TRUBAR
Daydreaming About Donuts
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A donut-inspired, vegan, gluten-free bar with real sugar (8g), no sugar alcohols, and a soft, fudge-like chew—all at 190 calories with 12g of pea-and-rice protein.
When to choose TRUBAR Daydreaming About Donuts
Best for plant-based snackers who want a dessert-y pick-me-up, people who avoid sugar alcohols, and anyone who likes to pair a sweet bar with coffee. Skip it if you need a 20g-plus post-lift bar or prefer barely sweet flavors—this leans treat.
What's in the TRUBAR bar?
TRUBAR Daydreaming About Donuts leans into a donut‑shop experience without dairy or gluten: a plant protein base (organic pea + brown rice) for the muscle‑minding part, a cassava/tapioca blend for chew, and organic cane sugar plus natural flavors to nail the donut vibe.
Almonds add a gentle nuttiness, while RSPO‑certified palm oil and a little MCT oil deliver that soft, pastry‑like richness. The macros skew snack‑friendly—calories are on the lighter side for a bar, protein is moderate, and carbs sit a bit above average—so think sweet pick‑me‑up more than meal replacement.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1215MIDThe 12g of protein come from a blend of organic pea protein and brown rice protein—two plant isolates that complement each other: pea brings lysine, rice fills in other amino acids. It’s a cleaner, dairy‑free route than whey and tends to be well tolerated, though it’s not as concentrated as a 20‑gram ‘gym bar.’ Expect a solid, moderate protein boost that suits a snack or a light pre‑workout bite.
Fat
89MIDFat here mostly comes from almonds (rich in heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats) alongside RSPO‑certified palm oil and a touch of MCT oil. Palm and MCT tilt more saturated and help the bar hold a soft, donut‑like texture; almonds add vitamin E and balance the profile. At 8g, it’s a measured amount—not oil‑heavy, but enough to slow digestion a bit.
Carbs
2320MIDCarbs are driven by a tapioca/cassava blend and organic cane sugar. The cassava piece provides easily digested starch, while the ‘tapioca fiber’ portion is a refined fiber from cassava that adds structure and helps temper the blood‑sugar punch compared with straight sugar. Net effect: a mix of quicker energy with some buffering from fiber—more pep than a very low‑carb bar, less crash than a candy bar.
Sugar
84HIGHSugar lands at 8g, primarily from organic cane sugar—so real sugar rather than sugar alcohols or high‑intensity sweeteners. That makes it taste true to the donut theme, with the tapioca fiber helping rein in spikes compared to pure syrupy sweets. It’s on the sweeter side for a protein bar, but moderate in absolute terms.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this sits lighter than many protein bars, with most energy coming from carbs and fats rather than a huge protein load. It reads as an afternoon snack or dessert‑leaning option rather than a full meal replacement. If you’re calorie‑watching, it offers the donut fix in a tighter portion.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron reaches about 15% Daily Value, largely thanks to the plant protein blend (pea and brown rice), with a small nudge from almonds. There’s no fortification here, so other vitamins and minerals are minimal. Consider it a bonus rather than a multivitamin replacement.
Additives
A short list of helpers keeps things tidy: sunflower lecithin (a plant‑derived emulsifier) for smooth texture, rosemary extract to keep fats fresh, and natural flavors for that donut profile. These are refined ingredients used in tiny amounts for function. Overall, the formula leans on recognizable foods with a few well‑chosen processing aids.
Ingredient List
Cassava root
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Almond tree seeds
Sugarcane stalks
Oil palm fruit
Coconut or palm kernel oil
Sunflower seeds
Rosemary leaves
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“The comments on this are wild, I really really loved these! Most protein bars taste too artificial and have sugar alcohols, and these dont. I eat a high fiber diet already being vegetarian and these didnt bother my stomach. Not very sweet, nice and chewy. I plan on stockingggg up on these at this price!”
“Not popular but I kinda like them, the donut one in particular hits in a way that feels “close enough.””
“They are good!”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love.
EatingWell’s testers called TRUBAR’s chew soft, smooth, and fudge‑like—rich without sticking to your teeth—and several Redditors said the donut flavor lands “close enough” to the real thing for a satisfying fix.
The lack of sugar alcohols is a huge plus for folks who typically get stomach rumblings from them; one vegetarian Redditor even noted no GI issues despite already eating plenty of fiber.
The ingredient list reads relatively clean for a dessert‑leaning bar: plant proteins (pea and rice), a cassava/tapioca base, almonds, and familiar pantry helpers.
Press nods help too: The Washington Post puts TRUBAR in its “healthier” camp for the combo of 12g protein, substantial fiber (varies by flavor; up to 14g per bar brand‑wide), and no artificial sweeteners.
Net effect: it scratches the donut itch while delivering a respectable protein boost in a vegan package.
Main Criticism
Sweetness is the divider. A few Reddit users found Daydreaming About Donuts too sweet—one even said they’d rather grab a candy bar—while others thought it was pleasantly restrained.
Another recurring comment is a slight “coating” in the mouth after eating; that likely traces to the fats used to mimic a donut glaze (palm/MCT), which some people notice more than others.
Protein lands at a moderate 12g, so lifters looking for a heavy hitter may find it light. And, as with many soft bars, isolated reports mention occasional firmness or a drier bar—quality can drift a bit batch to batch.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “gross and too sweet” camp or the “close enough to a donut” camp? Probably both, depending on what you expect from a bar.
At 8g of real sugar, it’s undeniably a sweet snack—but that’s still far below most candy bars, which hover around 20–25g. If you’re sweet‑sensitive like Reddit’s Ok‑Wasabi2873, the donut vibe may read loud.
If you’re in floral-vision’s camp, you’ll appreciate that the sweetness comes without sugar alcohols and the chew stays soft. That faint “coating” some notice?
It’s the tradeoff for a donut‑style glaze texture; a sip of water usually clears it. And the macros tell the truth: this is a snack, not a meal replacement.
For what it aims to be—a plant‑based, dessert‑leaning bar that doesn’t wreck your stomach—it hits more often than it misses.
What's the bottom line?
TRUBAR Daydreaming About Donuts is a treat‑forward protein bar that owns its lane. You get 12g of plant protein, a soft fudge‑like bite, and donut‑shop flavor without sugar alcohols or dairy. It’s calibrated for afternoon slumps, coffee breaks, and sweet‑tooth detours—not for 20g‑protein purists or ultra‑low‑sugar seekers.
If you love a glazed‑donut moment and want it in a vegan, gluten‑free format, this bar delivers a convincing stand‑in with thoughtful ingredients and a kinder stomach profile. Listicle quick take: A donut‑inspired, vegan bar with 12g protein and real sugar (no sugar alcohols).
Soft, fudge‑like chew; dessert‑leaning sweetness. Best for coffee breaks and sweet‑tooth snacks; not a heavy post‑lift bar.