Transparent Labs
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, real-food-leaning ingredient list built around peanut butter, oats, dates, and grass-fed whey isolate—without sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. It prioritizes satiety and flavor over maximizing protein per calorie.
When to choose Transparent Labs Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Best for peanut-butter-and-chocolate fans who want a clean-tasting bar that digests easily and actually keeps them full—post-workout or between meals—without stevia or sugar alcohols.
What's in the Transparent Labs bar?
Meet Transparent Labs Protein Bar (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip): a snack built around grass-fed whey protein isolate, bound with peanut butter and dates, and studded with dairy-free chocolate chips. The flavor cues are exactly what the name promises—roasted peanut butter, cocoa, and a little oat-cookie backdrop.
Nutritionally, it plays on the higher-calorie, higher-fat end of the category thanks to peanut butter, coconut oil, and chocolate fats, while its 15g of protein sits near the middle of the pack.
Carbs come mostly from whole-food sources (dates and rolled oats) plus a dose of soluble tapioca fiber from cassava, which helps texture and keeps the glycemic swing gentler than syrups. Sugar lands at 10g, driven by fruit and chocolate rather than artificial sweeteners.
One more bonus: a notable hit of iron likely coming from the cocoa and oats.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 10 g
- Calories
- 280
Protein
1515MIDGrass-fed whey protein isolate does most of the heavy lifting for the bar’s 15g of protein, bringing a complete, leucine-rich profile with very little lactose. Peanut butter and oats chip in smaller amounts, but the isolate is the star and digests quickly for a solid between-meal or post-workout boost. It’s about average for the category overall, so pair with milk or yogurt if you’re aiming for a 20–30g protein window.
Fat
169HIGHAt 16g of fat, this bar lives on the richer side. Most comes from peanut butter’s predominantly unsaturated fats, joined by saturated fats from coconut oil and the cocoa fats in the chocolate chips. Expect creamy texture and lasting fullness; if you monitor saturated fat, note the coconut oil contribution.
Carbs
2320MIDThe 23g of carbs come primarily from whole dates and rolled oats, with soluble tapioca fiber (a refined fiber from cassava) added for texture and a steadier release. That mix leans cleaner than syrup-based formulas—oats slow things down a bit, while the date and chocolate sugars offer a quicker lift. Net effect: reasonably steady energy, though those sensitive to fruit sugars may still want to mind portions.
Sugar
104HIGHSugar lands at 10g—above the category average—and it’s chiefly from whole dates with a contribution from the chocolate chips. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, so the sweetness reads clean and straightforward. Fiber from oats and tapioca helps temper the rise compared with a candy-like bar.
Calories
280210HIGHAt 280 calories, it sits on the higher end for protein bars, largely driven by fats from peanut butter, coconut oil, and chocolate. Protein and carbs round it out, but fat is the calorie engine here. Think mini-meal or training fuel rather than a featherweight snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron stands out at about 28% of daily value, likely coming from cocoa solids and the oat component. Peanut butter also naturally brings small amounts of vitamin E and magnesium, even if they aren’t highlighted on the panel. If you keep an eye on iron, this bar provides a meaningful bump.
Additives
The extras are minimal and purposeful. Whey protein isolate is a refined dairy protein for quality and texture; tapioca fiber is a soluble fiber made from cassava that adds chew and helps keep blood sugar steadier than simple syrups; and natural flavor polishes the taste. Otherwise, it leans on recognizable foods—peanut butter, dates, oats, chocolate—without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.
Ingredient List
Peanuts
Cacao beans
Cow's milk whey
Date palm fruit
Cassava root starch
Cacao tree seeds
Oat grain
Coconuts
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Transparent labs is rated as the cleanest across multiple websites.”
Main Praise
Independent reviews land on the same headline: clean label, real-food sweeteners, and a flavor that actually tastes like peanut butter and chocolate. With whey isolate doing the heavy lifting and no sugar alcohols, many people find it gentler on digestion than “diet-y” bars with aftertastes.
Editors at Men’s Health, Healthline, and BarBend praised the short ingredient list and balanced macros, while Redditor SaiyanX called Transparent Labs one of the cleanest options they’ve seen. The texture hits a chewy, substantial middle ground, and the fats from peanut butter give it staying power.
Bonus: there’s a meaningful bump of iron, which is a nice add for a bar that already eats like food.
Main Criticism
Price is the loudest complaint—this sits in the premium tier, and Redditor Remarkable_Depth_975 wasn’t impressed with 15 grams of protein for the cost. Texture isn’t universally loved; a few find it slightly chalky or dry, especially if eaten straight from the wrapper without a drink.
At 280 calories with 16 grams of fat, it’s not the pick for strict protein-per-calorie hunters. Some roundups also flag saturated fat and sodium as watch-outs.
And practical note: it’s not gluten-free and won’t work for peanut or coconut allergies.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where both sides are right. If you’re chasing ultra-lean macros, a lighter, more “engineered” bar will deliver more protein for fewer calories.
Transparent Labs chose a different path: dates and chocolate for sweetness, fats from peanut butter and coconut for fullness, and whey isolate for quality protein. That approach tastes better to many and keeps hunger quiet longer—but you pay for it, in both dollars and calories.
Redditor tpepp4664 went looking for a cheaper alternative, while Remarkable_Depth_975 balked at the 15 grams of protein; meanwhile, outlets like Men’s Health and Healthline put it at the top precisely because it avoids the artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols that turn some bars into chemistry experiments.
Chalky? Some say a little; others say pleasantly chewy—pair it with coffee or milk and the quibble mostly disappears.
The truth lands here: it’s a mini-meal in a wrapper, not a macro magician.
What's the bottom line?
Transparent Labs Protein+ Bar (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip) is a premium, pantry-ingredient take on a protein bar: grass-fed whey isolate, peanut butter, oats, dates, and chocolate. It’s satisfying, clean-tasting, and steady on energy, with 15 grams of protein and a richer 280-calorie profile that reads more like a smart snack or post-workout bite than a “diet” treat. If you care about ingredient quality and digestibility—and you actually want to feel full—this bar makes a strong case.
If your goal is the absolute most protein for the least calories, or you’re sensitive to saturated fat or price, there are better fits. But for peanut-butter lovers who avoid sugar alcohols and want a bar that eats like real food, this is one of the best options going.
15g protein, 280 calories; no sugar alcohols. Best for a satisfying snack or gentle post‑workout refuel when flavor and digestibility matter more than ultra‑lean macros.