Zing
Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Dietitian-created and plant-based, this bar uses real dark chocolate and hazelnuts with a short, familiar ingredient list. It keeps sugars modest by leaning on modern sweeteners like allulose (a low‑calorie sugar) and fiber syrups instead of intense artificial sweeteners.
When to choose Zing Dark Chocolate Hazelnut
Best for a vegan, gluten-free chocolate fix that actually satisfies—think afternoon pick‑me‑up or coffee companion. Less ideal if you want a heavy post‑lift bar or if prebiotic fibers tend to bother your stomach.
What's in the Zing bar?
Zing’s Dark Chocolate Hazelnut reads like dessert but eats like a nut-forward, plant-protein snack.
The flavor is built on real dark chocolate (cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, a bit of organic sugar), hazelnut butter and pieces, plus a hint of alkalized cocoa and natural hazelnut–vanilla flavors.
Protein comes from an almond–rice blend rather than dairy, so you get a gentle 10g boost alongside a higher‑fat, nutty base (top quartile for fat) that feels satisfying. Carbs land around the middle of the pack, driven more by modern sweeteners and binders than by grain or fruit, which helps keep sugars modest without leaning on artificial sweeteners.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
1015LOWThe 10g of protein comes primarily from a plant blend of almond protein and rice protein, with a small assist from the nuts in the bar. Blending plant proteins helps broaden the amino‑acid profile compared with using just one source, though it’s less concentrated than whey and sits on the lighter end versus typical “protein” bars. The upside: it’s fully dairy‑free and easy to pair with a meal if you’re aiming higher on daily protein.
Fat
149HIGHMost of the 14g of fat comes from whole‑food sources—almond and hazelnut butters—bringing mainly monounsaturated fats, plus some from coconut and the cocoa butter in the dark chocolate. That mix tilts heart‑friendlier than seed‑oil heavy bars, while the coconut and cocoa butter add some saturated fat (cocoa butter is rich in stearic acid, which is relatively neutral for LDL in studies). Expect slower, steadier energy and good satiety from this nut‑led fat profile.
Carbs
2020MIDCarbs are a blend of refined sweeteners and fibers rather than whole‑food starches: prebiotic tapioca syrup (a cassava‑based binder made by breaking starch into simple sugars) and a touch of organic agave and cane sugar from the chocolate provide sweetness. Soluble corn fiber—a highly refined, FDA‑recognized dietary fiber—adds bulk and helps blunt the sugar hit, while allulose is a low‑calorie sugar that has minimal effect on blood glucose. Net effect: more “modern sweet” than “oats and fruit,” with fiber and fat helping keep the ride steadier than a classic candy bar.
Sugar
64MIDSugar clocks in at 6g, largely from the organic sugar in the dark chocolate and a little agave. The rest of the sweetness is carried by allulose (a low‑calorie sugar with minimal glycemic impact) and soluble fibers, which keep total sugars in check without using intense artificial sweeteners. It’s still a sweet bar, just one that leans on newer, more refined sweeteners to keep the sugar number modest.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, most energy here comes from the bar’s nuts and chocolate fats, with protein and carbs playing supporting roles. That fat‑first design is why it feels satisfying for its size and can stretch a snack window. If you tend to do better with a higher‑protein snack, consider pairing it with yogurt or a latte.
Vitamins & Minerals
This isn’t a vitamin‑fortified bar. You do get small, naturally occurring minerals—iron from cocoa and a bit of calcium and potassium from nuts—but nothing crosses the 10% Daily Value line.
Additives
Very few true additives show up: sunflower lecithin in the chocolate helps it stay smooth, and natural flavors round out the hazelnut notes. The sweetness/texture system relies on refined ingredients—soluble corn fiber, prebiotic tapioca syrup, and allulose—which are there to bind the bar and deliver sweetness with less sugar. Overall, it’s a short list anchored in nuts and real chocolate, augmented by modern sweeteners and a tiny dose of emulsifier.
Ingredient List
Ground roasted almonds
Almond tree seeds
Almonds
Rice grain
Cassava starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Sunflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I recently discovered Zing bars and I’m obsessed.”
“These Zing bars are my absolute favorites. Aloha gets second place.”
“Zing Bars ~ 220cal (25g carbs) Vegan, Cherry almond is the best and it tastes like a marzipan candy bar.”
Main Praise
Taste tops the charts here. Across reviews, Zing loyalists keep coming back because this bar reads like a dark‑chocolate truffle with a real hazelnut finish, not a chalky “protein” project.
The sweetness is balanced—helped by allulose, a low‑calorie sugar that barely nudges blood sugar—so you get dessert energy without the loud crash. Press write‑ups consistently point to Zing’s dietitian roots and whole‑food anchors (almonds, dark chocolate) as the reason it feels more like food than Franken‑snack.
And despite only 10g of protein, the nut‑forward fats and fiber make it surprisingly satisfying for a mid‑afternoon bridge.
Main Criticism
If you want a bar that’s basically a portable protein shake, 10g won’t scratch the itch. Some long‑time fans also grumble about the brand’s shift to an all plant‑based lineup, saying the newer bars feel softer and less distinctive than the older whey versions.
Texture splits the room: plenty call it fudgy, while others notice a bit of grit from the rice/almond protein and cocoa. Finally, the sweetness/binder system—prebiotic tapioca syrup and soluble corn fiber, plus allulose—can be a win for sugar control but may rumble sensitive stomachs.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “this is my favorite bar” crowd or the “bring back the old formula” chorus? Both, depending on what you’re after.
The current Dark Chocolate Hazelnut is intentionally snack‑first: real chocolate and nuts, a gentle 10g of plant protein, and modern sweeteners that keep sugars modest without the sucralose aftertaste. If you expect a 20g powerhouse, you’ll call it light; if you want a satisfying chocolate moment that isn’t just candy, you’ll call it smart.
As one Redditor put it (paraphrasing), figuring out fibers and sweeteners is personal—some guts applaud, others protest. Texture is similar: fans say “fudgy,” skeptics say “gritty.
” The truth sits in the middle—this is a dessert‑leaning, plant‑protein bar that trades max protein for better ingredients and flavor‑first satisfaction.
What's the bottom line?
Zing’s Dark Chocolate Hazelnut is the rare vegan, gluten‑free bar that actually tastes like the flavor on the wrapper. You get real dark chocolate, real hazelnuts, and enough plant protein (10g) plus nut‑led fats to quiet an afternoon craving at 210 calories. The sweetness rides on allulose and fiber syrups rather than intense artificial sweeteners, which helps with steadier energy—though sensitive stomachs may want to test it on a low‑stakes day.
If your priority is a high‑protein meal replacement, look elsewhere. But if you want a tidy, dietitian‑crafted snack that eats like a small chocolate treat and still feels nourishing, this bar lands the balance. self happy.