Pure Protein
Caramel Churro
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Unusually high protein for the calories—20 grams in 190—wrapped in a cinnamon‑forward, caramel‑style coating. It keeps sugar to 3 grams by using sugar alcohols and a couple of no‑calorie sweeteners, aiming for a dessert taste without a sugar spike.
When to choose Pure Protein Caramel Churro
A post‑workout or afternoon sweet‑tooth fix when you want a dessert‑like flavor with solid protein and controlled calories. Good for gluten‑free eaters who are fine with soy and dairy.
What's in the Pure Protein bar?
Pure Protein’s Caramel Churro bar leans on a soy‑and‑dairy protein blend to deliver 20 grams—near the top of the category—while keeping sugar to just 3 grams by swapping in sugar alcohols and a couple of no‑calorie sweeteners.
The churro vibe comes from cinnamon, a touch of brown sugar, and a caramel‑colored coating (annatto and turmeric), with rice flour and corn grits lending cereal‑like crunch.
Fat stays modest (6 grams) mostly from refined palm oils with a little canola and nut fat, and total calories land at 190—lower than many bars—because bulking fiber (polydextrose) and maltitol contribute fewer calories than regular sugar.
Big picture: a high‑protein, low‑sugar bar that uses modern sweetening and texturizing tools to hit its numbers.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 17 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams come from a blend led by soy protein isolate, backed by whey and milk protein isolates plus calcium caseinate—complete dairy proteins with low lactose. There’s also hydrolyzed gelatin for texture; it adds grams but isn’t a complete protein, so the soy‑and‑dairy combo does the heavy lifting. Net effect: high‑quality, fast‑ and slow‑digesting proteins with broad amino acid coverage.
Fat
69LOWMost fat comes from fractionated palm and palm‑kernel oils—refined, more saturated fats chosen for structure—rounded out by canola oil and small amounts from almonds/peanuts. At 6 grams, total fat is low, but the profile tilts more saturated than bars built on nuts or olive oil.
Carbs
1720MIDThese are largely refined carbs and engineered bulking agents rather than whole‑food sources: tapioca starch, rice flour, corn grits/cornstarch and corn syrup create the base, while polydextrose (a synthetic soluble fiber), maltitol syrup, and glycerin add bulk and sweetness. The high protein and fiber‑like polydextrose can soften blood‑sugar swings compared with straight sugar, but parts of this mix still digest quickly. Sensitive stomachs may notice sugar alcohols if portions stack up.
Sugar
34MIDOnly 3 grams of sugar come from small amounts of sugar/brown sugar and milk sugars in dairy ingredients. Most sweetness is supplied by sugar alcohols (maltitol syrup/maltitol) and glycerin for body, then a tiny lift from sucralose and stevia—an approach that trims sugar though it can cause GI upset for some when consumed in larger amounts.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this bar is lighter than many because protein does much of the work and the sweetness comes from reduced‑calorie sweeteners (maltitol, polydextrose) rather than sugar. Roughly speaking, protein supplies the biggest share, with modest contributions from fat and carbohydrate; the lower‑calorie sweeteners help keep the total in check.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 10% Daily Value, mainly from the dairy proteins and a touch of calcium carbonate. Iron shows up in small amounts from cocoa and cereal ingredients, but the bar isn’t vitamin‑fortified—micronutrients are a side note here.
Additives
Expect a modern tool kit: polydextrose for fiber and body, carrageenan and soy lecithin to keep the texture stable, sodium citrate for pH, and a layered sweetening system (sugar alcohols plus sucralose/stevia). These highly refined additives help deliver low sugar, long shelf life, and a soft chew—at the cost of a longer, more processed ingredient list.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Skim cow milk
Bovine, porcine, and fish collagen
Corn or wheat starch
Fats and oils
Oil palm fruit
Corn or wheat
Sugarcane or sugar beet plants
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Pure protein > Kirkland Signature protein bars. The pure protein bars actually taste like candy bars to me. The Kirkland Signature protein bars have a texture like chewing on soft leather. That's a no for me!”
“I'm eating a lemon cake Pure Protein bar right now and I can attest that it absolutely slaps. It is a flavor that seems like it could get old quick though. Regardless they have a ton of flavors and the consistency of the bar is pleasing to say the least. 20g of protein with 190 calories isn't too bad either.”
“I buy Pure Protein Bars at Costco. They are my favorite. I find the Kirkland Bars to be too chewy. I have not tried the others you have shown here. I also like the Robert Irvin Bars.”
Main Praise
Across reviews, three strengths keep resurfacing. First, the protein‑to‑calorie ratio is excellent for a bar that tastes this sweet; 20 grams at 190 calories is a crowd‑pleaser for lifters and lunch‑skippers alike.
Second, many tasters describe Pure Protein bars as candy‑bar‑adjacent—BarBend even calls them “dessert‑tasting”—and the churro angle (cinnamon plus a caramel‑style coating) scratches that nostalgic itch.
Third, they’re reliably filling for the size, a point Prevention singled out, so they work as a quick post‑gym snack or a back‑pocket meal when the day runs away from you.
Add in the brand’s reputation for value and wide flavor variety, and it’s easy to see why they’ve built a loyal following.
Main Criticism
The biggest knock is the ingredient philosophy.
Sweetness comes mostly from maltitol, a sugar alcohol that reduces sugar but can bother sensitive stomachs, and tiny amounts of sucralose and stevia; if you prefer simpler, minimally processed bars, this isn’t that.
Texture can also divide people: several Redditors and Amazon reviewers call certain Pure Protein flavors dense, chewy, or a bit chalky. A few outlier comments mention odd aroma notes on specific chocolate flavors—rare, but memorable.
Finally, fiber is modest, so the bar is filling on protein, not because it’s a high‑fiber snack.
The Middle Ground
So which is it: candy‑bar dupe or chewy compromise? Likely both, depending on what you value.
If your priority is a dessert‑leaning bar that hits 20 grams of protein without blowing past 200 calories, Caramel Churro makes a strong case. Reddit user Unknown summed up the fans’ position: “They taste like candy bars.
” On the flip side, another user said some Pure Protein chocolate flavors were a choke‑down—texture and flavor seem more hit‑or‑miss across the line than the macros are. The sweetening strategy is the fulcrum: using maltitol keeps sugar low but trades in potential GI rumblings for some people.
None of that makes the bar “bad”—it just means you should match the tool to the job. If you want whole‑food minimalism or have a history of reacting to sugar alcohols, look elsewhere.
If you want affordable, protein‑dense, cinnamon‑sweet satisfaction, this one’s in the pocket.
What's the bottom line?
” The cost is a longer, more engineered ingredient list and a sweetening system that may not sit well with everyone. For most folks who tolerate sugar alcohols, it’s a practical, gluten‑free grab when you want a cinnamon‑caramel treat that still supports your training or weight‑management goals. Use it smartly.
Think post‑workout, or as an afternoon hold‑you‑over when cravings flare. If you care about fiber, pair it with berries or an apple. If you avoid soy, dairy, peanuts, or almonds, this one’s not for you.
But if your checklist reads “20 grams of protein, around 190 calories, churro vibes,” Caramel Churro is an easy yes—and a reminder that a protein bar can feel fun and still do the job. Condensed take for listicles: A cinnamon‑sweet, candy‑bar‑leaning bite with 20 grams of protein for 190 calories and just 3 grams of sugar. Great value and very satisfying; watch the sugar alcohols if you’re sensitive, and expect a firmer chew than a nougat bar.