9 Perfect Protein Bars, Ranked

You've likely spotted Perfect Bars in the refrigerated section at your local grocery store. They sit there inconspicuously waiting for you to pick them up. You may have seen a couple of flavors at the store, usually the more popular ones, but there are more flavors than what meets the eye. I wanted to test out as many options as I could get my hands on to see how they stack up. I have done quite a lot of taste tests, and I have to say that all of these bars are pretty delicious. 

If you handed me any which one, even a lower-ranking flavor, I wouldn't have anything negative to say. They're tasty and easy to eat — there's a reason we ranked the brand in second place among over a dozen other protein bar brands. Plus, they are all USDA organic and gluten-free, ideal for those with gluten allergies. That said, some are just a little bit more interesting or decadent in terms of flavor or have a more pleasant texture, which are the factors that I judge them on. Let's find out which Perfect Bar is the best.

Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.

Chocolate and mint are an incredible duo, alongside peanut butter and jelly or bread and butter. So, that's to say this is a perfectly pleasant combination in a Perfect Bar. It wouldn't, however, be among the top few flavors I'd reach for when I crave a snack. The Chocolate Mint flavor has 14 grams of protein and a minty aroma that wafts once you open the wrapper. But then, when you fish it out, it has an oily residue for whatever reason. It has a peanut butter base with chocolate chips and peppermint oil to give it that touch of freshness. 

The taste is good, but because of the mint and chocolate profile, this seems more like a dessert option than something I'd grab in the morning to eat before work or as a random mid-day snack. Would I break off a piece to enjoy in the evening or with an afternoon cup of mint tea? For sure. But no, I wouldn't seek this flavor out to consume at any hour of the day. The flavors are palatable and potent, but the lack of range leaves this Perfect Bar at the bottom of the ranking.

Next up, we have the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Perfect Bar, which has a peanut butter and cashew butter base along with chocolate chips pressed into the dough. It has 12 grams of protein and a firm texture when eaten from the fridge, so I'd suggest giving it a few minutes to soften while at room temperature. There's a little bit more dimension to this bar, as the sweetness comes from honey and the addition of maple syrup (the latter of which wasn't in the mint chip bar). Again, we have chocolate chips to offer texture and a touch of cocoa-y sweetness. 

Because of the honey and maple syrup combination, this had a sweeter profile than some of the upcoming bars, which I don't find is needed. I felt like this sugary aspect took away from the nuttiness of the bar itself. I'm not sure if I pick up the "cookie dough" aspect either — it just seems like a slightly sweeter nut bar. While it would still make for a tasty treat, I'd prefer to reach for some of the other flavors in its place.

Salted caramel itself is known for its sugary profile, with that punch of salt to act as a balance, and we see that same symbiotic relationship in this bar. The Salted Caramel Perfect Bar has 12 grams of protein and a strong caramel-like flavor. Although it contains no actual salted caramel (typically made of brown sugar, salted butter, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt), it does have a similar integrity with ingredients like honey, sea salt, vanilla extract, and nonfat dry milk. This time, we see cashew butter as the first ingredient, followed by peanut butter, which offers a milder punch to allow those caramel notes to shine through.

This flavor seems more captivating on the palate, with a sprinkle of salty dimension to put it in seventh place. The first thing that you taste is the salt, and then that caramel flavor hits the tongue. This has a distinct dessert-like flavor that would make it a great choice to pair with a black cup of coffee — no need to add any more sweetness or richness into the mix when this has plenty. This was a solid bar, but the next one had a bit more going for it.

The Almond Butter Perfect Bar, with its 13 grams of protein, is the first time in the ranking where almond butter makes an appearance, and it'll weave its way through the rest of the race. As the name of the bar might imply, almond butter is the premier ingredient in this bar, but it also has almond pieces to give it a touch of grainy chew. There are no peanuts in this bar, which gave me a quick reprieve from peanut butter in all of the aforementioned flavors. The almond pieces bring a textural component, giving the Almond Butter Perfect Bar a more intriguing mouthfeel as you bite into it. But there are also sesame seeds affixed to the top, which seems a bit like an odd choice, but it works. 

There are many creative ways to use sesame seeds, and I'd say adding them to a peanut butter protein bar is among them. These, too, bring a mild seedy texture into the mix, along with their classic nutty profile. I quite like the combination, even though it's not something I would've thought would be in an almond butter bar. I find the almond-sesame pairing to be the best flavor thus far; while they hold their own, they aren't as potent as the previous three flavors, which actually comes to their benefit. This could easily be something I'd reach for as a snack, no matter my mood.

One step above the Almond Butter flavor is another "plain" Perfect Bar, the Peanut Butter. This is one bar that I'm pretty familiar with, as I've eaten it many times before this review. Here, we have the most protein out of all the bars on this list: 17 grams. The PB bar has small bits of peanuts to give it a touch of texture. Peanut butter is the first ingredient and, of course, the name of the bar itself; it has a rich, nutty, and recognizable taste that I'd pick over the Almond Butter Perfect Bar and its sesame seeds on most days. 

Peanut butter is approachable and well-loved; it's been around for centuries as developed by the Inca. And its familiarity is why this is the original Perfect Bar flavor that started it all. The brand also calls it a fan favorite, which definitely makes sense to me. It's a classic. But given that this is a ranking, I must say the next four bars are more interesting, with added elements to make them memorable. 

I love coconut, but I totally get it if it's not to your liking. If that's the case, you may want to scroll to the next bar. But if you, too, are a nut for coconut, then this is a scrumptious protein bar. The Coconut Peanut Butter Perfect Bar has 16 grams of protein and tastes rich and indulgent. It has visible pieces of coconut that coat your taste buds and a prominent aroma that hits the nose. While everything else has been totally palatable, I found myself coming back to this flavor. I really love this bar. It's considerably more multi-dimensional than the PB flavor ranked before it. 

You have the richness coming from both the peanut butter and the coconut; both titular ingredients complement one another, allowing each bite to have just enough of both. It's slightly oily, as it contains coconut oil, but it's not too off-putting. It's flavorsome yet something you could eat whenever — hiking on a trail, morning snack, post-dinner nosh, after the gym, you get the drill.

Chocolate lovers rejoice: The next two flavors are heavily chocolatey, while all three remaining Perfect Bars contain chocolate chips. Yum! So, in third place, we have the Chocolate Brownie bar, with its 12 grams of protein. This bar has a peanut butter base, along with honey, nonfat dry milk, dark chocolate chips, cashew butter, and cocoa — these ingredients give it a chocolate and peanut butter flavor, but that hit of cashew mellows out the PB without imparting a lot of flavor by itself (you'll see what I mean once you read about the next flavor). 

The cocoa notes are earthy, with that honeyed kick that Perfect Bars are known for. This tastes like a rich peanut butter chocolate bar, which is something you could crave at any point. There are some small nut pieces to give a touch of texture, along with those delicious dark chocolate chips. If you like chocolate and PB (like I do), then this is the flavor for you. I can appreciate the actual cocoa powder and cocoa extract to give it its chocolatiness, without the artificial flavors you might find in other store-bought bars. Although the Coconut Peanut Butter flavor was incredible, I'd place this one above it.

Granted, the Dark Chocolate Almond and Chocolate Brownie Perfect Bars are quite similar in their general profile: nuts, chocolate, and 12 grams of protein. But which one you — dear reader — may like more boils down to the nut itself. Instead of Chocolate Brownie's peanut and cashew butter combo, we have almond butter and almond pieces in this decadent bar. The almond provides a stronger flavor without any peanut to cloud its taste; there's no peanut butter at all, actually — although it's produced in a facility with peanuts. 

There are visible almond bits, similar to what you'd find if you've ever ground almond butter at a whole or health foods store; it's gritty yet delicious, which brings a distinct consistency and added chew as you munch on this Perfect Bar. While I like the Chocolate Brownie flavor, I slightly prefer the dimension that the almond pieces bring to this particular bar. I also appreciate it as a non-peanut option, when almost every other item on this list contains it (aside from the Almond Butter one). Plus, it has a similar chocolate flavor to the above Perfect Bar that I love. Up next, though, we go back into the world of PB for my favorite bar of them all.

We've climbed the mountain of Perfect Bar flavors, and now we've reached the summit. It's time to enjoy the protein-packed fruit of our labors — the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter with sea salt (the "with sea salt" is tacked on in tiny letters at the end of the name, as if to signify that yes, it's important enough to call out on the front packaging but not enough that it's part of the whole title). I am pretty familiar with this flavor, actually. It's the one I've seen most often at the grocery store, aside from the regular Peanut Butter option. And aside from the regular PB flavor, this is also one that I've purchased frequently. 

This is a quintessential combination, along the lines of Reese's peanut butter cups. Chocolate and peanut butter: What's not to love? But that sea salt gives it a fantastic edge to offer up an elevated taste and help the flavors shine through. This bar has 15 grams of protein, a richer flavor, and a smoother texture than the Dark Chocolate Almond one. I preferred it in every capacity. The chocolate aspect is muted compared to the second- and third-ranking options, purely because it doesn't have cocoa in the Perfect Bar itself; it only comes in the form of the little choco chippies. This is a stellar protein bar through and through.

When ranking each Perfect Bar, I based my judgments on two factors: the flavor and texture of the bar. What kind of notes did I pick up, and did it deliver on the flavor name? How likely would I reach for that flavor again in comparison to others? As far as texture and consistency go, some had a grainy or gritty texture, while others were smooth. Some were softer right out of the fridge, while others were quite hard. 

I think your favorite will ultimately depend on your personal preference. For example, if you like almonds more than peanuts, you may be inclined to go for the almond-centric options instead. No matter what, you have to be a fan of nuts, because that is the basis of every flavor on this list. I mention protein content, as it is marketed as a protein bar, but it doesn't factor into my ranking whatsoever.