Built
Raspberry
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Unusually lean for a chocolate‑dipped bar: 17g of quick‑digesting whey protein in 130 calories with only 3g of fat, a candy‑bar‑style shell, and a bright raspberry note created with natural flavor and a touch of citric acid (no actual raspberries).
When to choose Built Raspberry
Best for a low‑calorie protein top‑up—especially post‑workout or when you want a dessert‑like bite without spending many calories. Not ideal if you avoid sugar alcohols, want real fruit, or follow vegetarian diets (it contains gelatin).
What's in the Built bar?
Built’s Raspberry Protein Bar is a lean, chocolate-dipped take on fruit-and-protein: whey protein isolate (plus a hydrolyzed version) supplies the muscle-friendly 17g, while dark chocolate and a raspberry “zing” from natural flavor and a touch of citric acid carry the taste.
What stands out nutritionally is how light it is—very low in fat and calories compared with most bars—achieved by swapping much of the sugar for erythritol and digestion‑resistant maltodextrin. The tradeoff is a more engineered carb blend and no actual raspberries, but the payoff is modest sugar, quick‑digesting protein, and a satisfyingly light bite.
- Protein
- 17 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 130
Protein
1715MIDProtein comes from a blend of whey protein isolate and partially hydrolyzed whey isolate—complete, low‑lactose dairy proteins that digest quickly and bring plenty of leucine for muscle repair. The hydrolyzed portion is pre‑broken into smaller peptides, which can be easier to absorb around workouts. Nonfat dry milk and a bit of gelatin are present but play supporting roles (and gelatin is an incomplete protein).
Fat
39LOWFat stays very low at 2.5g, coming mostly from cocoa butter in the dark chocolate and a touch of milkfat. These are largely saturated fats, but the amounts here are small, so the bar eats light without relying on high‑omega‑6 seed oils. Chocolate flavor, minimal greasiness.
Carbs
1820MIDMost of the 18g of carbs are engineered rather than from whole grains or fruit: digestion‑resistant maltodextrin (a soluble fiber), erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), and some glycerin provide bulk and sweetness with a gentler blood‑sugar impact than table sugar. The rest comes from a little real sugar in the dark‑chocolate coating and some lactose from dairy. Expect steadier energy than candy, though sugar‑alcohol‑sensitive folks may want to avoid back‑to‑back servings.
Sugar
44MIDOnly 4g of sugar show up, largely from the dark chocolate’s sucrose plus a little lactose from the milk ingredients—there’s no fruit‑derived sugar here. Sweetness leans on erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol) and glycerin, which add sweetness and moisture with fewer calories. That keeps sugars modest, but large single intakes of sugar alcohols can bother sensitive stomachs.
Calories
130210LOWAt 130 calories, this sits near the very bottom of the category for energy per bar. Most calories come from protein, with carbs kept lighter by replacing much of the sugar with resistant fiber and erythritol; tiny fat helps keep totals down too. Handy when you want a protein hit without spending many calories.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients cross the 10% Daily Value mark. You’ll get a modest calcium nudge from the whey and nonfat dry milk, plus small amounts of iron and potassium from the cocoa. Think of this as a protein‑first bar rather than a vitamin‑rich one.
Additives
This is a modern, engineered recipe: digestion‑resistant maltodextrin adds soluble fiber, glycerin keeps the bar soft, erythritol supplies low‑calorie sweetness, and soy lecithin smooths the chocolate; citric acid sharpens the raspberry tang while natural flavors deliver the fruit note. These are refined tools chosen for texture and sugar control more than whole‑food minimalism. Most people do fine with them, but if you avoid sugar alcohols or prefer simpler labels, note they’re part of the formula.
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
What wins people over is the treat factor for the macros. Several reviewers say the chocolate‑raspberry tastes like a candy bar, and the dark‑chocolate coating helps mask that telltale “protein” flavor.
At 130 calories with 17g of whey isolate, it’s a surprisingly efficient way to plug a protein gap without turning a snack into a meal. The whey base digests quickly, which gym‑goers appreciate before or after training.
And for folks who find many bars oily or heavy, the very low fat keeps this one feeling light.
Main Criticism
Texture is the lightning rod. The Daily Meal called it incredibly chewy and tacky, and Amazon critics echoed that it can stick to teeth or feel tough.
Some Redditors also flag a noticeable artificial‑sweetener aftertaste. Quality seems inconsistent by batch and flavor—one user praised Puffs while calling the regular bars uneven—so your experience may vary.
Ingredient‑conscious eaters ding the formula for engineered sweeteners and fiber instead of real fruit, and a few note stomach upset if they have more than one. Practical notes: it contains milk and soy and isn’t vegetarian due to gelatin.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—candy‑bar clever or science‑project snack? Probably both.
The praise makes sense: for 130 calories, you’re getting a chocolate‑dipped bar with 17g of fast protein and only 4g of sugar. That’s a neat trick, and one Redditor even said the chocolate raspberry “legit tastes like a candy bar.
” The pushback also tracks: to hit those numbers, Built leans on digestion‑resistant maltodextrin (a soluble fiber), erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol), and glycerin (a plant‑based syrup) for sweetness and softness, plus gelatin for the bouncy chew.
If your palate is sensitive to sugar alcohols, you might pick up a cooling or “diet” aftertaste—and if you dislike taffy‑like textures, the chew can feel like a workout of its own.
Flavor consistency and batch variability come up in reviews too; as one Redditor put it, "zero consistency on quality. " Takeaway: if you enjoy marshmallow‑or‑taffy textures and want a light, post‑workout treat, you’ll probably be in the fan camp.
If you want whole‑food ingredients or a cookie‑like bite, this likely isn’t your bar.
What's the bottom line?
Built’s Raspberry bar is a dessert‑leaning protein play: 17g of quick whey, a dark‑chocolate shell, and a bright raspberry note, all at just 130 calories. It’s engineered to be light on sugar and fat, which means sweetness comes from modern sweeteners and fiber rather than fruit, and the chew is bouncy from gelatin. If you’re chasing macros with minimal calories—especially around a workout or when you want something sweet without going all‑in—this is a smart, satisfying pick.
If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, prioritize simple ingredient lists, want real fruit, or need vegetarian‑friendly, look elsewhere. Polarizing?
Yes. But for the right eater, it lands squarely in the “candy‑bar energy, protein‑bar intent” sweet spot.