BSN
Salted Toffee Pretzel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
This bar actually crunches—think rice‑crispy texture rather than taffy—while pulling off a convincingly ‘pretzel’ sweet‑salty profile and still delivering 20g of protein.
When to choose BSN Salted Toffee Pretzel
Choose it if you want a crunchy, dessert‑adjacent protein hit after a workout or during the 3 p. m.
slump and you’re fine with a longer, more processed ingredient list that leans on sugar alcohols.
What's in the BSN bar?
BSN’s Salted Toffee Pretzel bar leans on a dairy‑first protein blend—whey concentrate and isolate plus milk protein concentrate—backed by soy protein isolate and a touch of egg white to reach 20g (upper‑tier among bars).
Its carbs are mostly “engineered” for texture and low sugar: isomalto‑oligosaccharide, polydextrose, maltitol syrup, glycerin, and small amounts of rice syrup and sugar.
Fats come from confectionery and dairy sources (palm kernel/palm/shea oils and cocoa butter, with butter/milk fat and a little sunflower, almond, and sesame) for a chewy‑crisp bite without a heavy grease load.
The salted‑toffee‑pretzel personality is built the classic way—butter, sugar, vanilla, salt, yeast, and even a tiny lye dip (the standard pretzel step) for that deep brown, malty edge—wrapped around a decidedly modern macro profile.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 240
Protein
2015HIGHProtein here is driven primarily by a dairy blend—whey protein concentrate and isolate plus milk protein concentrate—supported by soy protein isolate and a little dried egg white. Whey and milk proteins are top‑quality and fast‑to‑moderate digesting, while soy rounds out amino acids and helps the bar’s structure. The mix delivers 20g, placing it near the top of the category without relying on a single protein source.
Fat
79MIDAt 7g, fat stays moderate and comes from confectionery fats (palm kernel oil/palm oil/shea oil and cocoa butter) plus dairy butter/milk fat, with lighter touches of sunflower oil and nuts/seeds (almonds, sesame). That means a blend of saturated fats for snap and shelf‑stability and some unsaturated fats from the seeds and sunflower. Tocopherols are added to keep those fats fresh.
Carbs
2420MIDMost carbs are built for structure and lower sugar: isomalto‑oligosaccharide and polydextrose (soluble fiber‑type ingredients), maltitol syrup and glycerin (reduced‑calorie sweeteners/humectants), with small amounts of rice syrup and sugar plus refined starches for crunch. Expect more of an engineered, lower‑glycemic swing than a candy bar, though rice syrup and some IMOs are partly digestible and can raise blood sugar. If you’re sensitive, note that sugar alcohols and fast‑fermenting fibers can cause gas or bloating at higher intakes.
Sugar
44MIDSugars stay modest at 4g, coming from small amounts of cane sugar, rice syrup, and dairy lactose. Most sweetness is supplied by sugar alcohols and specialty syrups (maltitol, glycerin, IMO) with a tiny boost from sucralose, which lowers sugar on the label but involves highly refined sweeteners. This usually means steadier glucose than a sugar‑heavy bar, but individuals vary—especially if sensitive to polyols.
Calories
240210HIGHAt 240 calories (on the higher side for bars), energy is split among the 20g protein, moderate fats from the coating and inclusions, and a mix of digestible and partially digestible carbs. Roughly speaking, carbs and protein do most of the lifting with fats contributing a smaller share. It’s sized more like a mini meal than a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no big fortification story here, though calcium hovers around 10% DV, largely from the milk‑derived proteins and a touch of calcium carbonate. You may see a small iron contribution from cocoa and soy. Otherwise, think macronutrients first, micronutrients second.
Additives
Expect a modern bar toolkit: soluble fibers (polydextrose, inulin) and IMO for bulk, sugar alcohols for sweetness, glycerin for moisture, lecithins and xanthan for texture, tocopherols for freshness, and sucralose for an intense sweet finish. These tools keep sugar low and texture chewy‑crisp, but they are highly processed. If you prefer short, minimally processed labels, this one reads more ‘functional confection’ than ‘whole‑food’ bar.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or tapioca
Oil palm fruit
Shea tree kernels
glucose
Fats and oils
Cassava root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“BSN Protein Crisp It’s by and large the best bar I’ve ever had.”
“Well, the brand is BSN. The flavor is just licensed from Cold Stone Creamery. Those protein crisp bars are pretty good! Sort of like a rice crispy treat.”
“BSN Protein crisp is still a great option. I literally used to eat a box of them a day while back in 2019 for a bulk”
Main Praise
Taste and texture headline the love here. Across Reddit, Amazon, and third‑party reviews, the Protein Crisp line consistently gets compared to a rice crispy treat rather than the usual dense brick.
Garage Gym Reviews went as far as calling it the best‑tasting high‑protein bar, praising the snap and the way it feels like actual food, not putty. The Salted Toffee Pretzel flavor leans into that contrast—sweet toffee, a real hit of salt, and a crunch that keeps you snacking rather than slogging.
The 20g of protein earns respect from lifters and casual snackers alike, and several reviewers note it satisfies a dessert craving without a sugar bomb. As a practical perk, people say it travels well and pairs easily with a shake for a post‑gym mini‑meal.
Main Criticism
The flip side of ‘crisp’ is that some find it dry; a few Amazon buyers said they needed a water chaser, and one even likened a flavor in the lineup to “vanilla chapstick.
” Others pick up an artificial edge in certain flavors (one Redditor wasn’t into the chocolatey ones), which isn’t surprising given the sweeteners and flavors at work. GI complaints show up, too: sugar alcohols and fast‑fermenting fibers can bloat sensitive stomachs, and several users felt it.
A couple of reviewers call the bar pricey for what it is, and nutrition‑forward articles point out the notable saturated fat from palm and dairy fats. Lastly, the ingredient list is long and very processed—if you prefer seven ingredients you can point to in your pantry, this won’t be your pick.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you like a bar to crunch, this one nails it; if you equate “protein bar” with brownie‑chewy, you might read that same texture as dry.
Reddit user unknown once said these bars have “a lot of sugar,” but the label puts sugars at 4g; most of the sweetness comes from sugar alcohols and fiber‑like syrups instead—easier on blood sugar than cane sugar for many, but harder on digestion for some.
Flavor‑wise, Salted Toffee Pretzel plays to the line’s strengths: sweet‑salty balance with a convincing pretzel vibe, built with classic pretzel cues in the recipe. Still, if artificial flavors or sucralose jump out at you, you’ll likely taste them here.
On the macro front, 240 calories places this flavor more in mini‑meal territory than a featherweight snack, but you do get 20g of high‑quality, dairy‑first protein for it. Consider it a functional confection: satisfying when you want dessert energy with protein‑forward intent—provided your stomach and your ingredient preferences agree.
What's the bottom line?
BSN’s Salted Toffee Pretzel Protein Crisp is for people who want crunch, not chew, and who love a sweet‑salty treat that quietly carries 20g of protein. It succeeds where many bars fail: it’s genuinely enjoyable to eat and doesn’t rely on a big sugar dump to get there. The trade‑offs are clear.
You’re buying into a highly processed formula with sugar alcohols and a notable share of saturated fats from palm and dairy. Some folks will call the texture delightfully crispy; others will call it dry. If you’re sensitive to polyols, you’ll know it quickly.
But if a fast, crunchy, dessert‑leaning bar fits your post‑workout routine or afternoon slump—and you’re cool with modern bar tech—this flavor is one of the more crowd‑pleasing options in the high‑protein aisle. Bonus: it’s gluten‑free and vegetarian, though it does contain milk, egg, soy, almonds, and sesame.