Premier Protein
Salted Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
One of the few mainstream bars delivering 30g of protein per serving, using a soy–whey blend inside a dessert-like, caramel-and-chocolate build.
When to choose Premier Protein Salted Caramel
Best for post-workout refueling or a light meal stand-in when you want maximum protein and a sweet, soft chew. Not ideal if you avoid soy or dairy, or if you prefer short, whole-food ingredient lists.
What's in the Premier Protein bar?
Premier Protein’s Salted Caramel bar is built for a big protein payoff: 30 grams coming from a blend led by soy protein isolate, backed by fast-absorbing whey (hydrolysate and concentrate) and a touch of hydrolyzed gelatin for chew.
Carbs tilt refined—sugar, corn syrup, fructose, tapioca starch—rounded out with glycerin for moisture and chicory-root inulin for fiber, so you’ll get quick energy with some steadiness from the hefty protein load.
Fat stays modest at 7 grams from palm kernel and canola oils, dairy (cream and milk solids), and a little cashew—more saturated than a nut-butter bar, but not oil-heavy.
The salted-caramel character comes from sugar and syrups, vanilla and natural flavors, cream and milk solids, and a pinch of salt, with stevia leaf extract amplifying sweetness without adding more sugar grams.
Net: a high-protein, higher-calorie bar engineered for soft texture and dessert-like sweetness rather than whole-food minimalism.
- Protein
- 30 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 11 g
- Calories
- 290
Protein
3015HIGHMost of the protein comes from a blend led by soy protein isolate, then whey protein hydrolysate and whey concentrate, with supporting contributions from hydrolyzed gelatin (collagen peptides) and milk ingredients. The soy–whey combo delivers a complete amino acid profile—hydrolyzed whey absorbs quickly—while collagen mainly helps texture and isn’t a complete protein on its own. Expect a very high-protein bar with a little lactose from the dairy components.
Fat
79MIDAt 7 grams, fat is modest and sourced from palm kernel oil, canola oil, dairy (cream and milk solids), and a touch of cashew. That mix combines more saturated fat (palm kernel, dairy) with heart-friendlier unsaturated fats (canola and nuts), yielding stability and softness without greasiness. It’s a more saturated profile than a nut-forward bar, but the total fat remains moderate.
Carbs
2620HIGHCarbs here are largely refined: sugar, corn syrup (a glucose syrup), fructose, and tapioca starch supply most of the 26 grams, while glycerin (a plant-derived syrup) and chicory-root inulin add moisture and some fiber. This skews toward fast-burning energy; the big protein dose helps steady the curve, but you’ll still feel more of a quick lift than the slow-release you’d get from whole grains or fruit. If you’re sensitive to fermentable fibers, note inulin can be gassy for some.
Sugar
114HIGHThe 11 grams of sugar come mainly from refined sources—table sugar, corn syrup, and fructose—with a little natural lactose from milk ingredients. To keep sweetness high without pushing sugar grams even further, it also leans on stevia leaf extract and glycerin, which add sweetness and moisture while being highly processed. Expect a very sweet bite; whether that fits your day depends on how you like to budget added sugars.
Calories
290210HIGHAt 290 calories, this bar sits on the higher end because you’re paying for both a large protein load and a sweet, candy-like build. Roughly speaking, about 120 calories come from protein, a bit over 100 from carbohydrates (including the syrups), and the rest from fats—consistent with the ingredient list. It’s designed as a substantial snack or light meal replacement rather than a nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
Micros are modest but present: iron lands around 20% DV, likely from soy protein and cocoa, and calcium about 10% DV from the whey and milk solids. Sodium is notable at roughly 18% DV, thanks to added salt and disodium phosphate in the salted-caramel matrix. This isn’t a fortified bar—consider these small bonuses rather than the main event.
Additives
This bar uses several refined helpers for texture and sweetness: glycerin to hold moisture, soy lecithin to emulsify, carrageenan and disodium phosphate to stabilize, and stevia leaf extract to boost sweetness. Inulin adds fiber and creaminess but can bother sensitive stomachs. It’s a highly engineered build that prioritizes chew, cohesion, and shelf life over minimal processing.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk cheese whey
Cow's milk whey
Fats and oils
Bovine, porcine, and fish collagen
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Chicory root
Cow's milk
Oil palm fruit
Cashew tree kernel
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I've been getting these as of late and they don't seem bad at all. They have 30g protein, the highest I've seen protein bars go.”
“I get these at Sam's Club for only $16 for 18 bars which seems great.”
“They’re candy bars with a ton of protein, as far as sugary snacks go there are way worse options. If they keep you on track and hit that craving itch then enjoy!”
Main Praise
Fans mostly celebrate the payoff-to-effort ratio: 30g of complete protein that doesn’t demand a grimace. Several Redditors also called out the value and availability, and more than a few compared it to a candy bar—with benefits—when a craving hits.
Independent reviewers have praised the crunchy-chewy bite; those soy crispies keep each mouthful from turning into paste, while the coating melts into the caramel notes. The Salted Caramel flavor in particular reads indulgent, which for sweet-tooth folks is a feature, not a bug.
As travel or gym-bag insurance, it’s a practical way to close the protein gap without mixing a shake.
Main Criticism
Critics point to an odd aftertaste and a texture that can turn gummy, especially in certain flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter, which some found very dry. If you’re sensitive to sweetness, this bar is very sweet—11 grams of sugar plus stevia push it firmly into dessert territory.
Ingredient skeptics notice the engineered profile: soy-forward proteins, refined syrups, inulin, and stabilizers, along with a notable sodium presence in the salted-caramel finish. The chocolatey coating also melts quickly in warm weather, which can make on-the-go eating messy.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where both camps are right.
Compared with a whole-food bar, this is undeniably engineered—refined sugars and syrups for quick energy, inulin (a chicory-root fiber) for body, glycerin (a plant-derived syrup) for moisture, and emulsifiers for that soft, cohesive chew.
But the engineering buys you something tangible: 30g of complete protein from soy and whey in just 290 calories, a macro profile many minimally processed bars can’t touch without getting bigger or denser.
That’s why a Redditor could call it a candy bar with a ton of protein and still mean it as praise. Expect more of a quick pop than a slow burn, so it fits best after lifting or when you’ve missed a meal—not as fuel for a long run.
If you’ve got a sensitive stomach, the inulin-and-glycerin combo can be noisy; most people do fine if they stick to one bar and drink some water. Taste-wise, experiences vary wildly: some find it pleasantly indulgent, others call it bland or strange—palate and flavor choice matter.
What's the bottom line?
Think of Premier Protein’s Salted Caramel bar as the pragmatic overachiever: not the most charming in a lineup, but it shows up with 30g of protein and gets the job done. The sweetness is pronounced, the ingredients are polished rather than rustic, and the experience swings from candy-like to slightly gummy depending on your palate. If you want maximum protein in a portable, affordable package, it’s hard to argue with this bar; if you’re chasing short labels and slow-burn carbs, you’ll be happier elsewhere.
Use it as a post-workout or emergency meal stand-in, keep it cool so the coating behaves, and pair it with water. It’s less a health halo and more a useful tool—one that, for many, is surprisingly satisfying.
Listicle blurb: 30g of soy–whey protein in a sweet, candy-bar build. Great post-workout or when you need a high-protein fix; less ideal if you avoid soy/dairy or prefer minimal-ingredient bars.