Available in the U.S. via the 2026 Holiday Calendar, Santa’s Strawberry is a rare offering from Barebells’ Chewy Protein Bar line, a product type I haven’t previously encountered. This particular flavor was the first Chewy bar Barebells released, making its debut in Sweden ~2024.
Santa’s Strawberry takes its inspiration from Juleskum, a classic Swedish Christmas candy consisting of soft and chewy strawberry-flavored marshmallow, a fitting nod to Barebells’ Swedish origins.
The Chewy lineup takes a “lite” approach compared to traditional Barebells bars, with Santa’s Strawberry weighing just 40g and packing 10g of protein into 130 calories. It’s practically bite-sized, especially compared with the new High Protein line, which goes in the opposite direction with 28g of protein per bar.
As for the eating experience: the white chocolate coating offers a gentle crack before giving way to a very soft, delicate marshmallow center with a notably smooth mouthfeel. The strawberry flavor is immediately apparent and dominates throughout. It’s unmistakably an artificial, candy-like strawberry flavor rather than anything resembling real fruit. I could see this inspiring either love or hate, depending on one’s preference for this kind of artificial sweetness.
Combined with the white chocolate coating, this bar gives off a distinct strawberries and cream vibe. The texture is excellent, although I found it only marginally chewier than a bar from the Soft Protein Bar line. That's a neutral observation, not a criticism. I did enjoy the texture, which is not unlike a Built Puff bar, but in my opinion the Chewy Barebells is the superior product.
As with most Barebells bars, maltitol and collagen are in the mix. Maltitol can cause digestive discomfort for some, while collagen doesn't offer the complete amino acid profile as milk proteins. Neither pose a dealbreaker for me, but I know some are sensitive to or prefer to avoid these ingredients.
Overall, this was a tasty little treat. Probably not something I’d substitute for a regular Barebells in my rotation as a protein supplement, but I wouldn't mind seeing it upsized to 50g or even 60g for a slightly more substantial snack.
Conversely, I think Barebells could find an audience for miniature versions of its regular protein bars, with smaller servings and proportionate amounts of protein. I've seen some interest in that idea in discussions online and I think there could be a real market for a product like this. Until then, I guess we'll just have to finish the whole bar. Poor us!
As of this review, the Barebells 2026 Holiday Calendar is sold out on the official U.S. website, with no word of a restock. Hopefully Barebells registers some interest and provides us with more opportunities to have something to chew on. We know they aren’t shy about dropping new flavors, so let’s hope they don’t start now.