Built
German Chocolate Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dark‑chocolate–coated, coconut‑pecan bar with 17g of whey‑isolate protein at 180 calories and 5g of sugar, using erythritol, glycerin, and resistant maltodextrin for sweetness and softness. It’s gluten‑free but contains dairy, soy lecithin, pecans, coconut, and gelatin (not vegetarian).
When to choose Built German Chocolate Cake
Dessert‑leaning post‑workout or afternoon sweet‑tooth fixes if you like coconut‑pecan cake and don’t mind a soft, sticky chew; not ideal if sugar alcohols upset your stomach or you avoid gelatin.
What's in the Built bar?
Built’s German Chocolate Cake bar leans into the classic profile: real cocoa and a dark‑chocolate coating with coconut and pecans to echo that frosting you’re thinking of.
Under the dessert-y exterior, the protein is anchored by whey protein isolate (plus a partially hydrolyzed version for a softer chew), delivering 17g while keeping calories on the lighter side for a chocolate-coated bar.
Sweetness is engineered with a modern toolkit—resistant maltodextrin, glycerin, and erythritol—so sugar stays modest while the texture stays moist.
- Protein
- 17 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1715MIDThe 17g of protein come primarily from whey protein isolate and partially hydrolyzed whey isolate. Whey isolate is a highly filtered, complete dairy protein that’s low in lactose; the hydrolyzed portion is pre‑broken into shorter peptides, which helps with a softer texture and quick digestion. There’s also a small amount of gelatin for structure, but whey is doing nearly all the muscle work here.
Fat
79MIDFat here is a balanced mix from pecans and coconut in the bar, plus cocoa butter and milkfat in the dark‑chocolate coating. That means a blend of heart‑healthy unsaturated fats (from pecans) alongside more saturated fats from coconut, cocoa butter, and dairy. At 7g total, it’s a moderate amount and notably free of highly processed seed oils.
Carbs
1920MIDCarbs are built from resistant maltodextrin (a fiber‑like carbohydrate refined from starch), a little real sugar in the dark‑chocolate coating, and two texture/sweetness helpers—glycerin and erythritol. This leans more “refined functional carbs” than oats-and-dates “whole‑food carbs,” which can mean a steadier rise than straight sugar but less nutrient density. People sensitive to sugar alcohols may want to gauge their tolerance.
Sugar
54MIDSugar lands at 5g, largely from the dark‑chocolate coating. Most of the sweetness is carried instead by a sugar alcohol (erythritol) and glycerin, plus resistant maltodextrin for body—an approach that lowers sugar without going to high‑intensity artificial sweeteners. If you’re polyol‑sensitive, consider starting with half a bar to see how you feel.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, this sits on the lighter side for a chocolate-coated protein bar. A chunk of the listed carbs are low- or non‑digestible (resistant maltodextrin, erythritol), which helps keep calories in check while protein and a modest dose of fats supply most of the usable energy. In practice, you’re getting dessert flavor without the usual calorie load.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins cross the 10% Daily Value mark. You do get small amounts of minerals such as calcium (from whey/dairy) and iron and potassium (from cocoa and nuts), but nothing here is meant to be a micronutrient supplement. Think flavor first, with minor mineral bonuses.
Additives
Expect a handful of functional additives typical of low‑sugar, coated bars: soy lecithin to keep the chocolate smooth, glycerin to stay soft, resistant maltodextrin for fiber‑like bulk, erythritol for low‑calorie sweetness, and a touch of citric acid for flavor balance. Gelatin helps the bar set. It’s a more refined toolset than a whole‑food bar, but standard for this style and purpose.
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
Pecan tree nuts
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 come for the candy‑bar angle and, for many flavors, stay for it. Across Reddit and Amazon, the love notes revolve around dessert‑like taste—some even say certain Built flavors taste like a candy bar, and Tasting Table singles out coconut profiles as standouts.
That DNA shows up here: real coconut and pecans under a dark‑chocolate shell make the flavor feel familiar in the best way. Macros are efficient for a coated bar—17g of whey‑isolate protein at 180 calories—so you can scratch a sweet itch without committing to a full meal.
It’s also gluten‑free and, in this specific flavor, the chocolate lists cocoa butter rather than palm oils, a small but appreciated detail.
Main Criticism
Texture is the lightning rod.
The Daily Meal described Built as incredibly chewy, like taffy that sticks to your teeth, and plenty of Redditors echo that it can feel squishy or tacky with a faint sweetener aftertaste.
A few Amazon buyers complained about bars that were simultaneously dry and sticky, which is not the combo anyone wants. Flavor consistency also gets dinged—one comment even called out zero consistency on quality—and others insist the Puff line is the only reliably tasty option.
Finally, the sweetening system (erythritol, a sugar alcohol; glycerin, a plant‑based syrup; and resistant maltodextrin, a fiber‑like starch derivative) can bother sensitive stomachs, and the gelatin means it isn’t vegetarian.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you enjoy coconut‑chocolate candy and you’re good with a soft, stretchy chew, German Chocolate Cake can be a satisfying, lower‑sugar detour that still delivers 17 grams of complete protein.
If sticky textures make you brace for impact, you’ll likely side with The Daily Meal’s take.
Tasting Table’s broader critique—worrying about whey isolate, palm‑derived fats, and low‑cal sweeteners—deserves a quick unpacking: whey isolate is a mainstream, high‑quality protein; this flavor’s chocolate lists cocoa butter, not palm; the real trade‑off here is the refined sweetening system, which some digest fine and others don’t.
Reddit’s get‑the‑Puffs chorus is useful context too: Built’s texture varies a lot by line, and this isn’t a Puff. Net‑net, preference—not nutrition math—is what will make or break your experience.
Start with half a bar; your taste buds and your stomach will cast the deciding votes.
What's the bottom line?
Built German Chocolate Cake is a dessert‑coded protein bar: dark chocolate, coconut, and pecans wrapped around 17g of whey isolate at 180 calories. It’s gluten‑free, not vegetarian, and uses a low‑sugar playbook that some people love for the flavor‑to‑calorie ratio and others avoid for the texture and aftertaste. If you lean coconut, want something sweet after a workout, and don’t mind a stretchy chew, this one can feel like getting away with something.
If erythritol and friends bother your gut, or if you prefer crisp, cookie‑like bars, look elsewhere. Sensible move: try a single bar or a variety first; if it clicks, you’ve found a candy‑bar stand‑in that pulls real protein weight.