Flavors Tried: Krispi Nougat, Choklad Peanöt
Price: $26.49 for box of 12 ($2.20 each)
Nutrition: 180 Calories, 10g Fat, 20g Carbs (3g Net Carbs), 15g Protein
We all know that when it comes to food and snacks, not every single item from a popular brand is a guaranteed home run.
Today, we’re looking at a brand that’s already won my heart with their creamy light ice cream – Nick’s.
I love Nick’s light ice cream, both the vegan and regular versions. In fact, I think it’s my favorite light ice cream on the market over others like Halo Top. And if you try their ice cream sandwiches, they may just change your life.
But I’ve also tried Nick’s “Smak” Bars before, which are their refrigerated protein bars, and I was not a fan at all.
So, where will Nick’s keto protein bars fall? Will they be as indulgent and delicious as their ice cream, or fall flat (and hard) like the Smak Bars?
Nutritionally, Nick’s keto bars are quite impressive. With 170 calories, roughly 3 grams of net carbs, and 15 grams of protein, these could be perfect for a keto diet.
But it all comes down to taste…
Chocolate Peanut Nick’s Keto Protein Bar
When I first tried Nick’s ice cream a while back, I snagged a single chocolate peanut bar to taste. So, I don’t have any beautiful photos of the bar, but here’s a screenshot of a video I recorded.
Clearly, this bar is not shy on peanuts OR caramel, which are both pretty rare finds in protein bars.
My first bite into the Chocolate Peanut protein bar was pleasantly surprising. This bar is just jam-packed with peanuts and contains soft, chewy caramel throughout.
The texture? It’s shockingly similar to an actual candy bar, and not overly chewy like most protein bars. Seriously, it’s impressive.
There’s a bit of an artificial flavor from the sweetener, which slightly veers its taste away from that of an actual candy bar. So, if you’re someone who is sensitive to artificial sweeteners (either the taste or its affects on your digestive system) then you may not like this at all.
But I’m all in on this one.
I remember feeling underwhelmed when I reviewed the Snickers Protein Bars, and this is what I expected a Snickers protein bar to taste like.
On texture alone, they absolutely nailed it. But because of the artificial sugar taste, it doesn’t quite hit the candy bar vibe the same way Barebells Soft Bar does.
It’s not an exact candy bar replica, but with its peanuts & caramel combination, it’s arguably one of the closest things I’ve tried.
Krispi Nougat Nick’s Keto Protein Bar
Krispi Nougat was the second flavor I tried, and based on the name, I was expecting similar to Barebells Creamy Crisp bar. If Nick’s could deliver a soft texture with crisps in every bite, I’d be all for it.
On looks alone, this definitely has candy bar vibes, although I’m not sure why the filling looks like black tar.
Unfortunately,m that’s where the candy bar similarities end.
The chocolate sauce (if that’s what we should be calling it) is quite bitter, and the artificial aftertaste is extremely prominent in this one. So much so, in fact, that I couldn’t even finish the bar I tried.
Texture-wise, Nick’s totally nailed it. It’s soft with a slight chew, and the soy crisps add a lovely contrast (initially, I thought these were peanut bits, but it turns out that they are crisps).
But let me reiterate: that bitter aftertaste is a real party pooper. I’ve got a box of these to get through, and let’s just say I’m not jumping for joy about that.
One other thing to note, this bar has a LONG list of ingredients. It doesn’t faze me too much, but if you’re someone who prefers your snacks with minimal ingredients, you might want to look elsewhere.
Nick’s Keto Protein Bars: The Final Verdict
Reviews like this always leave me in a tricky spot.
One flavor has me feeling positive, while the other flavor just completely missed the mark. But that seems to be the recurring theme with Nick’s. Some of their products knock it out of the park, while others are, well, let’s just say less successful.
Despite my mixed feelings, the spot-on candy bar texture of these protein bars deserves recognition.
Because of that and the solid flavor that is Chocolate Peanut flavor, I’m inclined to give Nick’s the benefit of the doubt. These bars have potential, even if not all flavors are for me.
So, if you’re intrigued, go for the Chocolate Peanut – it’s defintiely worth it. Let’s just hope that the rest of the flavors aren’t jam-packed with artificial flavor the same way Krispi Nougat is.
