88 Acres
Banana Bread
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A six-ingredient, seed-powered bar where nearly all the protein comes from pumpkin seeds—vegan, nut-free-friendly, and free of sugar alcohols or emulsifiers.
When to choose 88 Acres Banana Bread
Plant-based or nut-avoidant eaters who want a mini meal of steady energy; hikers, busy mornings, and anyone who prefers simple ingredients over ultra-processed sweetness.
What's in the 88 Acres bar?
Banana Bread, the 88 Acres way: protein from pumpkin seeds, sweetness from banana, maple syrup, and brown rice syrup, and a cozy dusting of cinnamon. With 12 grams of plant protein, it leans more snack than shake‑in‑disguise, but that protein comes from a whole ingredient—not isolates or dairy—and brings iron along.
The macro story is unusual: fat is high for a bar (seed‑driven), carbs are on the lower side, and sugar sits in the middle. Translation: steady, seed‑powered fuel with real banana bread flavor built from banana and cinnamon.
If you like simple ingredients and substantial staying power, this one fits—just know the rice syrup contributes quicker carbs while the seed fats slow the overall ride.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
1215MIDNearly all 12 grams of protein come from pumpkin seeds—the first ingredient—so you’re getting minimally processed plant protein rather than whey or soy isolates. That also delivers minerals like iron and a bit of fiber, which you don’t see with refined protein powders. It’s a moderate protein level in the bar world, better for everyday snacking than heavy post‑workout recovery.
Fat
199HIGHMost of the 19 grams of fat come from pumpkin seeds, a whole‑food source rich in unsaturated fats. That’s why this bar feels satisfying and slows the absorption of the syrups, smoothing out the energy curve. If you prefer fats from nuts and seeds over added oils, this leans clean—even if the fat number sits near the top of the category.
Carbs
1520LOWCarbs are split between whole‑fruit banana and added sweeteners—maple syrup and brown rice syrup. Banana brings gentle, fruit‑based sugars and a little fiber; brown rice syrup is a refined, glucose‑rich binder that tends to digest quickly. Combined with the bar’s hefty seed fats, you can expect steadier energy than straight syrup, though the rice syrup pushes this toward faster fuel compared with bars built on oats or dates.
Sugar
74MIDSeven grams of sugar come partly from real banana and partly from maple syrup and brown rice syrup—familiar, added sweeteners. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here; brown rice syrup is highly glycemic, while maple syrup is moderate, so the sweetness is real. The generous seed fats help blunt the rise, but carb‑sensitive readers should know the sweet comes from sugars, not substitutes.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories, this eats like a mini meal: most of the energy is coming from seed fats, with moderate carbs and modest protein filling in the rest. That balance favors staying power rather than a fleeting snack. Good for long mornings, hikes, or a late‑afternoon bridge to dinner.
Vitamins & Minerals
It isn’t fortified, so the 20% daily value of iron and 6% potassium are naturally occurring—iron from pumpkin seeds, potassium from banana. That’s a nice perk for plant‑based eaters. Calcium is minimal.
Additives
Short, kitchen‑style list: pumpkin seeds, banana, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt. The syrups sweeten and bind; brown rice syrup is the most processed element, while the rest are whole or lightly processed. No emulsifiers, gums, preservatives, or sugar alcohols.
Ingredient List
Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.)
Bananas
Maple tree sap
Brown rice
Inner bark of cinnamon trees
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I really liked the No Nuts! and 88 Acres bars and they have a good amount of variety.”
“88 Acres are great and totally safe!”
“I just discovered 88 Acres and their bars are really good.”
Main Praise
Fans rally around three things: the ingredient list, the satiety, and the flavor. The bar’s short, kitchen-style roster (pumpkin seeds, banana, maple and brown rice syrups, cinnamon, sea salt) feels refreshingly transparent, and allergy communities often call it a safe, dependable option.
Several outlets—including Women’s Health and EatingWell—highlight the pumpkin-seed protein as a genuinely nutrient-dense choice, not just a filler, and testers noted it nails a banana bread vibe without tipping into cloying.
Amazon reviewers frequently mention that it won’t melt in a hot car and that the healthy fats help them feel full for longer stretches. Outdoor folks echo that it’s a steady companion for hikes and rides.
Across platforms, there’s a consistent appreciation for the absence of sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.
Main Criticism
Cost comes up a lot; multiple reviewers and roundups frame it as pricier than daily-grab bars. Texture can vary—some boxes are chewier, and a few buyers describe a slightly oily feel, which tracks with a seed-forward formula.
Taste-wise, not everyone agrees on authenticity: EatingWell’s testers wanted a more literal banana bread profile, while some Amazon reviewers found the flavor too subdued or too “seedy. ” Availability in brick-and-mortar stores isn’t universal, which frustrates people who prefer to grab a bar on the go.
And for those chasing 20g of protein post-lift, the 12g here may feel modest.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the folks calling it a banana bread ringer, or the ones saying it tastes like, well, a protein bar? Probably both.
If you expect bakery-level sweetness or a dessert-like chew, you’ll notice the pumpkin seeds first. But if your bar wish list reads whole-food ingredients, gentle sweetness, and solid staying power, this one delivers.
Men’s Health and Women’s Health praise it for vegan, nut-avoidant eaters who still want good flavor, while an EatingWell note about flavor realism is fair—banana is present, but it shares the stage with roasted seed.
On Reddit, one user lamented the seed-heavy approach; fair enough—but the bar is literally built on seeds, and that’s the point.
The nutrition profile backs the mixed takes: the fats and minerals from pumpkin seeds make it satisfying and useful as a mini meal, but people wanting a high-protein, low-calorie slam will be happier elsewhere.
What's the bottom line?
88 Acres Banana Bread is a bar for people who want their snack to resemble food. With pumpkin seeds leading the way, you get 12g of plant protein, no sugar alcohols, and a short list of familiar ingredients that actually reads like a pantry. It’s not a protein bomb, and it’s not trying to be dessert.
It’s a steady, vegan, nut-avoidant option that eats like a small meal: comforting banana-cinnamon notes, lasting fullness, and simple, whole-food appeal. Listicle take: A six-ingredient, pumpkin-seed-powered bar that tastes like a warm slice of banana bread—minus the sugar crash. Best for plant-based or nut-avoiding snackers who want real-food ingredients, steady energy, and 12g of protein without sugar alcohols.