Julian Bakery
Sweet Cream
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare, four-ingredient whey bar: organic whey protein and organic sunflower butter, held together with a tapioca-derived soluble fiber (IMO-free) and sweetened solely with monk fruit extract—no sugar alcohols, no flavorings.
When to choose Julian Bakery Sweet Cream
Choose this if you want a high-protein, keto-leaning, gluten-free snack with gentle sweetness and a short label. Best after the gym or between meals when you want satiety without a sugar rush—and you don’t mind a chewy texture.
What's in the Julian Bakery bar?
Julian Bakery’s Sweet Cream Protein Bar keeps things strikingly simple: four ingredients, a creamy dairy-forward flavor, and 20 grams of protein driven by organic whey (around the 90th percentile among bars).
The carb slide sits a bit above average, but that’s largely because the bar uses a tapioca‑derived soluble dextrin fiber for structure rather than sugar or flour. Fat is middle‑of‑the‑pack thanks to organic sunflower butter—mostly unsaturated and pleasantly satiating.
Sugar stays low at 1 gram because sweetness comes from monk fruit extract, not syrup or sugar alcohols. Calories land right in the middle at 210, reflecting that most energy comes from protein and fats, not sugar.
As for the “Sweet Cream” character: it’s the gentle dairy notes of whey plus the smoothness of sunflower butter, lightly sweetened by monk fruit.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHOrganic whey protein is the engine behind the 20 grams of protein here—a complete, highly digestible milk protein that’s simply filtered and dried. The label doesn’t specify isolate versus concentrate, so lactose‑sensitive folks may want to gauge their own tolerance. Either way, this lands near the high end for protein per bar and delivers robust amino acids for recovery.
Fat
89MIDMost of the 8 grams of fat come from organic sunflower butter, which brings creamy texture and predominantly unsaturated fats along with a touch of natural vitamin E. It’s a moderate amount—enough to help with fullness without weighing you down. Sunflower fats lean omega‑6, so if you’re balancing fatty acids, consider pairing with omega‑3‑rich meals elsewhere in your day.
Carbs
2320MIDThe 23 grams of carbs are largely from a tapioca‑derived soluble dextrin fiber—a refined fiber made from cassava starch that adds chew and binding with far fewer digestible carbs than sugar or flour. That means steadier energy and a lower glycemic punch than you might expect from the total carb number. Tolerance varies: some people notice gas if they eat a lot of these fibers at once.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1 gram of sugar shows up, likely from naturally occurring lactose in the whey. Sweetness comes from monk fruit extract—a highly concentrated plant sweetener that adds flavor without much sugar or calories and without sugar alcohols. If you avoid high‑potency sweeteners, note that monk fruit here is a purified extract (not the whole fruit), but it’s generally gentle on blood sugar.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, this bar sits right around the category median. Most of those calories come from the whey protein and sunflower butter; the tapioca‑based fiber contributes fewer digestible calories than the same amount of sugar would. It’s a solid post‑workout or hold‑you‑over snack rather than a full meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamin fortification here, just small naturally occurring amounts: about 8% DV calcium plus low single‑digit iron and potassium, likely from the whey and sunflower seeds. Sunflower butter naturally carries vitamin E as well, though it may not register prominently on the panel. Think of micronutrients as a modest bonus, not the headline.
Additives
This is a short, tidy label: organic whey protein and sunflower butter do the heavy lifting, a tapioca‑derived soluble dextrin fiber provides structure, and monk fruit delivers sweetness. The fiber and sweetener are refined ingredients, but there are no sugar alcohols, emulsifiers, or artificial flavors in the mix. Minimalist—just with a couple of modern helpers to hold it together and keep sugars low.
Ingredient List
Cassava root
Cow's milk whey
Sunflower seeds
Monk fruit
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I know they got a lot of hate but they were my go-to protein bar because they were the only ones not overly artificially sweet like most are, a ton of protein & fiber & super low carb.”
“Very upset about this. I love their sweet cream bars”
“The only protein bars I’ve seen with better macros and nutrients than quest bars are the ones from Julian Bakery (some are paleo/pegan, but the macros of the non-paleo ones are amazing)”
Main Praise
The big win here is simplicity with substance. Reviewers who like these bars praise the restrained sweetness and the absence of sugar alcohols, which for many means fewer bloat-and-gas episodes compared to the usual suspects.
The macros hit a sweet spot for a bar: 20g of protein at 210 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and fats coming from organic sunflower butter rather than palm oils or mystery blends.
Several fans also call out Sweet Cream as one of Julian Bakery’s better flavors, describing it as mild and creamy rather than dessert-like. And while the texture is dense, that’s exactly what some people want—it forces slow eating and leaves you fuller for longer.
A recurring tip from happy buyers: warm the bar slightly or keep it at room temp; it softens up and the flavor blooms.
Main Criticism
Texture is the sticking point—literally. A steady chorus across Reddit and Amazon says these bars can be tough or taffy-like, occasionally veering into rock-hard if they’re cold.
Taste can be polarizing; monk fruit’s profile is clean to some and “off” to others, and a few reviewers found the flavor cloying over time. Consistency appears to vary by flavor and sometimes by batch, which frustrates people who loved one box and didn’t recognize the next.
There’s also the fiber factor: tapioca-derived soluble fiber tends to be gentler than sugar alcohols for many, but in higher amounts it can still cause gas for sensitive stomachs. Finally, older chatter questioned calorie counts on certain ultra-low-calorie versions; the Sweet Cream bar reviewed here lists 210 calories, which aligns more closely with its macros.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the die-hard fans or the jaw-weary skeptics? Probably both.
If you come to this bar expecting a brownie in disguise, you’ll be let down. But if your priority is a short label, steady energy, and a protein-forward snack with no sugar alcohols, this one makes a strong case.
The texture complaints are fair; several Redditors joked about needing a pre-bite stretch, and one Amazon reviewer’s “taffy” comparison tracks. Warming the bar helps, as does pairing it with coffee or tea.
On the nutrition front, the numbers are solid: 20g of complete protein and just 1 gram of sugar is compelling, especially for keto-leaning eaters. The open question is consistency—flavor-to-flavor and batch-to-batch variability shows up often in reviews—so it may be wise to test a single box before committing.
What's the bottom line?
Julian Bakery’s Sweet Cream Protein Bar is a minimalist’s take on the protein bar: four ingredients, 20g of whey protein, and sweetness from monk fruit instead of sugar or sugar alcohols. If you value clean labels and controlled sweetness, it’s a smart post-workout or hold-you-over option. If you prefer a soft, candy-like bar, the dense chew and milk-forward flavor may frustrate you.
Practical tips from happy customers—keep it at room temp, warm it briefly, sip something while you eat—go a long way here. All told, this is a bar for people who prioritize macros and simplicity over dessert mimicry. It’s gluten-free and vegetarian but not vegan, and it does contain dairy.
Fiber here is the structural backbone, not a sweetener smokescreen, but tolerance varies—start with one and see how you feel. If the trade-off of chewiness for satiety and a tidy ingredient list sounds good, Sweet Cream earns its spot in your rotation. Condensed listicle take: A four-ingredient, whey-based, monk-fruit-sweetened bar with 20g of protein and 210 calories.
Clean label and steady energy; texture can be taffy-like unless warmed. Best for keto-leaning eaters who want restrained sweetness and real satiety.