Built
Coconut Almond
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
It aims for a true candy‑bar experience—dark chocolate, real coconut and almond—while packing 18g of fast‑digesting whey isolate and keeping sugar to 5 grams.
When to choose Built Coconut Almond
Coconut‑chocolate lovers who want a lighter, protein‑forward treat after the gym or during the afternoon slump—especially if you’re fine with a chewy texture and modern sweeteners.
What's in the Built bar?
Built’s Coconut Almond bar leans on a whey protein isolate core for 18 grams of complete, fast-digesting protein, then dresses it in dark chocolate with real coconut and almond pieces. The macro picture is lighter than many bars at 180 calories, with moderate fat from almonds, coconut, and the chocolate’s cocoa butter, and just 5 grams of sugar.
Most of the sweetness and chew come from modern, lower-glycemic tools—resistant maltodextrin (a fiber made from corn starch), plant‑derived glycerin, and fermentation‑made erythritol—so sugar stays modest without losing a confection-like bite.
If you crave a coconut‑almond candy vibe but want something you can eat after a workout or between meetings, this one threads that needle, with the caveat that sugar alcohols and added fibers don’t suit every stomach.
- Protein
- 18 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1815MIDMost of the 18 grams come from whey protein isolate—including a partially hydrolyzed form that’s broken into smaller peptides for smoother texture and quick absorption. That gives you high‑quality, low‑lactose dairy protein, with minor assists from peanut flour, nonfat dry milk, and a little gelatin (not a complete protein). It sits a bit above the pack for protein and is especially practical around workouts.
Fat
79MIDThe 7 grams of fat come from almonds and coconut plus the chocolate’s cocoa butter and a touch of milk fat. Almonds bring mostly heart‑friendly monounsaturated fat, while coconut and cocoa butter tilt more saturated; at this modest level, the mix adds richness without feeling heavy. If you monitor saturated fat, this is a reasonable portion, but it isn’t an olive‑oil bar.
Carbs
1920MIDAt 19 grams, the carbs are mostly engineered for texture and steadier energy: digestion‑resistant maltodextrin (a corn‑starch‑derived soluble fiber) provides bulk, glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup) keeps it soft, and erythritol (a zero‑calorie sweetener made by fermentation) adds sweetness. A smaller share comes from real sugar in the dark chocolate and a bit from the nuts and coconut. Expect a gentler rise than a syrup‑sweetened bar, though those sensitive to sugar alcohols or added fibers may want to start with half.
Sugar
54MIDSugar lands at 5 grams, largely from the dark chocolate coating. Most of the sweetness is carried by erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol) and a bit of glycerin, which hold sweetness with less impact on blood sugar than syrupy sweeteners. That trade‑off keeps sugar modest but relies on highly refined sweeteners that can bother sensitive stomachs.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, it’s on the lighter side for protein bars. The calories are split mainly between whey protein and the chocolate‑and‑nut fats, with the rest from fiber‑type carbs and a small amount of sugar. That balance makes it a tidy snack or post‑gym option when you don’t want a meal‑replacement‑sized bar.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no vitamin fortification to speak of; the notable micronutrient is a modest 8% Daily Value of calcium, courtesy of the whey and nonfat dry milk. Small amounts of iron and potassium likely ride in from the cocoa and nuts. If you want micronutrients, pair the bar with fruit or yogurt rather than expecting them here.
Additives
To achieve a candy‑bar texture with lower sugar, the recipe uses resistant maltodextrin for bulk and fiber, glycerin to keep it soft, erythritol for near‑zero‑calorie sweetness, and soy lecithin in the chocolate for smoothness. These are widely used and highly refined—great for texture and shelf life, less appealing if you prefer only pantry‑style ingredients. Expect a polished, confection‑like bite rather than a whole‑food granola feel.
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
Almond tree seeds
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
Fans keep coming back to one thing: it tastes like dessert. Food writers have praised Built’s coconut flavors for their candy‑bar vibe, and while that hype often centers on the brand’s Puff line, the same dark‑chocolate–plus–coconut lane works in Coconut Almond.
The macros are tidy for something that eats like a confection—18g of high‑quality whey isolate at 180 calories with only 5g of sugar—and the partially hydrolyzed whey helps it go down easy before or after a workout.
The real coconut and almond pieces add a familiar, satisfying crunch and flavor you don’t always get in protein bars. It’s also gluten‑free, which broadens the audience for a classic Mounds/Almond‑Joy‑style profile.
For people who want sweet without a syrupy sugar crash, the sweetness strategy (fiber plus erythritol and glycerin) generally keeps energy steadier than a corn‑syrup‑heavy bar.
Main Criticism
Texture is the lightning rod.
Multiple reviewers describe the standard Built bars as very chewy—tacky even—with a tendency to stick to teeth; one outlet likened it to taffy, and an Amazon reviewer went as far as “impossible to consume.
” Others call out a noticeable sugar‑substitute aftertaste and, occasionally, a coconut note that reminds them of sunscreen. A few Redditors and Amazon customers flag inconsistency across flavors and batches, which erodes trust when you’re buying a favorite back-to-back.
And while the low sugar is a draw, the trade‑off is reliance on erythritol, added fiber, and glycerin—fine for many, but they can bother sensitive stomachs. Lastly, if you avoid animal gelatin or peanuts, this flavor is a no‑go (it contains gelatin and peanut flour).
The Middle Ground
Put the praise and pushback together and the truth looks like this: if you want a candy‑bar moment with meaningful protein and you’re cool with a nougat‑meets‑taffy chew, Coconut Almond delivers.
If sticky textures give you flashbacks to dental work, you may side with the Daily Meal verdict and move on.
The ingredient strategy—resistant maltodextrin, erythritol, glycerin—does a solid job keeping sugar modest without torpedoing taste, but yes, those are highly refined sweeteners; if your bar must be date‑and‑nut simple, this isn’t your lane.
Reddit threads repeatedly praise Built’s dessert flavors (one person said a flavor “legit tastes like a candy bar”) while others throw a dramatic “0/10. ” Both can be true: flavor enjoyment is high when you like the format, and the format is polarizing.
One more nuance lost in hot takes: this specific flavor’s ingredient list doesn’t show palm oils that some articles raise as a general concern, but it does include soy lecithin, gelatin, and peanut flour—details that matter depending on your diet and allergies.
What's the bottom line?
Built Coconut Almond is a sweet‑tooth detour that still points you toward your protein goal. The draw is obvious: dark chocolate, coconut, almond, 18 grams of whey isolate, and a reasonable 180 calories. ” Choose it if you crave that Mounds‑adjacent flavor and want real protein without a sugar bomb.
Skip it if you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols and added fibers, want a soft‑baked or crumbly texture, or avoid gelatin, soy, peanuts, or coconut. For the right eater, it’s dessert‑ish and practical at once; for the wrong one, it’s a tug‑of‑war with your molars. Know which camp you’re in before you buy.