CLIF
OREO Protein Bar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy-bar-level flavor that still delivers 20g of complete, dairy-free protein from soy isolate—without sugar alcohols or high-intensity sweeteners.
When to choose CLIF OREO Protein Bar
Post-workout refueling or a satisfying on-the-go mini meal when you want dessert-level taste with real protein. Less ideal if you’re minimizing added sugar or want a short, whole-food ingredient list.
What's in the CLIF bar?
Cookies-and-cream gets the protein-bar treatment: CLIF Protein Bar — OREO leans on soy protein isolate for 20g of complete, dairy‑free protein, then builds the cookie vibe with Dutch‑processed cocoa, unsweetened chocolate, and a creamy fat blend of palm kernel oil and cocoa butter.
It’s on the high end for carbs and sugar among bars, thanks to organic cane sugar, invert syrup, and brown rice syrup—so expect fast fuel more than a long, slow burn.
You do pick up meaningful iron (about 20% DV) from soy and cocoa, and calories land high for a bar, reading more like a mini dessert‑meets‑protein boost. Here’s how the ingredients drive what you’ll feel after the last bite.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 31 g
- Sugar
- 17 g
- Calories
- 280
Protein
2015HIGHNearly all 20g of protein comes from soy protein isolate—a highly purified, complete plant protein. It’s efficient and dairy‑free, though more processed than whole soy, and delivers a solid amino acid profile just a notch below whey. Small assists likely come from soy flour and roasted soybeans in the mix.
Fat
99MIDAt 9g, fat comes mainly from palm kernel oil and cocoa butter to create that cookies‑and‑cream melt—both higher in saturated fat (with stearic in cocoa butter being more cholesterol‑neutral). High‑oleic sunflower and/or soybean oil adds softer, more heart‑friendly unsaturated fats. Net effect: a structured, shelf‑stable fat blend with some monounsaturated balance.
Carbs
3120HIGHMost of the 31g of carbs are quick‑digesting: organic cane sugar and invert syrup, plus brown rice syrup, with rice flour and rice starch for that cookie‑like bite. This is refined fuel rather than oats or dates, so think quick energy over all‑afternoon stamina. A touch of chicory root fiber helps with texture and fiber, but the sweeteners lead the show.
Sugar
174HIGHSeventeen grams of sugar come primarily from organic cane sugar and invert cane syrup, while brown rice syrup adds more rapidly digested carbs. The sweetness is from refined sugars rather than fruit, and there are no artificial high‑intensity sweeteners here. Expect a quick rise in energy, softened somewhat by the protein and fat.
Calories
280210HIGHAt 280 calories, this sits on the higher side for a bar, driven chiefly by the syrups and refined starches, with the 20g protein and moderate fat rounding it out. In practice, it eats like a satisfying mini meal or post‑lift treat rather than a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is iron (about 20% DV), largely from soy ingredients and cocoa. Phosphorus reaches around 10% DV, also tied to soy protein and soy flour. Otherwise, vitamins are modest—this isn’t a fortified bar.
Additives
To hold the cookies‑and‑cream texture, the bar uses glycerin to keep it soft, soy lecithin to emulsify, chicory root fiber for body, and rice starch for structure. These are common, highly refined helpers that make bars stable and chewy. If you prefer minimally processed snacks, this skews more confection‑style than whole‑food.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Sugarcane
Sugarcane stalks
Brown rice
Chicory root
Fats and oils
Oil palm fruit
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Cacao beans
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.
In a Business Insider taste test, CLIF Builders landed near the top for being chocolatey, crunchy, and genuinely enjoyable—something echoed across Reddit threads where people call it the best-tasting protein bar they’ve tried.
The protein is legit: 20g from soy isolate, a complete amino acid profile that dietitians and BarBend’s testers highlighted as solid for recovery. Many users also point out how filling it is; at 280 calories with real protein and some fat, it feels more like a small meal than a flimsy snack.
Practicality gets love, too—an Amazon reviewer praised how it survives days in a backpack and still eats well, which speaks to its sturdy, travel-friendly build. You also pick up a meaningful dose of iron (around 20% DV), a quiet perk of the soy-and-cocoa combo that many bars don’t offer.
Main Criticism
The most consistent critique is sugar: roughly 17g, coming from refined syrups rather than fruit, and a higher calorie count than many bars. Some flavors divide the crowd—one Redditor didn’t mince words about the mint—so taste isn’t unanimous.
Texture can be dense; a few users describe it as tough to bite or a little dry, especially compared with softer, nougat-style bars. The fat blend includes palm kernel oil, which some readers prefer to avoid for environmental or nutritional reasons.
And if you want a super-short, whole-food ingredient list, this leans more confection-style than minimalist.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth settle? If you want a bar that actually tastes like a treat and still brings real-deal protein, this is exactly why CLIF Builders has a fanbase.
The sugars make it a better fit for quick energy—post-lift, between classes, or before a long walk—than for strict low-sugar goals.
That said, the protein and moderate fat do temper the rush compared with candy, and there are no sugar alcohols or intense sweeteners, which many people appreciate for both taste and digestion.
Texture complaints are fair—it’s a structured, layered bar that can read dense if you expect a soft cookie—but plenty of folks love that substantial bite. As for flavor drama, well, Reddit will always Reddit; one person’s “disgusting” mint is another’s gym-bag staple.
The open question is less about whether it’s good (it is) and more about whether its quick-fuel profile fits your day.
What's the bottom line?
CLIF Builders is the protein bar for people who care about taste and satiety as much as macros. It’s dessert-leaning by design—refined sugars, a layered chocolate vibe, and a substantial 280 calories—but it pays you back with 20g of complete soy protein, solid post-workout utility, and a bar that actually feels like food. If you’re aiming for low sugar or a super-simple ingredient list, there are better matches.
But if you want a plant-based, widely loved bar that’s easy to find, reliably filling, and miles better than chalky “diet” options, CLIF Builders earns its spot. Think of it as a mini meal or recovery snack with a sweet tooth—more gym-bag brownie than monkish macro cube—and it makes perfect sense.