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We are living in a golden age of protein. Everything on the shelves these days is either packed with protein or claims to be, but protein bars still reign supreme for many reasons and here we rank the best protein bars based on flavor, macros, texture, and digestibility.
I am still a little fuzzy on the true meaning of old phrase from the Brothers Grimm “you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the one” because somehow as a married man that’s the first phrase that comes to mind when I think about how many different types of protein bars I’ve sampled in recent years.
Ranking The 11 Best Protein Bars on the Market Based on Macros and Taste
When it comes to the best protein bars, in my humble opinion, macros are sacrosanct. The ’10:1 (10x) Protein Rule’ is probably the best single judging point for a protein bar and after that we get into taste and texture.
That rule refers to looking at the number of grams in a protein bar, multiplying it by 10, and if the total number calories are less than or equal to that number then it passes the test and 40% or more of the total calories come from protein which is exactly what we want in the ideal protein bar. But if every protein bar was just straight protein it would taste horrible and we want something that isn’t just palatable, we want a protein bar that is straight-up delicious. So let’s get to it, shall we?
1. David Protein Bar’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
David Protein
Best Protein Bars ranked David protein Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar
Coming in at #1 we have David Protein Bar. These bars have the best macros by a country mile. Each bar has 28 grams of protein, 2 grams of total fat, and 12 grams of carbohydrates all for just 150 calories.
David Protein Bars contain a proprietary ingredient, EPG (Esterified Propoxylated Glycerol), that is a modified plant-based fat substitute designed to mimic the mouthfeel of actual fat without all the calories. I included the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor here, which you can find at Costco or on David’s website, but I am also a huge fan of the Cinnamon Roll, Red Velvet, and Blueberry Pie flavors.
2. Barebells Cookies & Cream Protein Bar
Barebells
Best Protein Bars Ranked Cookies and Cream Barebells Flavor
Barebells taste like dessert. Let us just get that out of the way up front. They also satisfy the 10:1 rule as the Barebells Cookies & Cream Protein Bar has 20 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbohydrates, for 200 calories. So it is right on that 10:1 ratio.
Many would argue that Barebells’ best flavor is the Caramel Cashew, with the same macros, but I’m a Cookies & Cream guy. And these are my second favorite protein bars behind David because the flavor justifies the additional 50 calories over David as they taste more like candy than a protein bar. But with that in mind, part of locking in to build an incredible physique is watching what we eat. If every food was hyper-palatable we would constantly over eat. And that can be a concern with Barebells given how delicious they are.
One drawback with Barebells is they do not sit right in everyone’s stomach. My wife cannot handle them while I’m fine if I were to eat them all day, which I have done on road trips in the past.
3. Built Puff Protein Brownie Batter Bar
Built Puff
Best protein bars ranked Built Puff Brownie batter flavor
Built Puff Protein Bars are another extremely delicious, hyper-palatable protein bar with fantastic macros. They clock in at 140 calories, 17 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat, and 13 grams of carbohydrates. I’m also very fond of Built Puff’s Coconut flavor as it has a distinct tropical taste.
These can be purchased in bulk from Costco which offers fantastic savings and they bundle the Brownie Batter box with the Coconut box, a protein twofer if you will. And with 17 grams of protein and 140 calories, they satisfy the 10:1 ratio rule.
4. Pure Protein Birthday Cake Protein Bar
Pure Protein
Best protein bars ranked Pure Protein birthday cake
One of the most popular protein bars in recent months is the Pure Protein Birthday Cake bar. It has 20 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, 18 grams of carbohydrates, all for 200 calories which meets the 10:1 ratio rule.
I definitely dig the mouthfeel of this protein bar. It has a fantastic taste and doesn’t feel like I’m eating a protein bar from the late 90s or early 2000s when everything tasted distinctly fake. There is a lot of flavor here and it is great on the go.
5. Snickers Hi-Protein Original Bar
Snickers
best protein bars ranked Snickers Hi-Protein Peanut Butter bar
Now we are getting into some interesting territory. The Snickers Hi-Protein Original Bar is a protein bar but it tastes more like dessert than a protein bar and that is honestly where I have found the most value out of it.
The Snickers Hi-Protein Original Bar has 20 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat, and 19 grams of carbohydrates all for 240 calories. So while it might not satisfy the 10:1 ratio, the 20 grams of protein is still an ample amount if you are eating this as dessert which is when I reach for it most frequently. It is a Snickers after all, and they know flavor better than anyone else on this list.
6. David Bronze Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch
David Protein
Best protein bars ranked David Crunch peanut butter
Back on this list is David but this time it is the David Bronze label and the Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch flavor. It has fewer grams of protein than the main David bar but with 20 grams of protein, 4 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates, all for 150 calories, it more than satisfies the 10:1 ratio.
I do really love the crunch in these bars. Living in Florida though, I’ve ordered these in the middle of the Summer and htey arrive melted, which was to be expected, so I throw them in the fridge to re-solidify them and it works, but then the chocolate flakes off a little. That is not the fault of the manufacturer. Florida’s just insanely hot. And all of that is to say I love these fresh from the store or at the gym versus having gone through the process of cooling it back down myself.
7. Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar
Quest Protein
Best Protein Bar flavors ranked Quest chocolate bar
Quest Protein (Nutrition) has been around for 16 years which feels like a lifetime in the protein world as empires rise and fall on the regular, but they have remained one of the best brands in the industry by consistently putting out flavorful products with fantastic macros. The Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar has 21 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and 22 grams of carbohydrates for 190 calories which as you already know satisfies the 10:1 ratio.
If you like the flavor chocolate chip cookie dough then this is your protein bar. Period. Point. Blank. You can look no further. The flavor is phenomenal, it tastes like dessert, and doesn’t have the chalky aftertaste found in my inferior brands.
8. Grenade Oreo Milk Protein Bar
Grenade Protein
Best protein bar flavors ranked Grenade Oreo milk
I slept on the Grenade Oreo Protein Bar for far too long. It has 20 grams of protein, 10 grams of fat, 21 grams of carbohydrates, for 210 total calories. And as an amateur triathlete I need my carbs just as much as protein, so the 21g of carbs is crucial here during and after workouts for me.
The flavor speaks for itself. Oreo. A cookie-flavored cookie. Whoever came up with the concept for a cookie-flavored cookie (Oreo) does not get nearly enough credit for that innovation.
9. Anabar Cookies & Cream Protein Bar
Anabar
best protein bars ranked Anabar flavors
If you are at a place in life where your dessert is a protein bar then boy do I have the right one for you! The Anabar Cookies & Cream protein bar tastes like something straight out of New York City bakery.
While the macros do not meet the 10:1 ratio, if we re treating this as dessert then that is perfectly fine. It has 20 grams of protein, 11 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrates, all for 270 calories. Their Cookies & Cream flavor is the one that gets the most hype and the one I sought out to taste test for this review and it lived up to its reputation.
10. Power Crunch French Vanilla Crème Protein Bar
Power Crunch
Best protein bars ranked Power Crunch vanilla
This one was new to me until recently but at first bite it made me realize how much of the protein industry is sleeping on vanilla as a flavor these days. And the Power Crunch French Vanilla Crème Protein Bar isn’t just vanilla, it is Vanilla Crème, with an even more luxurious flavor.
The Power Crunch French Vanilla Crème Protein Bar has 14 grams of protein, 13 grams of fat, and 11 grams of carbohydrates for 220 calories. 14 grams of protein is a sizable amount for a snack but it doesn’t meet the 10:1 ratio rule so I like to bucket this as more of a treat than a training tool, and that is perfectly fine as this protein bar is absolutely delicious.
11. FIT Crunch Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar
FIT Crunch
Best protein bars ranked FIT Crunch chocolate peanut butter
Rounding out the list of the 11 best protein bars on the market right now are the FIT Crunch Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar which recently made an appearance at Costco and I had to take them for a spin. These have 16 grams of protein, 8 grams of fat, and 14 grams of carbohydrates for 190 calories which falls just short of the 10:1 ratio but is still pretty protein packed for under 100 calories.
I had heard from a colleague that these protein bars mirror the flavor of candy bars and honestly, they were right. These are delicious. I couldn’t stop at just one. Maybe you can if you have more will power than I do. But they are absolutely delicious.