Applied Nutrition
White Chocolate Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Dessert-first flavor (gooey caramel under a white‑chocolate coating) with top-tier dairy protein—21.5g per 62g bar, about 194 calories, and just 1.8g sugar.
When to choose Applied Nutrition White Chocolate Caramel
Best for a sweet-tooth-satisfying post-workout or afternoon pick-me-up when you want a big protein hit without a heavy fat load or lots of sugar. Not ideal if you avoid gluten or soy, or if sugar alcohols tend to bother your stomach.
What's in the Applied Nutrition bar?
Applied Nutrition’s White Chocolate Caramel Protein Bar leans into a dessert-y profile—think cocoa-buttery white chocolate and a soft caramel—built with modern bar tech.
The protein is a dairy-led blend (milk protein isolate and whey isolate) supported by soy isolate and hydrolysed wheat protein, which pushes protein into the top tier while keeping lactose relatively low in the protein portion.
Carbs skew engineered rather than from whole grains or fruit: soluble tapioca fiber and oligofructose (both refined fibers) pair with maltitol (a sugar alcohol), a little maltodextrin and modified maize starch, and a pinch of sucralose for sweetness, which keeps sugars down without going sugar-free in total carbs.
Fat stays modest for a chocolate-coated bar—mostly from cocoa butter in the white chocolate and a touch of coconut oil in the caramel—so calories are driven by protein and that fiber/polyol matrix.
In short: big dairy-protein muscle, low sugar by design, and a white-chocolate–caramel flavor delivered by cocoa butter, milk powders, maltitol-sweetened white chocolate, and a pectin-set caramel.
- Protein
- 22 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 194
Protein
2215HIGHThe 21.5g of protein comes from a blend anchored by milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate, both complete, highly digestible dairy proteins. Soy protein isolate and hydrolysed wheat protein are added for texture and cost balance, but the amino acid quality is largely driven by the dairy—fast and complete—while the wheat component introduces gluten. Net effect: high-quality protein, top‑10% among bars, with multiple allergens (milk, soy, wheat) to note.
Fat
59LOWFat is low for a chocolate-coated bar because the main sources—cocoa butter in the white chocolate and a small amount of coconut oil in the caramel—are present in modest amounts. Those fats are mostly saturated, but the total is only 4.7g, so the overall saturated-fat load remains restrained. There’s little in the way of heart‑healthy unsaturated oils here; the leaner fat profile mainly reflects recipe design, not olive‑oil‑style fats.
Carbs
2220MIDThese are “designed” carbs more than whole‑food carbs. Most of the 22g come from refined fibers (soluble tapioca fiber and oligofructose) and polyols (maltitol), with small contributions from maltodextrin and modified waxy maize starch plus a hint of lactose from dairy. Expect a gentler rise in blood sugar than a sugar‑based bar, though the maltodextrin/starch portions are fast-burning and the fiber/polyol mix can bother sensitive stomachs.
Sugar
24MIDSugar is low (1.8g) because sweetness leans on sugar alcohols (maltitol) and a tiny dose of a high‑intensity sweetener (sucralose), with mild sweetness also coming from glycerin and oligofructose and a touch of lactose from milk powders. That means smaller glucose spikes than if this were sugar‑sweetened, but it’s not zero‑impact—and polyols can cause gas or loose stools for some people at higher intakes. The trade‑off: low sugar achieved via more processed sweeteners.
Calories
194210MIDAt 194 calories, most energy comes from protein and the carbohydrate system (fibers, polyols, and a little starch) with relatively little from fat. The high protein helps with satiety, while the low fat keeps the calorie total in check for a coated bar. If you track macros, this skews protein‑and‑carb rather than fat‑heavy.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no standout vitamin or mineral fortification listed. Any small boosts likely come from the dairy ingredients (calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin) and a minor contribution from calcium lactate in the caramel, but the panel doesn’t point to >10% Daily Value for specific micronutrients.
Additives
To deliver a creamy coating and chewy caramel with low sugar, the bar uses several functional additives: emulsifiers (soy and sunflower lecithin) to keep fats and water playing nicely, humectants (glycerin/glycerol) to hold moisture, and texture agents (pectin and xanthan) alongside modified starch. Maltitol (a sugar alcohol) provides bulked sweetness, and sucralose adds an intense finishing note. It’s a fairly processed toolkit—effective for texture and shelf life, but more refined than a short, whole‑food ingredient list.
Ingredient List
Sunflower seeds
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Soybeans
Fats and oils
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Chicory root
Corn or wheat starch
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 consistently leads the conversation. Reviewers call out the soft, nougat‑like bite with a gooey caramel layer and a convincing white‑chocolate finish—more candy bar than chalky gym snack.
Stack3d highlighted a 2024 refresh aimed squarely at better taste and texture, and it shows: the bar eats smoother than earlier runs. Macros are a genuine strong suit for the size: roughly 21.
5g of complete dairy protein and just 194 calories is a tight package. A Redditor even vouched for its versatility—chopped, microwaved, and stirred into Skyr—for a warm, melty, high‑protein dessert.
If your goal is to satisfy a craving and still clock serious protein, this bar makes that easy.
Main Criticism
It runs sweet. If you’re sensitive to intense sweetness or prefer a “less dessert, more snack” profile, this can feel like a lot.
The name promises “crunch,” but several tasters describe it as more of a soft chew with sprinklings of crisp than a true crunchy bar.
The formula leans on processed sweeteners (maltitol and a touch of sucralose) and refined fibers to keep sugar down—effective, but not everyone loves that approach, and sugar alcohols can cause bloating for some.
There are also multiple allergens in play (milk, soy, and gluten via wheat protein), which can be a dealbreaker. And while 1.
8g of sugar is low, some competitors manage even lower on-label sugars, for those chasing the absolute minimum.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you want a short, whole‑food ingredient list and fruit‑first sweetness, this is not your bar.
It’s a modern, engineered build designed to taste like dessert and still deliver 21. 5g of protein with restrained calories.
Stack3d’s “improved eating experience” claim checks out—this feels like a thoughtful rework, even if the “crunch” is more cameo than star. On sweetness, the split is predictable: dessert people love it; minimalists don’t.
And the digestive caveat is real—maltitol and friends are fine for many but not all, so starting with half a bar is a sensible test.
If you’re okay with those trade‑offs, the payoff is a truly indulgent protein hit that doesn’t bulldoze your macros; if you’re not, no amount of caramel charm will change your mind.
What's the bottom line?
8g sugar. It’s built with modern bar tech—refined fibers and sugar alcohols to keep sugars low—so it eats like dessert but performs like a protein snack. rescue that won’t steamroll your day’s numbers.
Skip it if you avoid gluten or soy, prefer whole‑food ingredient lists, or know sugar alcohols don’t love you back. 8g sugar. Soft chew with a caramel pull and light crunch—great for sweet‑tooth recovery, less so for polyol‑sensitive or gluten‑free eaters.