Huel
Peanut Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, candy-bar-style snack fortified with a broad vitamin–mineral blend that keeps sugar low via fiber and maltitol while avoiding the chalkiness common in low-sugar bars.
When to choose Huel Peanut Caramel
Plant-based snackers who want a low-sugar, vitamin-fortified bar to bridge long stretches between meals or satisfy a sweet tooth without a sugar crash. Not ideal if you need gluten-free or don’t tolerate sugar alcohols.
What's in the Huel bar?
Meet Huel’s Peanut Caramel Protein Bar: a dairy-free, plant-protein build (pea + rice, plus wheat gluten for structure) wrapped in a cocoa coating with roasted peanuts. It skews higher in carbs than most bars (80th percentile), yet keeps sugars low by leaning on added fiber and sugar alcohols, and it’s fortified with a broad micronutrient mix.
The peanut-and-caramel character comes from actual peanuts and natural flavors, while maltitol and glycerol provide the sweet, chewy bite.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
1315MIDProtein comes from a trio of plant sources: pea and rice proteins backed by wheat gluten, with peanuts contributing a little. Pea protein brings a complete amino acid profile that helps balance rice and wheat, which are lower in lysine, though the total lands at a moderate 13 grams (about mid‑low among bars). Note that the use of wheat gluten boosts protein but means this bar isn’t gluten‑free.
Fat
89MIDFat here is a mix of monounsaturated fats from peanuts and sunflower oil and the more saturated cocoa butter in the coating, with a small omega‑3 lift from ground flaxseed. At 8 grams, it’s mid‑pack—enough to help with fullness without feeling heavy. Stearic‑rich cocoa butter is relatively neutral for LDL compared with some saturated fats, but think of this as treat‑style fat, not the same profile you’d get from olive oil or avocado.
Carbs
2520HIGHMost of the 25 grams of carbs come from soluble corn fiber and a sugar alcohol (maltitol), plus a bit of glycerol—engineered ingredients that add bulk and sweetness with a gentler blood‑sugar impact than regular sugar. Expect steadier energy versus a sugar spike, though some folks get gassy if they stack multiple servings of polyols and added fibers. If you’re looking for whole‑food starches (oats, sweet potato), this isn’t that bar.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar show up because sweetness comes mostly from a sugar alcohol (maltitol) and a little glycerol rather than cane sugar or fruit. That keeps blood‑sugar rise lower, but these are still digestible carbs and, at higher intakes, polyols can bother sensitive stomachs. The sweetness profile is more confectionery‑style than fruit‑sweetened.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, it sits near the middle of the pack. Energy is shared across protein and fats, with the remainder from carbs largely supplied by fiber and maltitol; because maltitol has fewer calories than sugar, it helps keep the total in check. In short, it’s a moderate snack rather than a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
Those double‑digit daily values (think vitamin C, A, E, several B vitamins, and minerals like magnesium, zinc, copper, and notably molybdenum) come chiefly from Huel’s added micronutrient blend. Peanuts and sunflower oil contribute a small amount of natural vitamin E, but fortification does the heavy lifting. It’s a purposeful way to cover more bases in a small snack.
Additives
This is a modern, engineered bar: soluble corn fiber for bulk, maltitol for sweetness, glycerol to keep it soft, sunflower lecithin to emulsify, and a vitamin‑mineral premix to round out nutrition. These choices trade whole‑food simplicity for low sugar, a chewy texture, and shelf stability. Most people tolerate a single bar well, but stacking polyols and added fibers can tip sensitive guts.
Ingredient List
Corn or wheat
Cocoa beans
Ground roasted cocoa bean nibs
Sunflower seeds
Corn bran and starch
Wheat grain
Groundnut plant seeds
Rice grain
Vegetable oils and animal fats
Sunflower seeds
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 consistently call out flavor and fullness. For a low-sugar bar, many are surprised by how caramelly and chocolatey it tastes—one Amazon reviewer even compared it to a Twix-like treat with nutrients.
The texture lands in that soft-chewy, slightly biscuity zone rather than chalky or gritty, which is rarer than it should be. It’s vegan, and the vitamin–mineral fortification makes it feel more like a complete snack than a protein candy.
A lot of people say one bar comfortably holds them until the next meal, despite the moderate 210 calories.
Main Criticism
Texture is the biggest wildcard. Some describe it as dry or even hard, wishing for a thicker caramel layer to soften the chew.
Others find the sweetness cloying or the flavors a bit too similar across the range. The engineered sweeteners are a sticking point too: a minority report gas or stomach upset, which tracks with higher intakes of maltitol and added fibers.
And if you’re chasing a post-lift 20–25 grams of protein, 13 grams here may feel light.
The Middle Ground
How can one person taste Twix while another tastes construction brick?
Part of it is expectation, part of it is storage conditions, and part is where you land on the dryness spectrum—Women’s Health UK found it a touch stodgy; others find the chew satisfying.
The bigger, more predictable trade-off is how Huel keeps sugar low: using soluble fiber and maltitol to deliver sweetness with a gentler blood-sugar rise. That’s a win for many, but if sugar alcohols usually don’t love you back, start with half a bar.
Protein-wise, it’s not a bodybuilder’s trophy bar, but as a vegan snack with 13 grams and real staying power, it earns its spot in a desk drawer. Just note the wheat gluten (and, of course, peanuts): this isn’t the bar for celiac eaters or those with peanut allergies.
What's the bottom line?
Huel’s Peanut Caramel Bar is a modern compromise done well: dessert-like flavor, plant protein, and a legitimately broad vitamin–mineral boost, with only 2 grams of sugar. At 210 calories and 13 grams of protein, it’s built to bridge gaps—not replace meals or carry a heavy lifting session. If you like the idea of a vegan, low-sugar bar that actually tastes like a treat, this is worth a spot in rotation.
If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols or need gluten-free, look elsewhere. For everyone else, pair it with coffee, fruit, or yogurt and you’ve got an easy, balanced mini-meal that behaves better than your average candy bar—without pretending to be one.