Applied Nutrition
Chocolate Caramel Crisp
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true candy‑bar build—milk chocolate, soft caramel, and crispies—at just 138 calories, 13g protein, and 1g sugar, powered by a three‑protein blend (wheat, milk, soy) and a vitamin premix.
When to choose Applied Nutrition Chocolate Caramel Crisp
A low‑calorie, sweet‑tooth break or light pre/post‑workout snack when you want dessert vibes plus a modest protein bump. Not ideal if you avoid gluten, soy, or sugar alcohols—or if you need 20g+ protein from a single bar.
What's in the Applied Nutrition bar?
Applied Nutrition’s Chocolate Caramel Crisp wraps a milk‑chocolate shell and a soft caramel layer around a crispy core, all built on a protein blend of hydrolysed wheat protein, milk protein isolate, and soy protein isolate.
It’s a slim, snack‑size profile—138 calories with just 3. 6g fat and 12.
7g protein—sweetened mostly by sugar alcohols and refined fibers rather than cane sugar, which keeps sugars down to 0. 9g.
The chocolate gets its classic flavor from cocoa butter, cocoa mass, and whole milk powder, while the caramel’s chew comes from coconut oil and fruit‑style gelling (pectin).
The trade‑off for that low sugar and low calorie promise is a decidedly modern ingredient list, so we’ll unpack where the macros come from and what that means in real life.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 17 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 138
Protein
1315MIDProtein here comes from a three‑way blend: hydrolysed wheat protein (pre‑digested peptides that add chew), milk protein isolate (a high‑quality dairy protein), and soy protein isolate (a complete plant protein). That mix leans plant‑forward but is ‘rescued’ by dairy’s strong amino acid profile, so quality sits comfortably above grain‑only bars but a notch below whey‑heavy options. At 12.7g per bar (below the category average), think of it as a light protein boost rather than a full post‑workout hit.
Fat
49LOWWith just 3.6g total fat, what’s here comes mostly from cocoa butter in the milk chocolate and a touch of coconut oil in the caramel. That skews toward saturated fats, but the absolute amount is small. You won’t find a heavy pour of high‑omega‑6 seed oils—lecithin is present only in tiny emulsifying amounts.
Carbs
1720MIDThe 16.6g of carbs are built less from table sugar and more from soluble tapioca fiber (a refined resistant dextrin), prebiotic oligofructose, sugar alcohols like maltitol and glycerin in the chocolate/caramel, plus a little oat flour. This keeps sugars low and generally flattens blood‑sugar swings compared with straight sugar, though maltodextrin and modified starch in the caramel are faster carbs, so the energy feel is mixed. Most people experience a steadier ‘slow‑sweet’ release; very sensitive guts may notice bloating from polyols and fermentable fibers.
Sugar
14LOWSugar lands at just 0.9g because sweetness is delivered by sugar alcohols (mainly maltitol) and a pinch of sucralose, with glycerin adding softness and mild sweetness. The upside is minimal sugar impact; the trade‑off is that larger intakes of polyols can cause gas or loose stools for some. Any residual sugars are mostly from milk solids and oats rather than added cane sugar.
Calories
138210LOWAt 138 calories, this sits at the very low end for protein bars. Most of those calories come from protein and carbohydrate; fat is a minor player, and swapping sugar for polyols/fiber trims energy further. It’s sized as a tidy, between‑meals snack—not a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
Any vitamin percentages you see come from the added premix: vitamins C and E plus a B‑complex (niacinamide, pantothenate, B6, riboflavin, thiamin, folic acid, B12). If calcium shows up on the label, it likely comes from milk powders and the calcium carbonate in the soy crisps. In short, the micronutrient bump is fortified rather than naturally high from the chocolate‑caramel base.
Additives
To get ‘low sugar’ with a classic chocolate‑caramel bite, the recipe leans on refined tools: sugar alcohols and glycerin for sweetness and moisture, soluble tapioca fiber and oligofructose for binding, and tiny amounts of emulsifiers and gums to keep everything stable. These are highly processed ingredients that deliver taste and shelf life but move the bar away from a whole‑food build. If you’re sensitive to polyols or rapidly fermentable fibers, start with one bar and see how you feel.
Ingredient List
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Soybeans
Fats and oils
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Chicory root
Coconuts
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Favorite Protein bars : Barebells: White Salty Peanut, Trust Crunch USN: Triple Chocolat, Applied Nutrition: Crunch White Choc Caramel and Grenade Carb Killa: White Chocolate Salty Peanut. What I tend to do with them is chop them, warm them on the microwave and put them in my plain Skyr.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are the headline here. This feels like a chocolate‑and‑caramel treat first and a protein bar second—soft caramel, creamy milk‑chocolate coating, and just enough crisp to keep it interesting.
Industry coverage of Applied Nutrition’s refresh has applauded the brand’s focus on better mouthfeel, and it shows: you don’t have to fight through chalk to get the protein. At 138 calories, it slips into that late‑afternoon slot where a candy bar would normally live but adds 13g of protein instead of a sugar spike.
One Redditor even chops theirs into warm Skyr for a make‑shift sundae, which speaks to its dessert‑friendly personality. And despite being low in sugar, the bar stays soft and cohesive—no glassy, brittle sweetness.
Main Criticism
It skews sweet. If you’re sensitive to the taste of sucralose or sugar alcohols, you may notice that style of sweetness more than cocoa nuance.
The ‘crisp’ is present but not a big, wafer‑like crunch—the texture leans soft and chewy. The ingredient list runs long and modern: maltitol, glycerin, and refined fibers keep sugar down but can bother some stomachs.
It’s also not gluten‑free (hydrolysed wheat protein), includes soy and milk, and at 13g protein it’s more a light boost than a heavy hitter for muscle recovery.
The Middle Ground
Praise for the eating experience is earned: for 138 calories, getting a convincing chocolate‑caramel bite is impressive. Pushback about the sweetness and the lack of a dramatic crunch is fair too—the name sets you up for more snap than what’s inside.
If you’ve seen articles celebrating Applied Nutrition’s 62g Protein Crunch bars with around 21g of protein, note the distinction: this Chocolate Caramel Crisp is the smaller, lighter play at 13g protein.
Different tool, different job. And while the low sugar is a win for some, the path there—maltitol, soluble fibers, a touch of sucralose—won’t suit everyone’s gut or palate.
A Reddit user’s yogurt hack is a smart middle ground: pair it with Skyr or Greek yogurt to lift protein and blunt the sweetness. The truth sits in the middle lane: it’s a cleverly engineered dessert‑leaning snack, not a whole‑food bar and not a meal replacement.
What's the bottom line?
If your goal is to tame a chocolate‑caramel craving without blowing through calories, Applied Nutrition’s Chocolate Caramel Crisp hits the brief. It gives you a real candy‑bar moment for 138 calories with 13g of protein and just 1g of sugar. The trade‑offs are clear: a modern, processed ingredient list, a sweetness profile some will love and others won’t, and a protein dose that’s more snack than post‑lift anchor.
It’s vegetarian, but not gluten‑free or soy‑free. Think of it as a strategic treat with benefits. slump, the drive‑home snack, or chopped over thick yogurt when you want dessert that does a bit more for you.
If you need 20g+ protein from one bar, look to the bigger 62g Applied Nutrition bars or another heavier hitter. Otherwise, enjoy this for what it is—indulgence engineered to be a little kinder to your day. 13g protein, 1g sugar, milk‑chocolate shell with a soft caramel center and light crisp.
Great for a sweet break or light pre/post‑workout; less great if you avoid gluten/soy or don’t do sugar alcohols. Not a meal replacement—pair with yogurt if you want more protein.