ZonePerfect
Double Dark Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo of candy-bar crunch and layered chocolate with a full multivitamin-style fortification—more nutrients than most chocolate-forward bars offer.
When to choose ZonePerfect Double Dark Chocolate
Best for chocolate lovers who want a crunchy, portion-controlled snack with some protein (not a meal replacement). Good fit for gluten-free vegetarians comfortable with soy and a little dairy.
What's in the ZonePerfect bar?
Double Dark Chocolate is exactly what it sounds like here: layers of cocoa processed with alkali, real chocolate liquor, chocolatey coatings, and even a sprinkle of chocolate drops. The protein comes primarily from soy protein isolate (those crunchy soy nuggets), with a cameo from dairy via milk protein isolate and nonfat milk powder—so it’s vegetarian, not vegan.
On the macro front, you’ll notice a sweet-leaning profile (sugar runs high among bars) with average carbs, modest fat, and a lighter‑than‑average 190 calories. It’s also heavily fortified—think multivitamin levels of Bs plus vitamin A, C, E and trace minerals—delivered by a vitamin and mineral blend rather than the chocolate itself.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 20 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1215MIDMost of the 12g of protein comes from soy protein isolate (in the soy nuggets and added separately), with smaller amounts from milk protein isolate and nonfat milk powder in the chocolate layers. Soy is a complete plant protein, though it generally sits a notch below dairy for muscle‑building efficiency, so this blend supplies decent quality without being a heavy hitter. The total lands on the lower side for protein bars—good as a snack, less so as a meal replacement.
Fat
79MIDThe 7g of fat are driven mainly by palm kernel oil in the coatings and cocoa butter from the chocolate components, with a touch of high‑oleic safflower oil. That mix leans more saturated than a nut‑ or olive‑oil‑based bar, which helps the chocolate snap and shelf life but isn’t the same heart‑healthy profile as unsaturated fats. If you watch saturated fat, note that palm kernel and cocoa butter do most of the heavy lifting here.
Carbs
2020MIDCarbs (20g) come largely from refined sweeteners—table sugar, corn syrup (a glucose syrup), liquid fructose/fructose—and quickly digested starches like maltodextrin and tapioca starch. Think quick lift, not long burn: these provide fast energy with little fiber to slow it down. It’s closer to “dessert‑style” carbs than to whole‑food sources like oats or dates.
Sugar
144HIGHWith 14g of sugar, this sits on the sweet end for protein bars. The sweetness comes from refined sources—sugar, corn syrup, and liquid fructose—not fruit; glycerin adds softness and a hint of sweetness without counting as sugar. Expect a distinctly dessert‑like bite and a faster rise in blood sugar than fruit‑based bars.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this bar is lighter than many in the aisle. Most of those calories come from carbs and the chocolate fats, with a modest contribution from protein (12g). Net effect: a sweet, chocolatey snack that’s easier to fit between meals than to stand in for one.
Vitamins & Minerals
This bar is fortified to multivitamin territory: vitamin A and C (about 25% DV), vitamin E (20% DV), several Bs (for example, niacin 50%, B6 ~45%), biotin 100%, B12 90%, plus minerals like zinc (25%), selenium (30%), chromium (100%), and molybdenum (50%). Those numbers come from an added vitamin & mineral blend (e.g., ascorbic acid, tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide), not the cocoa. If you’re light on a multivitamin, this topper can help fill gaps.
Additives
You’ll see the usual bar tech at work: soy lecithin to keep chocolate smooth, glycerin to hold moisture, and a trio of gums (xanthan, locust bean, gum arabic) to keep layered textures stable. These are highly refined helpers that make a soft, cohesive bar and extend shelf life. Most people tolerate them well, though a small subset with sensitive stomachs can feel gassy from certain gums at higher intakes.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Cassava root
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Defatted cacao bean solids
Soybeans
Cow's milk
Vanilla orchid seed pods
Field corn starch
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Zone perfect nutrition bar. I eat the chocolate mint. They are one thing I use either when I’m in a hurt, or sometimes when I have a craving. I believe it has 15g protein. I’ve tried their PB bar in the past, and it’s yummy, just never tracked it on Noom.”
“A ZonePerfect Double Dark Chocolate bar has been my breakfast for *many* years, partly for the chocolate but also because of the crunch. I don't care for the chewiness of granola or oatmeal and was very happy with the satisfying crunch of these ZonePerfect bars.”
“Builders Bars are nowhere near as good as ZonePerfect bars (in eating experience, anyway).”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love. Fans call out the “satisfying crunch” from the soy nuggets and the chocolate that reads like an actual treat, not a duty.
Several Redditors mention it as a dependable breakfast or craving-killer, and Amazon reviews echo that it’s one of the few bars that’s genuinely enjoyable—87% of ratings are five stars across more than a thousand reviews.
The macros are easy to fit between meals: 190 calories with 12g of complete plant protein and modest fat. And the heavy fortification—Bs, A, C, E, and trace minerals—wins points from people who like the idea of topping up micronutrients without taking a pill.
Main Criticism
The sweetness is not shy. At 14g of sugar from refined sources like sugar and corn syrups (a glucose syrup), this skews dessert-like and can spike energy more quickly than fruit-based bars.
It’s also highly processed—think coatings set with palm kernel oil and soy isolates—so minimal-ingredient purists won’t be thrilled, and the low fiber means it may not keep you full for long.
Independent articles often file it under “tasty but candy-adjacent,” with Well+Good flagging multiple syrups on the label and Livestrong noting that the fiber is light. Add to that reports from reviewers in 2024–2025 about product discontinuation and price spikes, plus occasional quality hiccups in older stock, and availability can be unpredictable.
Finally, 12g protein is fine for a snack but light if you’re chasing post-lift numbers.
The Middle Ground
Here’s the tension: one Redditor says Double Dark Chocolate has been their breakfast for years because of the crunch, while another thread argues it’s closer to candy. Both can be true.
If taste and texture matter (and they do—no one sticks with a bar they dread), this one shines; another Redditor even said Builders Bars aren’t as enjoyable by comparison.
But the ingredient panel reads more like a confection—corn syrups, soy isolates, palm kernel oil—than a whole‑food snack, and Livestrong’s point about low fiber is fair; you may get hungry again sooner.
The Well+Good critique of syrup-on-syrup is a nudge to calibrate expectations: this is “dessert-forward fuel,” not slow-burning oats-and-nuts energy. If your goal is a chocolatey, gluten-free, vegetarian snack with a vitamin kicker, the rave reviews make sense.
If your goal is steady blood sugar or 20g of protein with minimal processing, the skeptics have a point.
What's the bottom line?
ZonePerfect Double Dark Chocolate is a chocolate-first, crunch-forward bar that happens to bring 12g of complete soy protein and a multivitamin’s worth of micronutrients along for the ride. It’s easy to enjoy and easy to fit into a snack window at 190 calories, which is exactly why so many people reach for it daily. The trade-offs are equally clear: 14g of sugar from refined sources, highly processed ingredients, and low fiber mean it behaves more like a treat than a slow-release fuel.
If you love the flavor and want it to carry you farther, pair it with something fibrous or fatty (a piece of fruit or a handful of almonds) to steady the burn. Avoid if you’re steering clear of soy or dairy, and know that availability has been in flux based on recent reviewer reports.
Quick take (listicle-ready): Crunchy, genuinely chocolatey, and fortified—great as a 190‑cal snack with 12g protein. Sweet, processed, and low in fiber, so treat it as dessert-with-benefits, not a meal replacement.