ONE Brands
Lemon Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert-first, lemon-icing profile with 20g of complete dairy protein and just 1g of sugar in a soft, candy-bar-like format. It leans on modern sweeteners and fiber-like carbs to keep sugar low without skimping on sweetness.
When to choose ONE Brands Lemon Cake
Reach for it after a workout or during the midafternoon slump when you want a high-protein treat that tastes like dessert. Best for folks who enjoy citrusy sweets, eat gluten-free, and tolerate sugar alcohols well.
What's in the ONE Brands bar?
ONE Brands’ Lemon Cake Protein Bar leans on a milk-and-whey blend to deliver a solid 20g of protein—top 10% among bars—wrapped in a bright, dessert-y profile. The carbs aren’t from oats or fruit; they come mostly from fiber-like ingredients and sugar alcohols designed to keep sugar low and texture soft.
Fat stays modest, built mainly from palm kernel oil for structure and sunflower seed butter/oil for a smoother bite. Sweetness relies more on modern sweeteners than cane sugar, and the sunny color comes from beta carotene, while “natural flavors” provide the lemon-cake character.
In short, high protein, engineered carbs, and a dessert taste without much actual sugar.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes from a dairy blend: milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate up front, with a little whey concentrate and nonfat dry milk further down. That gives you complete, highly digestible amino acids, with a mix of fast-digesting whey and slower casein from milk protein isolate. Lactose is usually low in isolates, but it’s still a milk-based bar—great for muscle repair, not suitable for milk allergies.
Fat
79MIDThe 7 grams of fat come largely from palm kernel oil, which is high in saturated fat and helps the bar hold its shape, and from sunflower seed butter and sunflower oil, which add softer, mostly unsaturated fats. This mix keeps total fat on the lighter side while balancing firmness and creaminess. If you’re watching saturated fat, note the palm kernel oil; the sunflower components contribute some vitamin E and a gentler fat profile.
Carbs
2220MIDThese are engineered carbs more than pantry carbs. Most of the 22 grams come from soluble fibers and sweeteners—think isomalto‑oligosaccharides (a starch‑derived fiber syrup), polydextrose (a synthetic soluble fiber), glycerin (a plant‑based syrup that holds moisture), and maltitol (a sugar alcohol)—with a smaller contribution from refined tapioca starch. Expect a steadier rise than straight sugar for many people, though maltitol still counts toward carbs and can bother sensitive stomachs at higher intakes.
Sugar
14LOWSugar is kept to just 1 gram because sweetness is mostly supplied by a sugar alcohol (maltitol), a tiny dose of zero‑calorie sucralose, and mildly sweet glycerin and fiber syrups. That means less sugar, but it’s sweetness created by refined ingredients rather than fruit or honey. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, keep an eye on how you feel—tolerance varies person to person.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, this sits near the middle of the pack, with a meaningful share coming from protein. The rest is split between small-to-moderate fats and a blend of low‑digestible carbs (fibers, sugar alcohol) that contribute fewer calories than sugar would. Practically, it’s a fairly filling snack for the calories thanks to the protein load.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients here—nothing clears 10% of daily value. The modest calcium (about 8% DV) likely comes from the dairy proteins and a bit of calcium carbonate, and there’s a small amount of sodium. Beta carotene is used for color, not as a meaningful vitamin A source.
Additives
This is a modern, formulated bar: moisture-holding agents (glycerin), soluble fibers (isomalto‑oligosaccharides, polydextrose), emulsifiers (soy lecithin, distilled monoglycerides), a sugar alcohol (maltitol), and an intense sweetener (sucralose) keep it sweet, soft, and shelf‑stable. These ingredients are highly refined and do their jobs well, but they’re not whole foods. If you prefer very short ingredient lists, this won’t read as “minimalist.”
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
glucose
Cow’s milk or cream
Cow's milk whey
Cassava root
Cow's milk
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“i just had a ONE glazed maple donut bar and it was so good. i recommend if that’s your thing.”
“The maple glazed are amazing!!”
“I LOVE ONE BARSSS I converted because they don’t give me acid reflux on my run. I have one about 20-40min before and it’s just simply such a worry and pain-free run without being hungry or worrying about my burp bringing up a surprise. I love the maple glazed donut and birthday cake. Just got a variety box on Amazon to try the other flavors. They’re perfectly sweet, not too much not too little.”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for taste and texture: across reviews and taste tests, ONE bars consistently get credit for delivering a dessert-like bite without a sawdust finish. The Lemon Cake flavor fits the brand’s sweet spot—soft, chewy center with an icing-like coating that feels more confection than “health food.
” The macro profile is a strong draw too: 20g of milk-and-whey protein in 210 calories with only 1g of sugar is hard to find in a bar this sweet. Editors at Men’s Health and Prevention have called out the line for being a reliable post-workout choice, and BarBend’s reviewer even put ONE near the top for flavor.
Many users also note the sweetness doesn’t shout “artificial,” especially compared to some competitors, which makes it easier to eat consistently.
Main Criticism
Taste is not unanimous. A handful of Redditors found certain flavors off-putting—“soapy” or “like dog food”—and while that wasn’t about Lemon specifically, it shows how divided palates can be with dessert bars.
Texture gets dinged, too: a few people describe ONE as a bit pasty or crumbly rather than nougat-smooth. The low sugar is achieved with refined sweeteners, including maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and a touch of sucralose, which can cause stomach rumbling for sensitive folks.
Lastly, the ingredient list is long and the bar can be pricier than simpler options, which turns off minimalists and bargain hunters.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—lemony treat or lab experiment? The truth sits in the middle.
If you like citrus desserts, the Lemon Cake hits that icing-like sweetness with a brightness that many find genuinely enjoyable; Men’s Health and Prevention didn’t hand out praise lightly. But fruity flavors can read more artificial to some palates, and Lemon lives in that neighborhood—so if you’re flavor-sensitive, consider starting with a single bar.
Texture is subjective, too: where one Reddit user praised the soft chew, another called it pasty; both can be true depending on what you compare it to. Compared with Quest, one commenter noted ONE tastes less overtly “artificial” but can feel a bit drier and carries more calories—trade-offs you’ll notice if you rotate between brands.
And then there’s the gut question: maltitol agrees with some and not with others. If you know sugar alcohols don’t love you back, this likely isn’t your daily driver.
What's the bottom line?
ONE Brands Lemon Cake is the definition of a modern protein bar: big protein, very little sugar, and a dessert-forward flavor that aims to make your post-workout bite feel like a treat. The dairy protein blend delivers complete amino acids for recovery, and at 210 calories it works as a satisfying snack rather than a full meal. The win is how sweet and bakery-like it tastes for the macros; the trade-off is a longer, more engineered ingredient list and the possibility that sugar alcohols could bug your stomach.
If you enjoy lemon sweets, eat gluten-free, and want a candy-bar experience with 20g of protein, this is a strong pick. If you prefer short, whole-food ingredient lists or you’re sensitive to maltitol or sucralose, look elsewhere. slump.
Condensed listicle take: ONE Brands Lemon Cake packs 20g protein into 210 calories with an icing-like lemon dessert flavor and just 1g sugar. Great post-workout or sweet-tooth snack for gluten-free eaters who tolerate sugar alcohols. Heads-up: longer ingredient list, maltitol and sucralose may not suit sensitive stomachs; contains milk and soy.