CLIF
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavor Protein Bar with Caffeine
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo: 20g of complete, dairy‑free soy protein, real‑sugar sweetness (no sugar alcohols), and a mild caffeine lift—wrapped in a cookie‑dough flavor that genuinely leans candy‑bar.
When to choose CLIF Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flavor Protein Bar with Caffeine
Best for post‑workout or afternoon slumps when you want quick carbs plus protein and don’t mind a sweeter, higher‑calorie bar. Also a fit if you avoid sugar alcohols or dairy and prefer plant‑based protein.
What's in the CLIF bar?
CLIF’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar with Caffeine plays in two lanes at once: dessert‑leaning flavor and gym‑leaning macros.
It packs 20g of soy‑based protein (from soy protein isolate/concentrate, soy flour, and roasted soybeans), a generous 29g of carbs led by cane and rice syrups, and a caffeinated twist from coffee‑fruit extract.
The fats—palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, and sunflower/soybean oil—help nail that cookie‑dough chew and chocolate snap. The cookie‑dough vibe comes from chocolate (cocoa, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate), sugar, and natural flavors.
It’s higher in calories and sugar than many bars because the sweetness comes from conventional sugars rather than sugar alcohols—useful context whether you’re chasing a quick boost or avoiding artificial sweeteners.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 18 g
- Calories
- 290
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes almost entirely from soy: primarily soy protein isolate and soy protein concentrate, with backup from soy flour and roasted soybeans. That combo delivers 20g per bar—toward the top of the category—while staying dairy‑free; soy is a complete protein, though isolates are highly refined and typically score a notch below whey on amino‑acid digestibility.
Fat
109MIDFat (10g) is a blend of palm kernel oil and cocoa butter—both richer in saturated fats—and sunflower and/or soybean oil, which are mostly unsaturated. The mix gives that cookie‑dough bite and helps the chocolate pieces set, while tilting the overall profile toward omega‑6 from the seed oils. If you’re balancing fats across the day, pair this with meals that lean on olive oil, nuts, or avocado.
Carbs
2920HIGHMost of the 29g of carbs come from conventional sweeteners—cane syrup and cane sugar—and brown rice syrup (a rice‑starch sweetener that digests quickly), plus refined rice flour/starch for structure. Chicory root fiber adds some soluble fiber, but brown rice syrup is very fast‑digesting, so the overall energy skews quick‑release. Expect a sweet, caffeinated pick‑me‑up rather than slow‑burning, whole‑grain fuel.
Sugar
184HIGHSugar lands at 18g, coming mostly from cane syrup/sugar and brown rice syrup—straightforward, refined sweeteners rather than fruit‑based sugars or sugar alcohols. That means clean, familiar taste but also a faster blood‑sugar rise than bars sweetened with dates plus nuts. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, you’ll appreciate the simplicity; if you’re watching blood sugar, consider timing it around activity.
Calories
290210HIGHAt 290 calories, this sits on the higher end for bars and can stand in as a mini‑meal or workout fuel. Roughly, the 20g protein contributes ~80 calories, 10g fat ~90, and 29g carbs ~120—so sugars and oils, not just protein, drive the total. It’s satisfying; just plan it into your day if you weren’t expecting a full snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is iron at about 20% DV, largely from soy proteins and a small assist from cocoa. Phosphorus hits roughly 10% DV, again mainly from soy. You’ll also get a modest bump of vitamin E from the seed oils, though not enough to headline the label.
Additives
To keep the texture soft and cohesive, the bar uses vegetable glycerin (a moisture‑holding syrup) and soy lecithin (an emulsifier), plus natural flavors to dial in the cookie‑dough profile. Chicory root fiber is an isolated prebiotic that adds body and fiber; some people with sensitive digestion find larger amounts gassy. Overall, it’s a fairly processed build—protein isolates, syrups, refined oils—typical of candy‑bar‑style protein bars, with a mild caffeine lift from coffee‑fruit extract.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Sugarcane juice
Sugarcane stalks
Brown rice
Oil palm fruit
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Milled soybeans
Soybeans
Chicory root
Cocoa beans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Another vote for builders bars. They are so so good. Definitely the best I've tasted, and I have tasted a lot.”
“Builder bars are THE BEST! I love them.”
“Oh the cookie dough is my fav! I like that it has a little caffeine boost too.”
Main Praise
Taste is the headline.
Across Reddit threads and independent tastings, Builders lands near the top for flavor—“the best,” as more than one Redditor put it—with cookie‑dough chocolate that reads like a treat, not a punishment.
Business Insider ranked it No. 2 in a taste test, calling it chocolatey, crunchy, and substantial, and that lines up with thousands of positive Amazon ratings.
The 20 grams of protein from soy (a complete protein) make it legitimately filling, with several reviewers using it as a portable mini‑meal. The small caffeine nudge in this flavor earns bonus points from fans who want a lift without a full coffee.
And because the sweetness comes from familiar sugars rather than sugar alcohols, there’s no odd aftertaste—just a clean, dessert‑leaning chew.
Main Criticism
The flip side of that flavor is the macro trade‑off: 18g of sugar and 290 calories land higher than many bars, and multiple reviewers call that out. Texture is polarizing—most find it satisfying, but a few complain it’s dense and a bit tough to bite, especially when cold.
Some shoppers flag palm kernel oil and the higher saturated fat as a downside. Others note certain flavors can skew drier or more candy‑sweet than they prefer.
And while chicory root fiber boosts soluble fiber, people with sensitive digestion sometimes report gassiness when they have larger amounts.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “tastes amazing” camp or the “too much sugar” camp? Both, depending on how you use it.
If you slot this bar after a lift or during a long day on your feet, the quick‑digesting carbs, 20g of protein, and little caffeine bump make practical sense—several dietitians recommend Builders for exactly that recovery window.
If you want a low‑sugar daily nibble, this isn’t it; the cane and rice syrups are designed for a clean, candy‑like taste and fast energy, not slow burn. One Redditor grumbled that you’ll “drool trying to bite it,” but most experiences don’t echo that; storing it at room temp (not fridge‑cold) generally keeps the chew friendly.
Another called the mint flavor “disgusting”—fair reminder that Builders is a line with distinct personalities. Cookie Dough with Caffeine aims for dessert‑meets‑fuel, and on that promise it largely delivers.
Palm kernel oil and saturated fat? They’re part of why the chocolate snaps and the bar holds shape; not a deal‑breaker, but worth balancing with olive oil, nuts, or avocado elsewhere in your day.
What's the bottom line?
CLIF Builders Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Caffeine is a crowd‑pleasing, dessert‑leaning protein bar that actually eats like one—and brings real muscle with 20 grams of complete soy protein. It’s intentionally sweeter and higher in calories than many competitors, trading sugar alcohols and austere formulas for familiar sugars, a chewy center, and a bit of buzz. Use it deliberately and it shines: post‑workout, pre‑hike, or as a satisfying mini‑meal when you need quick energy plus protein.
If you’re chasing very low sugar or you’re sensitive to chicory root fiber, look elsewhere. But if you want plant‑based protein with no weird aftertaste and a flavor that feels like a treat, this bar makes a compelling case. Think of it as the cookie and the recovery shake, conveniently fused—and best when you planned for both.