1st Phorm
Birthday Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy-bar-style build—with cereal-style crisps and cake pieces—that actually nails the birthday-cake experience while delivering 20g of protein.
When to choose 1st Phorm Birthday Cake
Best as a dessert-like protein hit after the gym or a late-afternoon craving killer for folks who tolerate sugar alcohols and don’t need to avoid milk, soy, peanuts, or almonds.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
If you like your protein with a side of nostalgia, 1st Phorm’s Birthday Cake bar delivers: think vanilla, marshmallow-y crisps, and speckled “cake” bits built with real cereal-style inclusions. Under the frosting, the muscle story leans dairy—20g of protein (top ~90th percentile) from whey concentrate/isolate, with soy isolate and a bit of collagen rounding it out.
Carbs sit mid‑pack but skew refined (glucose/corn syrup, sugar, starch), while fats run higher than average thanks to palm and seed oils. Colors come from plant pigments (beet, turmeric, annatto, beta carotene) with a whitening boost from titanium dioxide, which keeps the “cake” vibe photogenic.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20g of protein comes from whey (concentrate and isolate), a complete, fast‑digesting dairy protein that’s well regarded for muscle repair. Soy protein isolate adds another complete plant protein, while a smaller amount of collagen contributes grams but not essential amino acids (collagen isn’t a complete protein). Net: high protein from quality sources, with collagen more for texture than amino acid breadth.
Fat
139HIGHThe 13g of fat are largely from palm and palm kernel oils (more saturated) plus sunflower and soybean oils (higher in omega‑6). That mix makes the bar creamy and shelf‑stable, but it leans more processed-oil than nut‑based fats. If you’re watching saturated fat or balancing omega‑6s, note the reliance on palm and seed oils here.
Carbs
1920MIDCarbs are mainly “quick” carbs: glucose/corn syrup, sugar, maltodextrin, and refined starches in the cake and marshmallow‑style crisps, with a little brown rice flour in the mix. Expect fast energy, tempered somewhat by the bar’s protein and fat. It’s more confectionery‑style fuel than slow, whole‑grain carbo‑loading.
Sugar
84HIGHYou’ll see 8g of sugar from cane sugar and cereal inclusions (cake pieces, marshmallow‑flavored crisps) plus glucose/corn syrup binders. To keep sugar grams moderate, the bar leans on sugar alcohols (maltitol), glycerin (a moisture‑holding syrup with mild sweetness), and a touch of sucralose for extra sweetness. Those polyols are fine for many people but can cause GI rumbling at higher intakes.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (above average), most energy comes from fat and protein, with carbs contributing a smaller—but quick—slice. Rough math: protein (~80 kcal) + fat (~117 kcal) do the heavy lifting; the refined binders and sugars fill in the rest. It eats like a dessert‑leaning protein bar rather than a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron pops to about 11% DV, likely from soy protein isolate and fortified cereal‑style inclusions. Calcium (around 8% DV) comes from the dairy proteins. You’ll also spot beta carotene and vitamin A palmitate on the label—used mainly for color/fortification here and not present at standout levels per the panel.
Additives
This is a thoroughly engineered bar: emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ & diglycerides, PGMS) for smooth bite, preservatives (potassium sorbate, cultured dextrose) for shelf life, and multiple sweetening systems (maltitol, glycerin, sucralose). Color comes from plant sources plus titanium dioxide for that bright “frosting” look. If you prefer very short, minimally processed labels, this one skews the other way.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
Fats and oils
Bovine, porcine, poultry, or fish skins/bones
apples and pears
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Whole-grain brown rice kernels
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“1st Phorm level-1 bar -PB Pretzel Flavor 🤌”
“Blueberry muffin and peanut butter lover are probably my favorite, they have almost a dough like interior.. very satisfying”
“I like 1st Phorm bars. I don’t like the strange chewy nougat texture of most of them or they taste off. Over several weeks I tried many that people recommended and I never found one I like better.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are the headline. Multiple reviewers point to a soft, almost doughy center with crisp bits that make it feel like a real treat, not punishment-in-protein form.
One Redditor even put these above the typical chewy-nougat bars after weeks of sampling. The 20g of protein (mostly fast-digesting whey, rounded out with soy) gives it muscle-meaningful heft, and there’s a deep flavor bench if birthday cake isn’t your thing.
Independent write-ups also call out how satisfying it is as an on-the-go option—more like a mini meal than a wispy snack—without sending sugar into the stratosphere. If you’ve been hunting for a bar that genuinely tastes like dessert, this one keeps showing up in the winner’s circle.
Main Criticism
The flip side of the indulgence is the macro profile and the label. At 260 calories with 13g of fat—driven in part by palm and seed oils—it’s not the leanest choice.
Sweetness relies on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) plus sucralose, which some people detect as “chemical” and others feel in their gut; one Redditor even lamented a formula change that added maltitol.
Across flavors, peanuts show up, which is a non-starter for some. And while the bar looks photo-ready, that bright white comes with titanium dioxide, an additive some shoppers prefer to avoid.
Price can also feel steep, depending on your budget.
The Middle Ground
So which is it: candy in gym clothes, or a smart dessert swap with real protein? Honestly, a bit of both.
If your priority is a clean, short ingredient list and very light macros, this isn’t your bar—one Redditor’s “basically candy” jab isn’t totally off if you judge by oils, inclusions, and confection-style build.
But the opposing camp has a point, too: another Redditor swore they couldn’t find a better-tasting bar after trying many, and that doughy-center-plus-crisp texture is exactly what most “healthy” bars miss.
The 20g of protein is legit, coming primarily from whey and soy; collagen is in there more for texture than amino acid completeness. The sweeteners are worth a personal test: maltitol is a sugar alcohol that keeps sugar grams moderate but can bother sensitive stomachs, and sucralose can be taste-sensitive.
As for titanium dioxide, it’s used to keep that frosting look bright; it’s allowed in the U. S.
but not in the EU, so if you’re additive-averse, take note. Somewhere in the middle is the truth: it’s an indulgent bar that eats like dessert and still moves the protein needle.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level-1 Birthday Cake bar is a crowd-pleaser for people who want their protein to feel like a treat. It brings 20g of mostly whey/soy protein, a soft-dough center, and crunchy “cake” inclusions that make each bite feel celebratory. The trade-offs are clear: 260 calories, 13g fat, refined carbs, and a sweetness system built on maltitol plus a touch of sucralose.
It’s also gluten-free but not allergen-light—milk, soy, peanuts, and almonds are in play. If you’re chasing a lean, minimally processed bar, keep looking.
If you want a dessert replacement that actually delivers on flavor while still packing real protein, this sits near the top of the aisle. It’s the kind of bar you keep in your bag for days when the craving is loud and the lift deserves cake—confetti and all.