Flavors Tried: Strawberry & Brownie Batter
Price: $21 for box of 18 ($1.17 each)
Nutrition: 180 Calories, 6g Fat, 21g Carbs (7g Fiber & 8g Sugar), 12g Protein
Special K is a brand name that everybody recognizes, but they’re not exactly considered a top player in the protein space.
Sure, they have protein cereal (which I happened to really enjoy) but most people in the fitness space aren’t running out to find Special K products.
Special K products have long been marketed towards “every day people” just trying to choose healthier options, and I think the products often don’t get the recognition they deserve in the fitness space, because they’re usually pretty darn tasty.
I’ve never had the Special K protein bars before, but I saw two of them at my local 7-11, so why not give them a try?
Nutritionally, these protein bars won’t blow you away. With 180 calories and 12 grams of protein, surely there are better protein sources out there, but 12 grams is decent enough for me. These actually contain a bit of sugar as well (8 grams) which generally means that the flavor is going to be above average.
Let’s get into it.
Special K Strawberry Protein Bar Review
Opening this bar up, you are immediately hit with a strong smell of strawberry.
This bar also looks extremely impressive. With tons of strawberry pieces already visible from the outside, it was clear that this was going to be a solid bar.
This bar is absolutely delicious. Honestly, I don’t really have any notes.
The crisps inside this bar are held together in a way that makes this bar gooey and crumbly, much like a cereal bar. There are tons of strawberry pieces packed inside as well, and the white chocolate coating adds the perfect sweetness.
The strawberry flavor tastes like the inside of a strawberry pop tart, which I am a huge fan of.
My only wish is that this bar had a little bit more protein, but the flavor is a slam dunk. I will happily buy this again.
Special K Brownie Batter Protein Bar Review
The brownie batter Special K protein bar is a slight step down from the strawberry, but it’s still quite good overall.
Off the bat, this bar is noticeably denser than the strawberry bar, and it doesn’t have that same crumbly interior that I loved so much in the other bar. Biting into this one is much more like eating a protein bar than a cereal bar.
The flavor is a very intense chocolate flavor, which I would describe as rich dark chocolate. That’s not a bad thing, but definitely don’t expect brownie batter. Brownies have a distinct sweetness that differs from regular chocolate, but these bars mostly just resemble dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate fans will not be disappointed, but brownie fanatics might be.
Still, with no artificial flavor or distinct protein taste in these, they’re a decent option.
Special K Protein Bars: Final Thoughts
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from these bars, but they are really solid.
When you compare the photos of these two bars, the strawberry flavor is the clear winner, and that rang true in the taste test.
Strawberry has a gooey, crumbly, cereal bar-like texture, and the strawberry flavor is absolutely delicious.
Brownie batter is just an average snack bar in my opinion, but it’s better than other artificial-tasting bars out there.
With 12 grams of protein, these won’t be the bars that help you reach the protein pinnacle, but they are more than adequate. If you value taste above all else, the strawberry bar is definitely worth trying.
