Transparent Labs
Peanut Butter Almond Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, whole‑food‑leaning ingredient list with no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, anchored by grass‑fed whey isolate and egg white. It aims to taste like peanut‑butter‑and‑chocolate you actually know, not a lab experiment.
When to choose Transparent Labs Peanut Butter Almond Crunch
Choose it if you want a real‑food, stomach‑friendly bar for afternoon staying power or post‑workout recovery and you prioritize ingredient quality over absolute protein per calorie. Skip it if you’re keto, strictly avoiding added sugars, or chasing 20‑plus grams of protein in one bar.
What's in the Transparent Labs bar?
Transparent Labs’ Peanut Butter Almond Crunch leans on familiar pantry foods—peanut and almond butter, dates, rolled oats, honey, and dairy‑free chocolate chips—then fortifies the mix with grass‑fed whey protein isolate and a touch of egg‑white protein.
Compared with most protein bars, it’s higher in calories and fat (thanks to those nut butters and a bit of coconut oil), middle‑of‑the‑pack on protein, and moderately carby with sweetness that comes from fruit and honey rather than artificial sweeteners.
In short: classic peanut‑almond‑chocolate flavor, high‑quality protein sources, and a whole‑food‑first macro mix.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 11 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
1515MIDProtein here comes from a duo of complete animal proteins—grass‑fed whey protein isolate and egg‑white protein—with a small boost from the nuts and oats. Whey isolate is a highly filtered, low‑lactose dairy protein that digests quickly; egg white is clean‑tasting and equally complete. At 15 grams, the total sits around average for bars, but the protein quality is top‑tier.
Fat
159HIGHPeanut and almond butter supply most of the fat—largely monounsaturated—while coconut oil and cocoa fats from the chocolate add a more saturated edge. That combo makes the bar notably rich and satisfying. It’s on the higher‑fat side for protein bars, so if you’re watching saturated fat, consider balancing with unsaturated choices elsewhere in the day.
Carbs
2220MIDMost carbs come from whole foods: chewy dates and rolled oats, with a drizzle of honey and a little sugar from the chocolate chips. Expect a mix of quick energy from the fruit and honey, steadied by oat fiber and the bar’s ample fat and protein. If you’re used to bars sweetened with sugar alcohols or fiber syrups, this one feels more straightforward—and a touch sweeter.
Sugar
114HIGHSugar is primarily from dates and honey, plus a bit from the chocolate chips—no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here. At 11 grams, it’s on the sweeter side for a protein bar, but the nuts, oats, and proteins help slow the overall impact. If you’re avoiding added sugars entirely, note that honey counts as added sugar even when it’s recognizable.
Calories
270210HIGHThis bar’s calories are driven mainly by the nut butters and coconut oil (fat is energy‑dense), with dates, oats, and honey adding carbohydrate energy and protein rounding things out. The result is a substantial, stick‑to‑your‑ribs snack rather than a light bite. Great when you need staying power; less ideal if you’re chasing minimal calories.
Vitamins & Minerals
None of the label‑listed vitamins or minerals tops 10% DV, so think of this as real‑food micronutrients rather than fortification. Almonds bring vitamin E and magnesium, dates add potassium, and oats contribute minerals like manganese. Nice bonuses, but not the main reason to choose the bar.
Additives
The ingredient list reads like a pantry: nut butters, dates, oats, honey, chocolate, sea salt—plus refined but familiar proteins (whey isolate and egg white) and coconut oil for structure. You won’t find sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, or long emulsifier lists here. The most processed pieces are the proteins and oil; everything else leans whole‑food.
Ingredient List
Peanuts
Ground roasted almonds
Date palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Oat grain
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Cacao beans
Coconuts
Eggs
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Transparent labs is rated as the cleanest across multiple websites.”
Main Praise
Third‑party roundups consistently praise this bar for its clean formula and honest flavor. Men’s Health even calls it a premium “Best Overall” pick, citing the short ingredient list and balanced macros.
Healthline echoes the nutrition callouts—15 grams of complete protein, a few grams of fiber, and no artificial sweeteners—while noting the brand’s testing standards. BarBend gives it top billing for tasting like actual peanut butter and chocolate, not powdered sweetener.
And in the wild, Redditor SaiyanX summed up the general vibe: Transparent Labs keeps things cleaner than most. The upshot is a bar that feels like food, delivers steady energy, and leaves fewer of the bloating or aftertaste complaints that follow sugar‑alcohol‑heavy options.
Main Criticism
The flipside is cost and density. Multiple reviewers flag price as the sticking point, and Redditor tpepp4664 went hunting for a cheaper alternative with similar quality.
Texture divides people: Healthline mentions a slightly chalky bite, and Remarkable_Depth_975 on Reddit found it chalky and not very satisfying.
From a macro lens, 15g protein at around 270 calories isn’t the leanest protein‑per‑calorie ratio, and the bar brings real sugar from dates, honey, and chocolate along with notable saturated fat from coconut and cocoa.
BarBend also points out that those watching sodium might want to compare labels. Allergens are another clear limitation—peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, and coconut are all in play.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where the truth lands.
If your priority is ultra‑lean numbers or the cheapest protein per dollar, this isn’t your champion; plenty of 20g bars use sugar alcohols and heavy fibers to push their macros and price down.
The Protein+ formula instead chooses clarity: straightforward sweeteners, high‑quality dairy and egg proteins, and fats from nuts and a little coconut. That choice makes it more satisfying and, yes, a bit heavier.
Texture? It depends on your expectations and, honestly, whether you eat it straight from a cold gym bag.
BarBend says it avoids the classic chalky profile; Healthline and Reddit’s Remarkable_Depth_975 disagree—taste buds are subjective, and temperature and freshness can swing the experience.
Finally, a quick note for gluten‑sensitive readers: the oats are labeled gluten‑free on the ingredient list, but the bar itself isn’t flagged as gluten‑free in the data we saw—celiac folks should double‑check packaging.
What's the bottom line?
If you want a bar that eats like food, not a lab experiment, Transparent Labs’ Peanut Butter Almond Crunch is a standout. You get 15g of high‑quality protein from grass‑fed whey isolate and egg white, a classic peanut‑butter‑and‑chocolate profile, and steady energy from oats, dates, and nut butter—without sugar alcohols or a laundry list of additives. It’s not budget protein or keto candy.
It’s a premium, real‑food bar with real sweetness and a satisfying, slightly hefty bite. If that’s the trade you’re after, it’s one of the better picks on the shelf.
Condensed listicle take: Real‑food PB‑chocolate bar with 15g protein from grass‑fed whey and egg white, no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. About 270 calories with 11g sugar from dates, honey, and chocolate; satisfying and clean, but pricier and not the leanest protein‑per‑calorie.