Zing
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Dietitian‑created and entirely vegan, this bar uses nuts and real dark chocolate for flavor, prebiotic tapioca fiber for structure, and no sugar alcohols for sweetness.
When to choose Zing Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
Chocolate‑peanut‑butter lovers who want a satisfying, plant‑based snack—great for the afternoon slump or pre‑workout—not a 20g protein heavy hitter.
What's in the Zing bar?
Zing’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter bar leans into nuts and real chocolate for its flavor and its macros.
The protein is fully plant-based, coming from almond protein and a trio of peanut ingredients, while the dark chocolate (chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa powder) and natural cocoa flavor deliver the “dark chocolate” note.
Expect a lighter protein hit (10g, on the lower end for protein bars) paired with a richer fat profile (15g, near the top of the category) and mid-pack carbs.
Sweetness is kept moderate with 7g of sugar by combining refined syrups with a tiny lift from monk fruit, so you get dessert-level taste without sugar alcohols—but the carbs do come mostly from refined syrups rather than whole grains or fruit.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Carbohydrates
- 21 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
1015LOWThis bar’s 10g of protein comes from almond protein plus peanut butter and peanut flour—so it’s entirely plant-based. Nut proteins bring great flavor and satiety, but at roughly the 15th percentile for protein, this is more of a snack than a post-workout 20g heavy-hitter. If you want plant protein without dairy or soy, it ticks that box cleanly.
Fat
159HIGHMost of the 15g of fat comes from peanuts and their oil (largely monounsaturated) and from cocoa butter in the dark chocolate (a saturated fat rich in stearic acid, which is considered relatively neutral for LDL cholesterol). It’s a higher‑fat bar than most, which helps with fullness and a creamy texture. If you’re watching omega‑6 intake, note that standard peanut oil includes some linoleic acid, while the nut base still skews overall toward heart‑friendly unsaturated fats.
Carbs
2120MIDThe 21g of carbs are driven mainly by refined syrups—tapioca syrup (a cassava‑derived glucose/maltose syrup), rice syrup, agave nectar, and a touch of grape‑juice concentrate—tempered with soluble tapioca fiber (a resistant dextrin) for a prebiotic bump. Translation: more quick energy than slow-burn starches, though the bar’s fat and fiber will soften the blood‑sugar rise compared with a sugary snack. If you’re after purely “whole‑food” carbs, this leans more functional/refined than oats or dates.
Sugar
74MIDWith 7g of sugar, sweetness comes primarily from the dark chocolate’s cane sugar plus agave/rice/grape‑based syrups; monk fruit adds intensity without sugar grams. It’s a moderate sugar load for a chocolate‑nut bar, but the sugars are still refined rather than coming from whole fruit. If you avoid sugar alcohols, you’ll appreciate that none are used here.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories, it’s on the higher side for bars, and most of those calories come from fats (nuts and cocoa butter) with a solid assist from the syrups. That mix makes it feel more like a satisfying snack or mini‑meal than a light nibble. Good when you need staying power, less ideal if you’re chasing a very low‑calorie option.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins or minerals (no nutrients exceed 10% DV). You do get small amounts of iron from cocoa and potassium and magnesium from nuts—nice bonuses, but this isn’t a fortified bar. Think flavor and macros first, micronutrients second.
Additives
A short list of functional add‑ons supports texture and sweetness: sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier in chocolate), soluble tapioca fiber (a refined, prebiotic resistant dextrin), and monk fruit extract (a high‑potency sweetener). They’re modern, refined ingredients used in modest amounts to keep the bar cohesive and the sugar lower. The binding system relies on refined syrups rather than whole‑food binders, which some readers may want to note.
Ingredient List
Peanuts
Groundnut plant seeds
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea)
Peanuts
Cassava starch
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Defatted cacao bean solids
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
Fans praise the taste first, and loudly. One Redditor summed it up as “obsessed,” while another called Zing their absolute favorite, and Women’s Health likened this flavor to a heartier peanut butter cup without the crash.
That checks out: the bar leans on real dark chocolate and a generous nut base, which reads rich rather than ‘diet. ’ Ingredient‑wise, people appreciate the absence of sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners; monk fruit and refined syrups do the lifting while keeping total sugar moderate at 7g.
The texture draws loyalists too—more brownie‑fudge than brittle cookie—making it feel like a treat you can justify. Add in that it’s vegan, gluten‑free, and soy‑free, and it’s an inclusive pick that still tastes like dessert.
Main Criticism
The flip side starts with protein: 10g is snack‑tier, not a post‑lift 20g. A few reviewers also miss the older, whey‑based Zing bars and feel the plant‑based reformulation changed flavor and mouthfeel.
Texture can be polarizing—often praised as soft and fudgey, sometimes knocked as a bit gritty or too melty for warm‑weather pockets. Finally, the carbs lean refined (tapioca, rice syrup, agave, grape juice concentrate) rather than oats or dates; clean‑label readers may shrug, but strict keto folks and whole‑food purists will notice.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—candy bar in a lab coat or smart snack? The truth lands in the middle.
If you’re hunting a cleanish, dairy‑free chocolate‑peanut‑butter fix without the GI roulette of sugar alcohols, Zing nails the brief. If you need 20+ grams of protein, Reddit’s “obsessed” crowd might be talking about a different need state than yours.
On texture, the same nut‑heavy formula that makes it lush can leave a hint of nut‑meal grit; some call that “fudgey,” others call it out. And while the syrups are refined, the overall sugar stays moderate at 7g, with fats and fiber to slow things down—a reasonable compromise for taste.
The reformulation critiques are real—taste memory is powerful—but the move to fully plant‑based and soy‑free opened the door for more eaters. In short: a peanut butter cup with better boundaries, not a bench‑press bar.
What's the bottom line?
Zing’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter bar is for people who lead with taste but still want a sensible label. You get a vegan, gluten‑free, soy‑free treat that eats rich, avoids sugar alcohols, and keeps sugar moderate—all in a soft, fudge‑like package. It won’t replace a protein shake; at 10g of protein and 240 calories, it’s a satisfying snack or mini‑meal rather than a muscle‑builder.
The carbs skew refined and the texture runs soft, which not everyone loves, but the flavor payoff is strong. If your goal is a daily chocolate‑peanut‑butter fix that keeps you steady and dairy‑free, this is an easy yes. If you’re counting to 20g protein or keeping carbs ultra‑low, keep shopping—but maybe stash one for dessert.