a soluble fiber), a touch of plant‑derived glycerin, and acacia (a tree‑sourced fiber), so the bar stays low in sugar without relying on artificial sweeteners.
In short, it’s a vegan, gluten‑free bar that tastes like a peanut‑butter‑cup detour but reads more like a tidy, everyday snack than a full meal replacement.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
1315MIDMost of the protein comes from soy protein crisps—essentially soy protein isolate bound with a little tapioca—backed up by smaller contributions from peanuts and peanut butter. Soy isolate is a complete plant protein with good digestibility, though it’s more refined than whole‑soy foods. The total lands in the moderate range for a protein bar, delivering a solid, vegan-friendly boost.
Fat
89MIDFat here is driven by peanuts and peanut butter (largely monounsaturated), with backup from peanut oil and a sunflower oil blend, plus some cocoa butter from the chocolate. That mix skews unsaturated overall, though the refined seed oils can be higher in omega‑6; mixed tocopherols and a touch of rosemary extract are added to keep those oils fresh. The amount feels moderate—enough for fullness without turning the bar heavy.
Carbs
1420LOWCarbs are a blend of whole and refined: brown rice crisps provide whole‑grain crunch, while a little tapioca starch (from the protein crisps) and cane sugar add quick energy. Much of the sweetness and structure comes from soluble fibers—chicory‑root inulin and acacia—and a small amount of plant‑derived glycerin, which keep sugar low and help energy feel steadier than a sugar‑forward bar. If you’re sensitive to fermentable fibers, note that inulin can be gassy in larger amounts.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar, primarily from a small dose of cane sugar and what’s inherent in grains. Sweetness leans on plant‑derived glycerin (a syrupy humectant) and fiber like inulin for texture—no artificial sweeteners on the label. That keeps sweetness gentle; just know some people feel inulin in their gut if they overdo it.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this sits on the lighter end of the bar aisle. Most energy is split between the bar’s unsaturated fats (from peanuts and oils) and its modest carbs (brown rice crisps, a little starch, and glycerin), with protein making up a solid share. It reads as a satisfying snack, not a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
No mega‑vitamin fortification here, but you do get about 10% daily iron and a small bump of calcium. Those minerals likely come from the soy protein isolate and cocoa, with minor help from peanuts and rice. Think of this as a fiber‑and‑protein play first, with trace minerals as a bonus.
Additives
Beyond the whole foods, a few helpers do the heavy lifting: vegetable glycerin keeps the bar soft, chicory‑root inulin and acacia add soluble fiber and structure, and natural flavors round out taste. The small oil phase is protected with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) and a dash of rosemary extract to slow rancidity. Overall, it’s a fairly standard, moderately processed bar for this category.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cassava root
Groundnut plant seeds
Chicory root
Cacao beans
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Dehulled whole grain rice
Sugarcane stalks
Acacia trees
Peanuts
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I actually liked these. Not too dense, lightly flavored. Good protein to sugar to fiber ratio. Surprisingly I enjoy the lemon coconut flavor the best although the other two weren’t bad either. Good for breakfast on the go ♀️”
“I bought a pack for this first time this week and am in love. The crunchy texture, the 1 g of sugar, the 150 calories, these will probably become my new bar of choice tbh”
“My Costco has been sampling these this week. Surprisingly they are fantastic! They have a great crunch to chew ratio for a protein bar, takes a while to eat, and the flavor is superb. Think skinny rice crispy treat but denser and with a bit of snap to it. I haven't tried the lemon coconut one yet but I'ma pick up a box this weekend.”
Main Praise
Fans rave about the texture—crisp, snappy, and satisfying in a way that chewy bars often aren’t. Several Redditors call it a “skinny rice crispy treat but denser,” and that playful crunch-to-chew ratio makes the bar feel more intentional than a quick gulp-and-go.
The peanut butter chocolate flavor wins the popularity contest; one Amazon reviewer even dubbed it a healthy take on a peanut‑butter‑cup vibe without the sugar bomb. Nutrition‑wise, the bar threads a needle: moderate calories, a respectable 13 grams of protein, and very little sugar without resorting to stevia or sucralose.
Dietitians and roundups back that up, frequently naming SimplyProtein as a smart pick for folks who want a lighter bar with fiber and plant protein. In practice, many people report it tiding them over from breakfast to lunch, which is exactly what a snack‑bar should do.
Main Criticism
The very trait people love—crisp—reads as dry or chalky to others. A handful of Amazon and Reddit comments describe a powdery mouthfeel or a faint aftertaste, and more than one person found the texture “weird” or crumbly.
Flavor opinions skew favorable on peanut butter chocolate but scatter across other flavors, with lemon coconut getting the most side‑eye. There are a few quality‑control gripes too—one reviewer reported a stale batch, and another, years back, lamented a formula change (though that may have been a different line).
Finally, at 13 grams, this isn’t the bar for someone chasing 20+ grams of protein in a single hit.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the crunch lovers or the chalky crowd? Probably both.
If you like cereal‑style bars, this texture feels deliberate, not like a failed attempt at chewy. Redditor honeysesamechicken praised the light flavor and balance, while mbz321 called them “vile” with a “burning” aftertaste—an outlier take, but worth noting that taste buds vary.
Sweetness doesn’t come from stevia or sucralose; instead the bar leans on chicory‑root fiber (inulin) and a little plant‑derived glycerin to keep sugar low—ingredients that add body and mild sweetness without the high‑intensity sweetener twang.
Some sensitive stomachs can notice inulin if they stack multiple servings, but most folks won’t blink at a single bar. Context matters, too: this is a 170‑calorie snack with 13 grams of protein, not a meal replacement.
If you want dense, brownie‑like chew or a protein wallop, this isn’t trying to be that. One important footnote: there was a 2023 recall on certain Costco lots for undeclared cashews; if you have tree‑nut allergies, always check current packaging and lot info.
What's the bottom line?
SimplyProtein Peanut Butter Chocolate is a tidy, everyday snack for people who prefer crisp over gooey and subtle sweetness over candy‑bar sweet. You get 13 grams of vegan protein, modest calories, and flavors built from real peanuts and unsweetened chocolate, without the detour into stevia or sucralose. The trade‑offs are clear: some will find it a little dry or crumbly, and heavy lifters may want more protein or a second snack alongside it.
But if a cereal‑like crunch, a gentle sweetness, and a dairy‑free label are what you’re after, this bar earns its spot in the bag. Just remember the basics—contains peanuts and soy—and if you’re highly allergic to tree nuts, glance at the label for lot specifics, given the past recall. Otherwise, pair it with coffee or a bottle of water and enjoy a crisp, calm break between meals.