PROBAR started in 2002 after Jeff Coleman moved to Park City, UT and began to live a more adventurous lifestyle. He wanted on-the-go nutrition that would sustain his energy and nourish his body without tasting like cardboard. After trying a local energy and nutrition bar, he became such a fan that he eventually bought the company and grew PROBAR to the company we know today. PROBAR continues to create delicious, plant-based, convenient, and sustainable non-GMO foods to keep you going strong.

The PROBAR Base Bars are a high-protein (20 grams of plant-based protein in each one) vegan performance bar. Each bar is non-GMO (as are all the PROBAR products), gluten-free, and has superfoods like chia and flax seeds. The 20 gram protein bombs are available in seven distinctive flavors (Get them on Amazon) including Cookie Dough, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Chocolate Bliss, Coffee Crunch, Frosted Coconut, and Frosted Peanut Butter. Last time we looked at the ever popular Cookie Dough Flavor but this go around, we’re going all in with the Chocolate Bliss. I can’t wait to be blissed out on Chocolate… 😉

PROBAR Base Chocolate Bliss Vegan, Gluten-Free, non-GMO, High-Protein Nutrition Bar

Taste Experience

Well if it’s going to taste anything like it smells, it’s all chocolate all the way and I’m real excited!….

Turns out it does…First Bite is Chocolate delight! You know those 3 layer chocolate cakes that offer something new and exciting on each layer and together it creates magic but if you were to eat one layer on its own, it wouldn’t be as delish?? That’s this bar. The bottom, base layer is a soft but somewhat dense and very brownie-like with small mini chocolate chips swirled in. The top layer is soft, creamy, and mousse-like that complements the rich dark decadence of the brownie layer. The entire bar is glazed in a smooth and velvety real chocolate coating that really seals the deal (for me anyway).

The bar is so decadent and dreamy that I have a hard time believing or understanding where all the protein is hiding because it tastes like an adult version of a chocolate bar – smooth and just like dessert – not at all like a vegan protein bar. Let alone a protein bar with 20 grams of plant-based protein. Pretty nuts!

Since first trying these bars, I’ve started to eat them in more ways than straight out of the package (which works great if you are looking for a convenient on-the-go plant-based and gluten-free protein bar). I like to chop the bar into thirds for an easy snack (instead of a whole meal based portion). This helps them last longer and sustains my energy more than typical snacks. I also really love to chop the bar up and place on the bottom of a bowl with a scoop of “nice cream” (blended frozen bananas) for a cool and refreshing afternoon/evening treat or post-work snack. The chopped bits have also added a delicious chocolate punch to smoothie bowls, overnight oats, and oatmeal – amazing with a scoop of peanut butter and some of the PROBAR Base Chocolate Bliss bites! Buy these on Amazon and consider supporting a sustainable plant-based product that tastes delish and can be consumed in more ways than one!

Dreamy and Decadent Texture of PROBAR Base Chocolate Bliss Vegan, Gluten-Free, non-GMO, High-Protein Nutrition Bar

Nutrition

Each PROBAR Base Chocolate Bliss Vegan Protein Bar has 280 calories with only 80 calories from fat (this means a majority of the calories are coming from carbohydrates or in this case, protein). With nine grams of total fat and six grams of saturated fat from fractionated palm kernel oil, it has more oils than some nutrition bars but less than mainstream cookies/candy bars. Honestly, this fat content is what gives PROBAR Base Chocolate Bliss Bars that smooth, real chocolate factor – the fat. Fat creates a buttery mouthfeel and that’s usually what we’re looking for and expecting when we eat chocolate – especially chocolate as a treat!

The PROBAR Base Bars are somewhat intended to be a meal replacement or a post-workout recovery snack. With that being said, 300mg of sodium per bar is a substantial amount. An appropriate amount for a meal or post a sweaty workout, sure. However, if this is not you, be mindful of the amount of sodium in these bars.

Each Bar has only 32 grams of total carbohydrates with four grams of fiber to help stabilize blood sugars. Half of the carbohydrate source is sugar which is honestly why the bar tastes so good. If this 20 gram high-protein bar didn’t have enough sugar to offset the protein, it would taste slightly bitter and chalky. The sweetness in the sugar balances out the potential bitterness. We eat much more sugar than we realize, and depending on your current intake, this bar may have less than some meals and snacks you’re already consuming. I would recommend eating half a bar at a time to decrease the overall sugar intake while still consuming a substantial ten grams of protein since an entire bar has 20 grams of plant-based protein.

PROBAR Base Bars do not add vitamins or minerals but the natural ingredients provide 20% of the daily iron requirements, 4% of the daily calcium requirements, and 2% of the daily vitamin C requirements. The one interesting ingredient PROBAR does add to this Chocolate Bliss Bar is the yerbe mate extract that provides 55mg of caffeine per bar. Yerbe mate is tea like beverage made from dried evergreen holly leaves grown in South America. Yerbe mate has been studied to have many health benefits including increased mental clarity and function, increased energy, strengthened immune system and improved weight loss results among others. Because this superfood is typically only consumed in a tea form, the benefits have not been tested in the vegan PROBAR Chocolate Bliss Base Bar. However, given that this Chocolate Bliss protein bar tastes like a rich decadent treat that just happens to have 20 grams of protein and superfoods like yerbe mate, it’s a choice that just makes sense trying out. Amazon has them for a great price.

Nutrition Label for PROBAR Base Vegan Chocolate Bliss Protein Bar

The Non-Vegan Review

CAFFEINE! That’s genius! I’ve never seen a bar with caffeine in it. These Chocolate Bliss ProBar BASE bars have all of the usual goody two shoes vegan stuff in them: chia seeds, flax seeds, agave syrup, soy protein, etc, but the real game changer for me is the 55 milligrams of CAFFEINE. That’s about the same amount of caffeine in a 20 oz Diet Coke (the elixir of the Gods). Huge game changer. I can have my afternoon snack and caffeine all in one and not get a Diet Coke, which is probably killing me slowly. As for taste, these Chocolate ProBAR BASE bars are about what you would expect from ProBar. Great real chocolate flavor and a nice soft texture with a touch of crunchy in the middle. They actually did a really great job of eliminating the chalkiness that comes with having 20 grams of soy protein in a bar. And, at 280 calories, these ProBars will satisfy your hunger quickly and take you a long way. Highly recommended. As anything else in this world, you can get these on Amazon, so go there, and buy them using this link. Non-vegan husband out!

Parting Thoughts

If you are trying to increase your plant-based protein intake, looking for on-the-go nutrient dense food that actually tastes amazing, the PROBAR Base Bar in the Chocolate Bliss flavor is your jam. The non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan nutrition bars fit into your busy life without having to compromise taste or price – especially when you buy the 12 count package on Amazon. Because these bars taste more like a candy bar than a protein bar, try to chop it up and use as a base or topping for ice/nice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothie bowls! I find those quick ways of throwing in a half or a third of the bar is quickly becoming my favorite way to increase my vegan protein intake. Hope you enjoyed this review and consider clicking on one of the links to support this site so I can continue to spread vegan goodness!

PROBAR Base 20 gram Vegan Protein Bar Review – Chocolate Bliss

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