In this tier list, I’m ranking all the Built Puff protein bars I could find, from the typical ones like Coconut and Brownie Batter to newer and limited edition flavors.
The Puff line is what really made the company stand out, especially on social media. These bars have a soft, marshmallow-like texture and a candy bar feel, which, at the time of this writing, makes them one of the most unique bars on the market.
Over time, Built has grown a lot and added more than just Puffs. They’ve released Bites, Balls, and Krispy versions too; however, Puffs seem to have been their focus. In this review, I’ll go through the Puff flavors I’ve tried, how they taste, and which ones may be worth your while!
What do these have in common?
All of these have a similar composition: a soft and thick marshmallow-like filling with a slight pull; you can bite right through it with ease. Some differ slightly from others, however, whether one is a tad thicker, softer, has additional layers, or even contains less/more filling overall can be found. Basically, while there is a clear and distinct uniform texture these aim for, they can be slightly different if you really pay attention.
The shell, while soft, is stiffer than its filling, providing a nice contrast. Then you dig down and bite into it, and you get a slight, stiff marshmallow cheese-like pull. They remind me of those marshmallow candies with the thin chocolate shells you find on Easter or Halloween at Dollar Tree–but of course, these are much more premium in every regard!
And the biggest question: Do they taste artificial? Do they have that protein bar-like aftertaste?
I’m happy to report that no, I found none of these tasted off or weird. In fact, they are one of the more genuine-tasting protein-based treats I’ve come across. The flavors are notably accurate, and for better or worse, due to these bars aiming for a more creamy marshmallow vibe, they generally aren’t too sweet either. However, again, like the composition, the sweetness level does differ between the flavor variants, albeit it’s generally minor. Basically, expect these to taste creamy, marshmallowy, authentically flavored, and mildly sweet.
Ranking
1. Blue Razz Blast, Sweet Peach Punch, and Green Apple Crush
Yup, I’m putting these all into one category because I found them all to be equally tasty!
These taste more or less as advertised and are notably distinct compared to their non-sour cousins. They’re also sweeter, perhaps the sweetest Puffs on this list, which helps bring out the flavors and sourness more.
First, the Blue Razz Blast. It’s sweet with a light sour note. I thought this would taste weird, but nope, it’s like a sweet blue raspberry piece of candy, like a slightly sour Jolly Rancher or a blue ICEE type flavor in an appreciable marshmallow form, yum!
Similarly, the other two are just as sweet and contain the flavors they advertise, albeit they aren’t as sour. The Green Apple Crush gives strong candy lollipop vibes, while the Sweet Peach Punch hits you with a sugary peachy candy taste. Both are equally tasty and uniquely different in terms of flavor. To note, though, I wouldn’t say they are as sour as Blue Razz Blast.
What I really enjoyed, too, was that none of the tastes were weird or artificial. Genuinely, they all taste like sweet marshmallow candy bar treats–no aftertaste, no weirdness, and definitely no protein bar taste here!
Personally, I can’t name a favorite. They’re all unique, from the mouthfeel to the represented flavors!
2. Peanut Butter Cup
The peanut butter marshmallow filling is nice and sweet compared to many others on this list. I especially like how it’s not just a marshmallow-like filling; there are clear and distinct dark chocolate swirls, which seem to elevate its sweetness and flavor. These swirls and filling make the peanut and chocolate stand out, reminding me of a dark chocolate Reese’s, albeit less sweet. Definitely give this a try if you want to enjoy an almost s’more-based Reese!
3. Cookie Dough Chunk
The filling looks and tastes a lot like they ground cookie pieces into it–it’s not crunchy by any means, it’s just the light brown color and buttery cookie-like flavor is clearly present. It also reminds me of the S’mores Chunk Puff flavor, but this is a little bit sweeter. From its sweetness, you get a pronounced–but still light–dark chocolate taste from the shell with a mild flavor of cookie dough from its center. Overall, this leans towards its chocolate side, and don’t get me wrong, you can still taste the cookie dough, I just feel like it needed more oomph. Nonetheless, the two flavors work well with one another and are able to fulfill the cookie-dough experience.
Lastly, unlike most other flavors on this list, there is an additional layer. A few small cookie dough-like pieces sit at the top of the marshmallow filling between the shell. They are very soft and not chunky or too thick like actual cookie dough, though they do provide a light contrast when you bite in.
3. S’mores Chunk Puff
S’mores has one of the best centers. Its shell seems thinner than many on this list, but the filling is a bit thicker and more fulfilling–it’s not huge, but it’s noticeable. It has a graham cracker color and sports the marshmallow-textured filling. It also more or less tastes similar to that–something akin to buttery graham with light chocolate and marshmallow. Overall, it’s mild to moderately sweet, a bit more tame than it should be, especially for a s’more. I also like the top chunky parts that sit on the bar, which provide a small, contrasting soft crunch to the texture. Lastly, as I alluded to, my biggest gripe is that it could be sweeter to bring out flavors more.
4. Brownie Batter
Brownie batter is the older, better brother of the Chocolate Milkshake flavor. They both taste similar, but brownie batter is a tad sweeter and darker, making its chocolate flavor more pronounced and distinct. Basically, it’s exactly as advertised, having a dark chocolate, thick center–which looks like dark brownie batter–and a light, but still dark shell. When all this comes together, it throws you a reasonably sweet brownie-like taste that comes off as somewhat sweeter than other flavors on this list.
5. Coconut
Before even biting in, I got a whiff of the coconut, then, finally taking a bite, I tasted it. It’s a semi-dark chocolate shell with a distinct coconut flavor that comes from the center. It reminds me a lot of an Almond Joy, but a lot less sweet. It’s basically a creamy, mildly to moderately sweet dark chocolate coconut creamy candy bar. And notably, as a huge coconut fan, the coconut itself isn’t artificial or off-putting; it simply has a mildly sweet coconut candy flavor. To improve the bar as a whole, instead of having a uniform texture throughout, I’d have appreciated some coconut flakes for contrast.
6. Salted Caramel
An authentic caramel taste whose sweetness is dimmed by the marshmallow greets you when you bite in. It’s essentially a mildly to moderately sweet marshmallow and caramel-flavored candy bar with a background of milky chocolate. Not a bad combo, just too light for a caramel treat. Also, they really missed out on giving this some type of gooey caramel layer–and not to mention, the few specs of salt on top add absolutely nothing!
7. Banana Cream Pie
For some reason, banana cream pie has the softest filling and thinnest shell. It nearly breaks apart when you bite in–some structure is missing here. Nonetheless, it still stays together!,
The inside resembles a mashed banana in marshmallow form, in a sense, having an authentic, mild to moderately sweet banana taste that doesn’t scare you off with some weird candy banana flavoring. Then, coupled with the thin, light dark chocolate shell, the two together are a nice, flavorful combination, albeit the banana does take front stage.
8. Cookies ‘N Cream
For some reason, the filling in this was on the thinner side. That aside, the entire bar resembles a traditional cookies and cream bar with its white shell and many embedded dark cookie pieces. Biting in, it’s soft, and the tiny crunchy pieces add a bit of nuance to the soft, thick, marshmallow center, which also appears surprisingly dark as if to give off chocolate vibes. The sweetness, unfortunately, is too mild, especially for a flavor type like this. Essentially, it’s too creamy, so you miss out on the distinct chocolate and sugary cream flavors that cookies and cream bars often have. I also found it was one of the most mild on this list.
9. Strawberries ‘N Cream
Exactly as it smelled: strawberry and smooth, semi-dark chocolate, though much more dull than if you were to dip an actual strawberry in chocolate. It seems like the marshmallow toned it down too much, unfortunately. At the very least, it hits the flavor profile perfectly; it just needs more sweetness. Also, I did notice these were slightly tougher and denser than several of the other bars on this list, which was more off-putting than I’d imagine.
10. Chocolate Milkshake
Well, it’s chocolate, and as you’d expect, nothing fancy here. A basic, mildly sweet milk chocolate in the traditional built Puff form. Honestly, it’s boring, especially compared to its counterpart, like that Chocolate Brownie flavor, which is sweeter and has a more pronounced chocolately flavor. I imagine this would be something to try if you’re worried about too heavy flavors or want to experiment with the Built Puff line.
11. Mint Chip
Compared to most others on this list, the filling is thinner. Still, it packs enough of a flavorful minty-like punch to notice. Don’t get me wrong, though, it isn’t as spicy as a thin mint candy; it’s much, much less sweet and more pleasant overall, likely thinned out by the creamy marshmallow filling. Speaking of those types of candy, its overall flavor profile is just that: a minty and equal part dark chocolate. Lastly, I did notice the minty flavor lingers around for a bit, just like its candy counterparts; it’s not bad, just something I noticed.
?. Churro
Review coming soon!