The GFB
Oatmeal Raisin
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, real‑food ingredient list built around gluten‑free oats and fruit, no sugar alcohols, and a pea–brown rice protein blend that completes the amino profile. It truly leans oatmeal‑cookie in flavor without relying on artificial sweeteners or a long list of additives.
When to choose The GFB Oatmeal Raisin
A soft, satisfying snack between meals or before light activity—especially if you avoid dairy, soy, gluten, and nuts and prefer real‑food sweetness over sugar alcohols. Less ideal if you want very high protein or low sugar.
What's in the The GFB bar?
The GFB Oatmeal Raisin Protein Bar leans into familiar pantry staples—gluten‑free oats, California raisins, dates, cinnamon, and vanilla—for that soft, cookie‑ish flavor, then adds a plant protein blend (pea + brown rice) to make it a legit snack.
With 12g of protein, it’s a gentle lift rather than a post‑workout heavy hitter, and it stays dairy‑ and soy‑free.
Carbs run higher than most protein bars because sweetness comes from whole fruit plus agave and brown rice syrup, with crisped brown rice for texture; expect a quick pop of energy that’s steadied somewhat by oat and seed fiber.
Fat stays modest and comes from sunflower and flax, bringing mostly unsaturated fats and a touch of plant omega‑3. You also pick up about 10% daily iron from the grains, seeds, and legumes.
In short: oatmeal‑cookie vibes from real foods and no artificial sweeteners—just know it sits on the higher‑carb, fruit‑forward side.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 220
Protein
1215MIDProtein comes from a blend of pea and brown rice proteins. The two complement each other—pea is rich in lysine where rice is lower—so the amino acid profile is more balanced without using dairy or soy. At 12g (around the 30th percentile), it’s a snack‑level boost rather than a muscle‑max bar.
Fat
79MIDMost of the 7g fat rides in with whole sunflower seeds and golden flaxseed, so it skews toward heart‑friendly mono‑ and polyunsaturated fats with a little plant omega‑3 (ALA). There are no added seed oils or palm fats—just the naturally occurring fats in the seeds. That keeps the bar satisfying without feeling heavy.
Carbs
3020HIGHThe 30g of carbs come from certified gluten‑free oats, raisins, dates, and crisped brown rice, with agave and brown rice syrup binding and sweetening. It’s a mix of whole‑food and refined sources: oats and seeds add fiber that slows absorption, while the syrups—especially brown rice syrup—provide faster‑burn energy. Net effect: a quick lift with some staying power.
Sugar
144HIGHSugar lands at 14g, first from whole‑fruit sources (raisins, dates) and then from added agave and brown rice syrup—no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here. Brown rice syrup is very high‑glycemic, while agave is lower‑glycemic but fructose‑rich, so the sweetness is partly quick, partly steadied by oat and seed fiber. It’s on the higher end for sugar compared with many protein bars, but the sources are easy to recognize.
Calories
220210MIDAt 220 calories (around mid‑pack for bars), most energy comes from carbohydrates in the oats, fruit, and syrups. Protein adds a meaningful share and seed fats round out the rest, so the profile reads more like an energy bar than a pure protein play. Handy between meals or before activity.
Vitamins & Minerals
You’ll get about 10% daily iron, likely contributed by oats, pea/rice proteins, raisins, and seeds. Other listed micronutrients are modest. Think of this bar as macro‑forward with a small mineral bump rather than a vitamin‑fortified option.
Additives
The label is short: mostly whole foods plus two refined sweeteners (agave and brown rice syrup), natural vanilla flavor, and sea salt. The proteins are purified plant fractions and the crisped brown rice is a processed grain inclusion, but there are no gums, emulsifiers, or sugar alcohols. Clean for a packaged bar, though not only kitchen‑cupboard staples.
Ingredient List
Sunflower plant seeds
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Brown rice
Agave
Date palm fruit
Dried grapes (Vitis vinifera)
Oat grain
Dehulled whole grain rice
Flax plant seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“The GFB were my favorites for a while.”
Main Praise
Across Amazon and vegan/gluten‑free roundups, the through‑line is taste and satisfaction. Fans like that it actually feels hearty—more like a portable oatmeal square than a candy bar—and that it tides them over for a couple of hours.
The flavor gets frequent nods, with outlets like The Beet calling the line flavorful and indulgent in a good way. The allergen profile is a major win too: vegan, gluten‑free, and soy‑free, with this flavor also made without peanuts or tree nuts.
Many appreciate the straightforward ingredients and the absence of sugar alcohols, which keeps the sweetness familiar and the aftertaste clean.
Main Criticism
Texture divides people. Some find the bars wonderfully soft; others call them floppy or even a bit dry or crumbly depending on the flavor and conditions, which isn’t ideal for pocket snacking.
Several reviewers and an RD note that sugar and calories land higher than they’d prefer for a daily bar, and the indulgent flavor can make it feel more like a treat.
There’s also a past brand recall tied to cashew cross‑contact—not gluten—which is worth remembering if you have severe tree‑nut allergies. And one commenter flagged that the brand’s website info has, at times, needed tidying, which doesn’t affect the food but may frustrate label‑checkers.
The Middle Ground
So which is it: a saintly protein bar or a stealth dessert? Neither.
With 12g of plant protein and 30g of carbs (14g of those sugars from fruit plus syrups), it reads more like an energy bar that remembered to bring protein. If you want 20g‑plus and minimal sugars, Reddit’s protein hawks will tell you to look elsewhere; they’re not wrong.
But if your priority is a soft, cookie‑like bar without sugar alcohols or a laundry list of gums, this hits a sweet spot. Texture gripes can be real—the same bar can feel firm on a cold day and looser in a warm bag—so think of it as more bakery‑soft than crunchy.
As for the cashew recall, it wasn’t about gluten and the company addressed it, but those with severe nut allergies should still double‑check packaging.
What's the bottom line?
The GFB Oatmeal Raisin leans into comfort: cinnamon‑oat nostalgia, real‑food sweetness, and a clean, plant‑based label. It gives you a steady, snack‑level 12g of protein, seeds for staying power, and no sugar alcohols, which many palates prefer. The trade‑offs are equally clear: higher sugars, higher carbs, and a softer texture that some love and some don’t.
Choose it when you want something that tastes like a cookie and behaves like a respectable snack, not a bodybuilder’s bar. If you’re going low‑carb, chasing 20g‑plus protein, or want a firm, crispy bite, this likely won’t be your everyday pick—but for vegan, gluten‑free, nut‑free needs and a pantry‑ingredient approach, it’s a reliably tasty option.