4 Nut Butter Bars Runners Love

Nuttin’ Better

Nut butters made from cashews, almonds, macadamias and, yes, even your childhood-favorite peanuts all have similar nutrients that complement an active lifestyle: plant-based protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. When you eat it, though, you can often be left with a sticky, oily mess. Now, with a surge in nut butter bars, you can reap those nut butter benefits in a much more convenient, less gooey and—dare we say tastier?—package.

Perfect Kids, $4.99 For Five Bars

Perfect Bar fans will enjoy these new snack-sized bars, all made with peanut butter, honey, gluten-free oats plus a mixture of superfood veggies snuck in. Sold in the refrigerated section (they can last a week out of the fridge), the USDA-certified organic bars have a perfectly chewy texture, reminiscent of cookie dough, and are available in two flavors: peanut butter cookie and chocolate chip. Each bar has 160 calories and 7 grams of protein, plus fiber and other nutrients. The size is perfect for a pre-run fuel-up or post-run snack.

Honey Stinger Organic Cracker N’ Nut Butter Snack Bar, $2.20 Per Bar

Don’t let multigrain crackers scare you—this bar is a delightfully crunchy mix of sea salt–covered crackers, nut butter (cashew, peanut or almond) and honey covered in dark or milk chocolate. While a little crumbly, the flavor and texture scored major points with testers, who enjoyed it as a mid-afternoon snack or post-run refuel. Each bar contains 23–25 grams of carbs and 4–5 grams of protein.

Nuttzo Bold BiteZ, $12 For Four Bars

These new vegan flavors of refrigerated Bold BiteZ utilize several types of nut and seed butters, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, chia seeds and flaxseeds, for 10 grams of plant-based protein in a snack-sized bar. The new additions to the lineup, a peanut flavor with cacao nibs and probiotics and a matcha with maple flavor, are certainly unique. They each have just 4 grams of sugar, so they’re not as sweet as others in this review, and they’re also a little drier than other nut butter bars. Their high protein content makes them great for a filling afternoon snack or for recovery after a workout.

KIND Nut Butter Filled Snack Bars, $3.99 For Four Bars

Nut butter is the first ingredient in these brand-new bars from KIND Bar, available in honey almond butter and chocolate peanut butter flavors. The bars each have a drizzle of chocolate and chopped nuts on top to complement the soft bar texture. Made with 100 percent whole grains and nothing artificial, each bar contains 170 calories and 4 grams of protein.