BSN
Smores
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
The signature is the texture—true crisped‑rice bite instead of taffy‑chewy—layered with a s’mores flavor that actually nods to graham, cocoa, and marshmallow while keeping sugar to 3 grams.
When to choose BSN Smores
Best for a post‑workout or afternoon coffee treat when you want a dessert‑leaning crunch with 20g of protein and don’t mind modern sweeteners.
What's in the BSN bar?
BSN’s Protein Bar, S’mores, pairs a dairy‑led protein blend with a dessert‑leaning build: high protein, low sugar, and a classic campfire flavor. The protein heavy lifting comes from whey isolate/concentrate and milk protein concentrate, with smaller contributions from soy isolate and dried egg white.
Carbs lean modern—think refined fiber syrups and sugar alcohols—while fats come from palm and shea to give a chocolate‑like set.
Expect near–top‑of‑category protein, above‑average carbs, relatively low fat, a modest calorie count for the sweetness delivered, and that s’mores vibe from low fat cocoa, a hint of cinnamon (graham notes), and natural and artificial flavors that suggest marshmallow.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 23 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the protein comes from a dairy blend—whey protein isolate, whey concentrate, and milk protein concentrate—backed by smaller amounts of soy protein isolate and dried egg white. That mix delivers a complete, highly digestible amino acid profile, with the isolate keeping lactose low for many people. It’s a high‑protein bar for the category, but note the presence of milk, soy, and egg allergens.
Fat
69LOWFat here is primarily from refined tropical fats—palm kernel/palm oils and shea oil—chosen for a chocolate‑like texture and clean melt rather than for omega‑3s. The total fat is on the lean side, but the profile skews more saturated than nuts or olive oil; antioxidant tocopherols are added to keep those oils fresh.
Carbs
2320MIDThese are “engineered” carbs more than grain‑based ones: isomalto‑oligosaccharides (a starch‑derived syrup that’s partly fiber‑like), polydextrose (a synthetic soluble fiber), maltitol (a sugar alcohol), and glycerin (a plant‑based moisture holder), with some refined tapioca starch. Together they create sweetness and chew with a gentler blood‑sugar bump than table sugar for many, though sensitive stomachs may notice gas if servings stack up. Above‑average total carbs suggest quick‑to‑moderate energy rather than a slow, oat‑like burn.
Sugar
34MIDOnly a small slice of the sweetness is actual sugar; most comes from a sugar alcohol (maltitol), a low‑calorie high‑intensity sweetener (sucralose), and starch‑derived syrups like IMO and glycerin. That keeps sugar low, but it does rely on refined sweeteners—people who are sensitive to polyols may want to stick to one bar at a time.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, most energy comes from the robust protein plus the bulk sweetener/fiber matrix; the relatively small fat portion keeps the total in check. Because several of those carbs (polydextrose, maltitol, IMO) carry fewer calories than sugar, you get a dessert‑like sweetness without runaway calories. Net effect: substantial protein with moderate energy that fits post‑workout or a hold‑you‑over snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 10% of daily value, largely thanks to the dairy proteins and a touch of added calcium carbonate. Iron shows up in smaller amounts, likely from soy protein and cocoa. There’s no broad vitamin fortification beyond that.
Additives
To pull off the low‑sugar, candy‑bar texture, this bar leans on functional additives: lecithins (soy and sunflower) to emulsify, agar to bind, tocopherols to protect oils, and flavor systems for the s’mores profile. They’re effective and widely used, but they’re highly refined—more food technology than pantry staples—so the bar sits on the processed end of the spectrum.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk
Corn or tapioca
Defatted soybean flakes
Oil palm fruit
Shea tree kernels
Fats and oils
glucose
Cassava root
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“BSN Protein Crisp It’s by and large the best bar I’ve ever had.”
“Well, the brand is BSN. The flavor is just licensed from Cold Stone Creamery. Those protein crisp bars are pretty good! Sort of like a rice crispy treat.”
“BSN Protein crisp is still a great option. I literally used to eat a box of them a day while back in 2019 for a bulk”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love fest. Multiple reviewers—casual lifters and pros alike—call this one of the best‑tasting high‑protein bars because it actually crunches like a rice‑crispy treat instead of biting like protein putty.
Garage Gym Reviews even crowned BSN Crisp a best‑tasting pick, highlighting that satisfying snap and the not‑too‑sweet profile. Amazon fans echo that it doubles as a “healthier dessert,” with several noting they actually look forward to eating it (a rare feat for bars).
The macros are friendly for a snack or post‑workout: 20g protein with moderate calories, and the S’mores flavor delivers on the nostalgia without turning cloying.
Even a Redditor who “used to eat a box a day” during a bulk sums up the vibe: this is a bar people reach for because it’s enjoyable, not just tolerable.
Main Criticism
The biggest knocks come in three flavors: dryness, artificial notes, and stomach grumbles.
A subset of reviewers find the bar crumbly or “a bit dry,” especially compared to gooier marshmallow expectations; a sip of water helps, but it is a crisp bar by design.
Others pick up a synthetic edge—think “vanilla chapstick” or generally “fake”—which aligns with the use of artificial flavors and sucralose. Several folks mention GI discomfort (bloating or gas), which makes sense because the sweetness leans on sugar alcohols and fiber syrups that some people don’t digest well in larger amounts.
There are also value complaints: for a processed, candy‑bar‑style build, some feel the price runs high. And while one Redditor claimed “a lot of sugar,” the label shows 3 grams of sugar—what they’re likely reacting to are the refined sweeteners that provide most of the sweetness.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth settle?
If you want a crispy, dessert‑coded protein hit, this one nails the brief—most tasters agree it’s unusually enjoyable for a 20g‑protein bar, and the s’mores flavors are convincing without turning syrupy.
If you prefer short‑list, pantry‑style ingredients or you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, the very things that create that candy‑bar experience (fiber syrups, maltitol, sucralose) will be your deal‑breakers. Texture divides the room: the same crisp that wins over many can read as a touch dry to others—pairing it with coffee or water tends to tip that experience positive.
Fat stays modest overall, but the oils skew more saturated than nut‑based bars; some nutrition reviewers flag that, though it’s part of what gives the coating its clean snap. And to the anonymous Reddit purist who swears off the line for tasting “too artificial”—fair, but many others (including pros) land on “sweet without being too much.
” The open question isn’t whether it tastes good; it’s whether you’re comfortable with a heavily engineered path to that taste.
What's the bottom line?
BSN Protein Crisp Bar, S’mores, is for people who want their protein to crunch like a treat. It brings 20g of milk‑based protein in 230 calories, a convincing s’mores profile, and a crisped‑rice bite that avoids the dreaded protein‑bar chew. The trade‑off is a processed build: fiber syrups, sugar alcohols, and sucralose create that low‑sugar sweetness and candy‑bar texture, and those can bother sensitive stomachs.
The fat is modest but leans more saturated than nut‑centric options, and the allergens are notable (milk, soy, egg). If you’re ingredient‑minimalist or polyol‑sensitive, look elsewhere; if you want a genuinely enjoyable, dessert‑leaning protein snack, this is a strong pick. Condensed listicle blurb: A crisp, s’mores‑style bar that actually eats like a rice‑crispy treat—20g protein, 230 calories, 3g sugar.
Tastes like dessert, not a chore. Watch for sugar alcohols (possible bloating) and allergens (milk, soy, egg); gluten‑free and vegetarian.