The GFB
Chocolate Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, mostly organic ingredient list with no sugar alcohols—just peanuts, dark chocolate, dates, and a rice–pea protein blend—delivering a treat-like flavor in a fully vegan, gluten-free bar.
When to choose The GFB Chocolate Peanut Butter
Best for plant-based eaters and gluten-free folks who want a satisfying chocolate–peanut snack or pre‑workout energy. Not the pick for strict low‑carb goals or peanut allergies.
What's in the The GFB bar?
The GFB’s Chocolate Peanut Butter bar leans into plant power: a rice–pea protein blend backed by real Virginia peanuts and dark chocolate. You get 12g of protein (modest for a protein bar), but a bigger push from carbs—28g—thanks to dates plus rice- and agave-based syrups, which steers this toward quick energy.
Fat sits at 11g from peanuts, cocoa butter, and flaxseed, a generally wholesome mix that helps with fullness and takes the edge off those fast carbs. Translation: a vegan, gluten-free chocolate–peanut pick‑me‑up with satisfying crunch from crisped brown rice, flavored by the real stuff—peanuts, cocoa, dark chocolate, and a hint of vanilla.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 28 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
1215MIDProtein comes from a blend of brown rice protein and pea protein, with a helpful assist from the peanuts. Rice is naturally lower in lysine and pea is lysine‑rich, so together they balance the amino acids better than either alone. At 12g, it’s a moderate protein hit among bars, but fully plant‑based and dairy‑free.
Fat
119MIDMost of the 11g of fat is naturally packaged in the peanuts, with contributions from cocoa butter in the dark chocolate and ALA‑rich flaxseed. That yields a mix of heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats plus stearic acid—a saturated fat from cocoa butter that’s considered relatively neutral for LDL cholesterol. No refined seed oils here, and the fat helps with satiety.
Carbs
2820HIGHCarbs skew high and come from a mix of whole and refined sources: fiber‑bearing dates and crisped brown rice on one side, and brown rice syrup, agave nectar, and cane sugar (in the dark chocolate) on the other. Expect mostly fast energy because of the rice syrup, with some smoothing from the bar’s fats and fiber. If you’re sensitive to sugar swings, this reads more like an energy bar than a low‑glycemic protein bar.
Sugar
144HIGHThe 14g of sugar is a blend of fruit sugars from dates and added sugars from brown rice syrup, agave nectar, and the cane sugar used in its dark chocolate. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols; sweetness comes from real sugars, some more refined than others. It will taste sweet and can raise blood sugar, though the bar’s fats and fiber may soften the peak.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories, this sits on the higher end for protein bars because calories are doing double duty: quick carbs from the syrups and substantial fats from peanuts/dark chocolate. Protein accounts for a smaller share of the energy than in heavy‑duty gym bars. Think snack‑meal territory or pre‑workout fuel, not a minimal‑calorie protein fix.
Vitamins & Minerals
You’ll get about 10% of daily iron, likely from the pea/rice proteins and cocoa, with small amounts of calcium and vitamin C. This isn’t a fortified bar, so micronutrients ride along with the whole‑food ingredients rather than added premixes. If you’re plant‑based, the iron bump is a nice side benefit.
Additives
The formula leans on recognizable foods—peanuts, dates, dark chocolate, brown rice, flaxseed—with a short list of processing aids. The most refined pieces are the protein isolates and the syrups (brown rice and agave), plus a standard “natural flavor” to round out taste. Not a laundry list of gums or sugar alcohols, but clearly more than just nuts and fruit.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Brown rice
Date palm fruit
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Sugarcane stalks
Cocoa beans
Agave
Dehulled whole grain rice
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“The GFB were my favorites for a while.”
Main Praise
Taste leads the applause.
Independent reviewers consistently call The GFB’s flavors bold and satisfying; Chic Vegan went so far as to describe the peanut butter profile as divine, and The Beet praised the brand’s bars for tasting like a splurge in the best way.
Amazon buyers echo that it actually holds them over, which tracks with the bar’s combo of peanuts, dark chocolate, and flax providing slow‑down fats to balance those faster carbs. The ingredient panel wins points for being familiar and largely organic: real dates for sweetness, actual dark chocolate for flavor, and a rice–pea protein blend that’s dairy‑free and soy‑free.
No sugar alcohols means no lingering coolness or GI roulette—just straightforward sweetness. And as a bonus for plant-based eaters, there’s a small bump of iron riding along with the cocoa and legumes.
Main Criticism
Texture is the most common nit. Chic Vegan flagged the bars as soft and floppy, and a few Amazon shoppers found certain batches drier or crumbly—so don’t expect a firm, taffy-like chew.
Nutrition-wise, this skews sweet and snacky rather than lean and protein-heavy: 14g of sugar and 240 calories for 12g of protein won’t thrill macro hawks. One dietitian review also called out the higher sugar and an occasionally odd mouthfeel in some flavors.
And while the brand’s gluten-free cred isn’t in doubt, allergy-sensitive readers will want to stay alert: a Reddit thread noted a past recall tied to cashew contamination in select products (not gluten), and another commenter mentioned the company’s site has, at times, been slow to update FAQs.
The Middle Ground
If you approach this as a vegan candy-bar-adjacent snack that happens to bring 12g of plant protein, it shines. The flavor love from The Beet and the “kept me full” notes from Amazon’s T.
M. make sense given the peanuts, cocoa butter, and flax—there’s real heft here.
On the flip side, if you’re chasing a tight macro profile or low sugar, Amanda Hernandez, RD, wasn’t wrong to point out the trade-off: you’re paying for taste and energy with 14g of sugar.
Texture talk is the wild card. Some people, like Chic Vegan, want a firmer bar for on-the-go neatness; others simply enjoy the soft, brownie-adjacent bite.
Storage seems to matter—chilling firms it up, a warm bag can soften it more—so a little handling goes a long way. As for Reddit’s allergy and website notes, those aren’t dealbreakers for most, but they’re useful reminders to check current labels if you have severe nut sensitivities.
What's the bottom line?
The GFB Chocolate Peanut Butter is a pleasure-first, plants-second protein bar: dessert-level flavor with respectable nutrition and no sugar alcohols. It’s vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and made with recognizable ingredients, which is exactly why many people keep it in their bag. Just set expectations.
With 12g of protein, 28g of carbs, and 14g of sugar at 240 calories, it’s more pre‑workout fuel or a midafternoon save than a low‑sugar, high‑protein workhorse. Texture runs soft; chilling helps. If you’re peanut‑allergic or managing multiple nut sensitivities, read labels closely and keep an eye on brand updates.
Bottom line: crave-worthy chocolate–peanut taste, clean-ish ingredients, and gentle-on-the-stomach sweetness make this an easy yes for vegan and gluten-free snackers who want energy and satisfaction. 2-star crowd cheer. Listicle takeaway: a dessert-leaning vegan bar with 12g of protein and no sugar alcohols—great for pre‑workout or an afternoon pick‑me‑up.