Built
Caramel Brownie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
An unusually lean macro profile—17g of whey‑isolate protein in just 130 calories—wrapped in a real cocoa dark‑chocolate coating for a dessert‑leaning bite.
When to choose Built Caramel Brownie
Calorie‑conscious chocolate lovers who want fast‑digesting protein and can handle a chewy, gel‑set texture and sugar‑alcohol sweetness.
What's in the Built bar?
Built’s Caramel Brownie leans on whey protein isolate—plus a partially hydrolyzed form—for 17 grams of fast‑digesting, low‑lactose protein in a notably light, 130‑calorie package. The brownie flavor is driven by real cocoa and a dark‑chocolate coating (chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, vanilla), with the caramel note coming from natural flavors.
Carbs aren’t from oats or dates; they’re engineered from digestion‑resistant maltodextrin (a fiber‑like carbohydrate refined from starch), erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), a bit of glycerin, and a small amount of sugar in the chocolate.
Fat stays very low and mostly comes from cocoa butter and a touch of milkfat in the coating. Big picture: protein sits a touch above the category average, while fat and calories are among the lowest—useful if you want more protein without a heavy bar.
Heads‑up: it contains milk and soy (lecithin), is gluten‑free, and includes gelatin, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.
- Protein
- 17 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 130
Protein
1715MIDThe 17 grams of protein come from a blend of whey protein isolate and partially hydrolyzed whey isolate. Whey isolate is a clean, low‑lactose, complete dairy protein; the hydrolyzed portion is pre‑broken into peptides for faster digestion—handy around workouts but very refined. Gelatin appears for texture, but the meaningful protein here is whey.
Fat
39LOWFat is very low and mostly supplied by the dark‑chocolate coating—think cocoa butter plus a bit of milkfat. That skews toward saturated by type, yet the total is tiny, so the bar eats light and won’t feel heavy. No extra vegetable oils show up beyond what’s in the chocolate.
Carbs
1820MIDThese 18 grams of carbs come from digestion‑resistant maltodextrin (a soluble, fiber‑like carbohydrate refined from starch), erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), and some glycerin, plus a little regular sugar from the dark chocolate. This setup is more engineered than whole‑food carbs like oats or dates, but it generally delivers steadier energy than straight sugar. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, pay attention to how your stomach feels.
Sugar
44MIDOnly 4 grams of sugar, largely from the dark‑chocolate coating’s sucrose. Sweetness is otherwise carried by erythritol (a fermented, zero‑calorie sugar alcohol) and a bit of glycerin, which keep blood sugar steadier than cane sugar alone. Low sugar here reflects a pivot to refined sweeteners rather than fruit‑based sugars.
Calories
130210LOWAt 130 calories, this is a lean bar for the protein you get. Most energy comes from whey protein and the engineered carb system (fiber‑type maltodextrin, glycerin, and erythritol) with very little from fat. That design keeps calories low without loading the bar with sugar.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamins or minerals rise above 10% Daily Value. Cocoa can contribute small amounts of minerals like magnesium or iron, but not at meaningful levels in this bar. Consider it protein‑first, not a micronutrient booster.
Additives
To stay soft, sweet, and low in sugar, the bar uses several refined helpers: digestion‑resistant maltodextrin for fiber‑like bulk, glycerin for moisture, erythritol for low‑calorie sweetness, soy lecithin in the chocolate for smoothness, plus a touch of citric acid and natural flavor. Gelatin sets the chew but also makes the bar non‑vegetarian. If you prefer ultra‑short, whole‑food labels, this one reads more engineered, though these additives are widely reviewed as safe at food‑use levels.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Cow milk cream
Soybeans
Vanilla orchid seed pods
Corn, tapioca, potato, or rice starch
Fats and oils
Corn or wheat starch
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I just discovered Built protein bars, specifically the Puffs ones, and they're delicious! PSA for anyone looking for tasty protein bars.”
“The puff ones are surprisingly delicious. Recommend.”
“The chocolate raspberry legit tastes like a candy bar, it's so good.”
Main Praise
When Built lands, it really lands. Fans praise the dessert factor—dark chocolate outside, cocoa‑rich center inside—and say it satisfies a sweet tooth better than the chalky, sawdusty bars of yesteryear.
Several Amazon reviewers simply call them “fantastic” or “amazing,” and Reddit threads are peppered with “tastes like a candy bar” takes for the brand’s chocolatey flavors.
The macro math is the other headline: 17g of protein at 130 calories is efficient for a bar with a chocolate shell, making it easy to fit into cutting phases or lighter snack windows.
The whey isolate (plus a hydrolyzed portion) is fast‑digesting, which some lifters like around workouts. And it’s gluten‑free, which removes a common barrier for a lot of shoppers.
Main Criticism
Texture is the deal‑breaker for many. The Daily Meal called a related flavor “incredibly chewy, like taffy,” and Amazon reviewer Katie Vogel said it was sticky enough to “hurt your teeth and gums.
” On Reddit you’ll find blunt takes like “0 stars out of 10” and complaints about an artificial‑sweetener aftertaste. A few buyers also grumble about inconsistency between batches and ingredient tweaks, which erode trust when you’ve finally found a favorite texture.
Beyond taste, the use of sugar alcohols can bother sensitive stomachs, and one Tasting Table piece raised broader skepticism about the brand’s additive‑heavy approach (and even referenced a past recall in media coverage), urging readers to weigh convenience against formulation.
The Middle Ground
Why the whiplash between love and loathe? The very engineering that keeps calories low—whey isolate for protein, gelatin for structure, and low‑calorie sweeteners for sweetness—also creates that distinctive chew and can bring a detectable sweetener finish.
If you enjoy marshmallow‑meets‑taffy textures, you’ll likely be in the “candy bar” camp; if your ideal bar is oat‑and‑nut crumbly, you’ll probably side with The Daily Meal’s stuck‑to‑your‑teeth verdict. Reddit’s chorus that “the Puffs are the best” hints that texture expectations matter here.
Taste is subjective, but the pattern is clear: people who prize macro efficiency and a chocolate‑coated treat often forgive the chew, while those sensitive to sugar‑alcohol flavors or stickiness won’t. Given the formulation, neither side is wrong—the bar is doing exactly what it was designed to do, it just won’t please every palate or stomach.
The open questions are consistency across batches and whether your own tolerance aligns with the sweetener system.
What's the bottom line?
Built’s Caramel Brownie is a purpose‑built, dessert‑leaning protein bar: 17g of fast‑digesting whey isolate in 130 calories, dressed in dark chocolate, with only 4 grams of sugar. It trades whole‑food ingredients for an engineered formula that keeps calories tight and sweetness high without a sugar dump. That means two realities can coexist.
It’s a win for macro‑watchers who want a legit chocolate fix and don’t mind a gel‑set chew or a hint of sugar‑alcohol finish. And it’s a skip for folks who prefer simple, whole‑food ingredient lists, crispy textures, or who know erythritol‑forward bars don’t sit well. Practical notes: it’s gluten‑free but contains milk and soy, and the gelatin makes it non‑vegetarian.
” If your priorities are light calories, solid protein, and a candy‑adjacent profile, this bar makes sense. If texture and ultra‑clean labels top your list, you’ll have better luck elsewhere.
Condensed listicle take: A candy‑bar‑adjacent whey‑isolate bar with 17g protein for 130 calories. Best for macro hawks who like a chewy center and can handle sugar‑alcohol sweetness; skip if sticky textures or refined sweeteners are a non‑starter.