Rise Bar
Sunflower Cinnamon
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare plant‑based, seed‑butter protein bar with just five ingredients and no sugar alcohols, gums, or emulsifiers. It’s vegan, gluten‑free, and peanut/traditional tree‑nut‑free, though it does contain coconut and sunflower.
When to choose Rise Bar Sunflower Cinnamon
Best for people who want a simple‑label, plant‑based bar that’s easy on the stomach and free of sugar alcohols—and who value satiety over macro efficiency. Great as a compact breakfast, a hike companion, or a post‑workout treat when you actually want some sugar.
What's in the Rise Bar bar?
Short ingredient list, big seed‑butter energy.
Rise Bar’s Sunflower Cinnamon keeps it simple: sunflower butter for the creamy base, pea protein for the lift, organic coconut nectar for a caramel‑tinged sweetness, and warm cinnamon/vanilla to seal the flavor.
The macros follow that story—fat and calories land on the higher end for bars (think staying power), protein sits a touch above average, and the sweetness comes from real sugar rather than sugar alcohols.
- Protein
- 17 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Carbohydrates
- 18 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 290
Protein
1715MIDMost of the 17g of protein comes from pea protein—an isolated, dairy‑free plant protein with excellent digestibility and a complete amino acid profile. Sunflower butter contributes a little more, but the bar’s protein identity is solidly pea‑based, landing just above average compared with other bars. It’s a clean, vegan alternative to whey or soy, though people with legume allergies should consider tolerance.
Fat
179HIGHFat runs high because sunflower butter is the first ingredient, bringing mostly unsaturated fats (largely omega‑6) from the seeds. There’s no separate oil on the label, so the fat appears to come from the whole‑seed spread rather than added refined oils. It’s creamy and filling; if you’re balancing omega‑6s, pair it with omega‑3‑rich foods elsewhere in the day.
Carbs
1820MIDNearly all of the 18g of carbs—and the sweetness—come from organic coconut nectar, a syrup made by concentrating coconut blossom sap. That’s a real sugar—clean label but still refined—so expect quicker energy, softened by the bar’s ample fat and protein. With no oats, rice, or fruit, this isn’t a fiber‑forward, slow‑carb bar.
Sugar
144HIGHSweetness comes from organic coconut nectar, not sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, totaling 14g of sugar—on the higher end for protein bars. Coconut nectar can test lower‑to‑medium on glycemic index than table sugar, but it still behaves like sugar in the body. Expect a dessert‑leaning bite with quick energy, buffered somewhat by fat and protein.
Calories
290210HIGHAt 290 calories, this eats like a compact meal. Most of the energy comes from the sunflower butter’s fats, followed by coconut nectar’s sugars, with protein rounding things out—steady, long‑lasting fuel rather than a light snack. Great for long mornings or a hike; less ideal if you’re counting calories closely.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout fortification here—nothing tops 10% of Daily Value. The small bumps in iron and potassium (about 8% DV each) come naturally from pea protein and sunflower seeds, and the seeds also contribute vitamin E behind the scenes even if it isn’t listed. Think macros and simple ingredients over added micronutrients.
Additives
The label reads like a recipe: sunflower butter to bind, pea protein for substance, coconut nectar to sweeten, cinnamon and vanilla for warmth. Aside from pea protein—a refined isolate used to raise protein—there are no gums, emulsifiers, sugar alcohols, or artificial flavors. It’s a short, purposeful ingredient list with one highly processed component doing a clear job.
Ingredient List
Sunflower seeds
Coconut palm blossom sap
Yellow pea seeds
Inner bark of cinnamon trees
Vanilla orchid beans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Rise bars are great. 3-4 ingredients per bar and 20g of protein.”
“Rise bars. 3 ingredients. Clean. Tasty.”
“Rise (honey almond flavor) bars are SO good. 20g of protein and I like that they only include 3 ingredients. They sell them on Amazon.”
Main Praise
Fans come to Rise for the radical simplicity, and this flavor keeps that spirit.
Redditors like S7ageNinja and targameister repeatedly shout out the short ingredient lists and “clean, tasty” profile, and outside reviewers (Verywell Fit, Health, Breaking Muscle) consistently praise the brand’s soft, dense texture that’s easy to eat without a gritty aftertaste.
Amazon reviews echo the same chorus: natural taste, no artificial sweeteners, and a pleasantly straightforward chew. The Sunflower Cinnamon twist adds cozy warmth that pairs naturally with the creamy seed butter.
For those avoiding sugar alcohols or long labels, this feels like a sigh of relief—you can read it, understand it, and eat it.
Main Criticism
The tradeoff for that simplicity shows up in the macros. Critics on Reddit have called out Rise for being calorie‑dense with more fat and carbs than protein in several flavors, and this one fits that pattern.
A few buyers also report batch‑to‑batch texture swings—from delightfully soft to unexpectedly dry—which can be frustrating at the price point.
There’s also lingering skepticism from a labeling change on other Rise flavors (notably Almond Honey) where protein was reduced after re‑testing; it’s a reminder to check the current panel rather than old memory.
Lastly, some palates just find the taste “processed” or too sweet; real sugar can polarize when many bars lean on alternative sweeteners.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the “clean and tasty” camp or the “this is basically a candy bar” camp? Both, depending on what you want from a bar.
If your goal is the highest protein‑per‑calorie ratio, you’ll beat 17g of protein at 290 calories elsewhere. But many of those options get there with long ingredient lists and sugar alcohols that some stomachs don’t love.
Rise chooses the opposite: short label, real sugar, and a creamy seed‑butter base that’s satisfying and gentle. As Health and Verywell Fit note (mostly about the Almond Honey flavor), that sugar can be a feature around activity and a drawback at a desk—same story here.
Reddit user Suspicious_Tap3303’s protein‑label gripe is fair history, but it doesn’t erase this bar’s core identity: it’s designed to be simple and satisfying first, macro‑optimized second.
What's the bottom line?
Rise Bar Sunflower Cinnamon is a five‑ingredient, plant‑based comfort bar that eats like a small meal: 17g protein, 17g fat, 18g carbs, 14g sugar, 290 calories. It trades maximal efficiency for minimal processing—no sugar alcohols, no gums, and a cozy cinnamon‑vanilla flavor that feels like breakfast you can pocket. If you need a vegan, peanut‑ and traditional tree‑nut‑free option (contains coconut) with straightforward ingredients, this is a strong pick.
If you want lower calories or more protein per bite, there are better fits. But if your priority is digestibility, satiety, and a label you can read in one breath, Sunflower Cinnamon does exactly what it says on the wrapper—no more, no less. Condensed listicle blurb: Five ingredients, zero sugar alcohols.
Rise Bar Sunflower Cinnamon packs 17g protein into a creamy sunflower‑butter bar with warm spice and a short, readable label. At 290 calories and 14g sugar, it’s best as a compact breakfast or post‑workout refuel rather than a light snack.