Huel
Dark Chocolate Raspberry
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, chocolate-coated bar with real raspberry pieces and a built-in micronutrient blend—aiming for both flavor and a “complete snack” feel at 180 calories and 14g of plant protein.
When to choose Huel Dark Chocolate Raspberry
Best for plant-based eaters who want a low-sugar, fortified snack between meals and don’t mind engineered sweeteners. Not ideal if you avoid gluten or react to sugar alcohols.
What's in the Huel bar?
Huel’s Dark Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bar builds its flavor the classic way: a dark cocoa coating (cocoa mass, cocoa butter, natural vanilla) wrapped around a raspberry layer with real dried raspberry pieces and a touch of tangy citric acid.
The sweetness is engineered more than sugary, leaning on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a pinch of stevia rather than added sugar.
Protein (14 grams) comes from a fully plant-based trio — pea protein, rice protein, and wheat gluten — while carbs skew toward soluble corn fiber, maltitol, and a little glycerol for softness.
Fats are plant-derived too, mainly sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and a bit of flaxseed. Calories land at a trim 180, and a built-in micronutrient blend is what drives the vitamin-and-mineral numbers you’ll notice on the label.
If you avoid gluten or react to sugar alcohols, note the wheat gluten and maltitol; if you want a vegan bar with steady energy and a chocolate-raspberry profile, this fits the brief.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 11 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
1415MIDThe 14g of protein is entirely plant-based, coming from pea protein, rice protein, and wheat gluten. Pea brings a stronger amino-acid profile, while rice and wheat are lower in lysine; together they help round each other out. No dairy here, but the wheat gluten means it isn’t suitable for gluten-free diets.
Fat
79MIDFat (7g) comes from sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and ground flaxseed. That’s a mostly unsaturated mix (sunflower and flax) with some saturated fat from cocoa butter—largely stearic acid, which is relatively neutral for LDL cholesterol. Overall, it’s a plant-fat profile rather than heavy tropical or hydrogenated oils.
Carbs
1120LOWMost of the 11g of carbs are engineered rather than grain-based: soluble corn fiber for bulk, maltitol (a sugar alcohol) for sweetness, and a little glycerol to keep the bar soft, with minor sugars from dried raspberry. These choices generally blunt blood-sugar spikes compared with table sugar, so energy feels steadier. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, be aware maltitol can cause bloating or laxation at higher intakes.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1g of sugar shows up because most sweetness comes from maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and stevia (a high-intensity sweetener), with just a touch from the dried raspberries. That keeps blood sugar in check, but sugar alcohols still add some calories and can bother sensitive stomachs if you have multiple servings. If you prefer sweetness from fruit or honey, this leans more engineered than pantry.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories, this sits on the lighter side for protein bars. The calories are split roughly between protein and fats, with the rest from carbs that include fiber and sugar alcohols (which contribute fewer digestible calories than sugar). Think snack or small post-workout bite rather than a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
Any double‑digit % Daily Values you see are driven by the added Micronutrient Blend rather than the cocoa or raspberries. Huel includes vitamin D3 (plant‑derived cholecalciferol), B12 (cyanocobalamin), K2 (menaquinone‑7), vitamins E, A, and C, plus minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and iodine. Check the label for exact %DV—fortification is why the micros look robust.
Additives
To deliver low sugar with a soft, chocolate-coated bite, the bar uses several modern helpers: maltitol for bulked sweetness, glycerol for moisture, soluble corn fiber for body, soy lecithin to emulsify the chocolate, and stevia for an extra sweet lift. These are highly refined ingredients chosen for performance rather than familiarity. If you prefer a very short, kitchen‑cupboard ingredient list, note this reads more like a modern, low‑sugar confection.
Ingredient List
Corn bran and starch
Corn or wheat
Rice grain
Sunflower seeds
lemons
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Cocoa beans
Soybeans
Wheat grain
Vegetable oils and animal fats
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I love the Huel protein bars. I've eaten about a dozen of the selection boxes so far. I have a subscription of 5 boxes each time and I get through all of them in about 1-2 months. They're so convenient (I'm on a calorie deficit and maintaining my protein) at only 200 calories (together with 20g of protein) each bar. I like all of the four flavours. I wasn't fond of raspberry initially but my tastes have changed and now it's my 2nd best flavour. For me, in order of preference (best first), it would be peanut butter, raspberry, salted caramel and finally banoffee. The Huel protein bars all use real flavours (though with the raspberry, it means raspberry pips) - nothing artificial. As a society, we're accustomed to food with too much sugar but once your taste buds adjust, the Huel bars taste fine.”
“Just tried the caramel one and it's pretty great Haven't tried the old bars I don't think there's too much caramel. It's a good amount. Sweet but not overly sweet As a vegan these are amazing. Vegan chocolate is relatively expensive as well Will be using as an occasional treat rather than something daily”
“I like them. They are surprisingly filling and, for this type of product, taste pretty good. I've tried a lot of protein/nutrition bars and the ones that aren't loaded with sugar usually taste like dirt.”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for how filling this is for the calories: multiple reviewers say it holds them comfortably until the next meal, which isn’t a given at 180 calories. Taste lands in a sweet spot for many—chocolatey without being syrupy, with a raspberry tang that keeps it from feeling one-note.
Several people applaud the lack of “protein chalk” and call the texture more chewy-biscuity than dense, which is rare in low-sugar bars.
The vegan credentials and added vitamins/minerals are a real draw for folks who want more than just protein—this feels like a smarter snack, not a candy bar with a label makeover.
And once taste buds adjust to less sugar, some say the flavors become genuinely enjoyable rather than just “good for a protein bar. ”
Main Criticism
Texture is polarizing: a handful of reviewers call earlier or colder bars dry, even brick-like, and a few detect a faint “chemical” sweetness from the sugar alcohol/stevia combo. Others think the different flavors blur together and skew sweeter than they’d like.
The biggest functional complaint is digestive—sugar alcohols like maltitol can cause gas or bloating in sensitive people, especially if you eat more than one. You’ll also see grumbles about value relative to protein: at 14g, it’s a snack, not a heavy post-lift bar.
Lastly, it’s not gluten-free due to wheat gluten, which takes it off the menu for some.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the folks calling it surprisingly tasty and filling, or the ones side-eyeing the sweetness and texture? Probably both.
If you expect a candy bar, you’ll notice the engineered sweetness; if you’re used to low-sugar options, the dark chocolate–raspberry combo feels pleasantly grown-up and not cloying. That “stodgy” critique from Women’s Health UK tracks with many low-sugar bars: less sugar means less moisture, and fiber/sugar alcohols chew differently.
Temperature matters—room-temp beats cold, and pairing with coffee or tea softens the edges. As for digestion, Reddit is full of cautionary tales: one user described becoming a “fart factory,” which is colorful but also a reminder that maltitol tolerance varies wildly.
Start with one bar, see how you feel, and don’t stack them back-to-back. If you prioritize vegan ingredients, steady energy, and a vitamin boost, this bar hits.
If you want 20–25g of protein and a classic candy texture, you’ll likely look elsewhere.
What's the bottom line?
Huel’s Dark Chocolate Raspberry Bar is a modern, plant-based snack that leans into engineered sweetness to keep sugar at 1g while delivering 14g of protein, a chocolate coating, and a bright pop of real raspberry. The fortified micronutrients add genuine utility—this isn’t just protein; it’s a more complete snack for between meals. Still, it’s not for everyone.
The texture can read dry if you’re expecting fudgy, and maltitol can be a non-starter for sensitive stomachs. If you’re vegan, okay with gluten, and want a low-sugar bar that feels more balanced than a dessert-in-disguise, this one’s a strong pick. ” experience, you’ll find better fits elsewhere.