Exo
Banana Bread (Classic)
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Cricket‑powered banana bread: a short, real‑food ingredient list where banana, seeds, and spice lead—and acheta (cricket) powder supplies complete protein.
When to choose Exo Banana Bread (Classic)
Adventurous, gluten‑free snackers who want steady energy from fruit and seeds on a hike or between meals; less ideal if you’re chasing 20g of protein in one bar.
What's in the Exo bar?
Exo’s Banana Bread (Classic) leans into real-food building blocks—bananas, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, and warm spice—then quietly lifts the protein with cricket powder.
The macro story tilts toward energy: fats (from seeds and a bit of coconut oil in the banana chips) and fruit-forward carbs outpace the protein, making this more of a hearty snack than a protein bomb.
Flavor-wise, ripe banana, banana chips, vanilla, and spice do the banana-bread heavy lifting, while the crickets contribute complete protein plus a bump of iron behind the scenes.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 10 g
- Calories
- 290
Protein
1015LOWProtein here comes primarily from cricket powder, with a smaller assist from sunflower and flax seeds. Cricket protein is complete and well digested, so even at 10g per bar you’re getting quality amino acids rather than filler. That said, the protein amount sits on the lower end for bars, so think nutrient-dense snack more than post-workout shaker replacement.
Fat
179HIGHMost of the 17g of fat comes from sunflower seeds and flaxseed—largely unsaturated, including plant omega‑3 (ALA)—with a smaller saturated contribution from coconut oil used in the banana chips. This higher fat load brings staying power and helps blunt blood‑sugar swings. If you’re watching saturated fat, note the coconut component.
Carbs
2620HIGHThe 26g of carbs are driven by whole fruits (bananas plus a plum/prune purée) and banana chips, with chicory root fiber—a soluble prebiotic fiber extracted from chicory—adding body and fiber. That’s a cleaner profile than refined syrups, though prune concentrate still brings free sugars. Net effect: steadier energy for most, with the caveat that inulin‑type fibers can be gassy in sensitive guts.
Sugar
104HIGHAbout 10g of sugar per bar comes naturally from bananas, dried plums, prune juice concentrate, and the banana chips—no cane sugar and no artificial sweeteners. It’s fruit‑forward sweetness, not syrupy, though prunes also bring sorbitol (a natural sugar alcohol) that can bother very sensitive stomachs. Seeds and fiber help temper how quickly the sweetness hits.
Calories
290210HIGHAt 290 calories, this lands on the higher‑energy end of the aisle. Most of those calories come from fats in the seeds and coconut oil, with the rest from fruit‑based carbs; protein is a smaller slice. It’s well suited for long gaps between meals or trail time—more fuel bar than ultra‑lean protein bar.
Vitamins & Minerals
Two minerals stand out: roughly 12% DV calcium and 10% DV iron. The calcium likely comes from the sunflower and flax seeds, while iron is boosted by the cricket powder along with seeds. The fruits also contribute potassium, even if it isn’t called out on the panel.
Additives
The additive list is short and purposeful. Sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier) keeps fats and moisture playing nicely, and chicory root fiber—a refined, soluble prebiotic—adds texture while reducing the need for added sugars. Natural flavor and vanilla extract round out the banana‑bread aroma; the rest reads like whole‑food pantry staples.
Ingredient List
Sunflower plant seeds
Bananas
Dried plums (prunes)
Plums
Farmed house crickets
Chicory root
Coconuts
Sunflower seeds
Vanilla orchid beans
Flax plant seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Depends on your preferred source of protein here, but I enjoy Exo. They're made with crickets and pea protein. No, you don't taste either, and they're decently nutritious. 3g of sugar, too.”
“Additionally, I haven’t had them in a while but I remember liking the exo cookie dough one when I tried it.”
“Cricket protein is cheap to produce so it's a huge markup for sure. Exo protein is much better and cheaper anyway, and has more protein too”
Main Praise
Most praise centers on the experience being unexpectedly normal—in the best way. Bon Appétit flags Exo as soft, chewy, and not overly sweet, while NPR calls the bar slightly sweet and filling, with real staying power.
Fans on Amazon and Reddit echo that the flavors read simple and natural rather than candy‑bar fake, and several like that these aren’t chocolate‑coated messes that melt on your hands. The ingredient approach—bananas, seeds, spices, and cricket powder—feels closer to food than formula, and the sustainability angle is a genuine bonus.
For many, the flavor ceiling can be high; in fact, one Business Insider tasting of another Exo flavor ended in a rave, suggesting the brand can really land its profiles.
Main Criticism
Two friction points pop up again and again: texture and price.
A couple of Redditors liken the chew to RXBAR—dense and sticky—while a few Amazon reviewers swing the other way and call certain batches dry, the kind that begs for a glass of water.
Some flavors can land “meh” depending on the taster, and a minority reports an odd aftertaste. Cost is another sticking point; more than one shopper calls the bars spendy and suspects a novelty markup for crickets.
And nutritionally, 10g of protein at 290 calories won’t scratch the high‑protein itch for everyone.
The Middle Ground
Here’s how those threads meet in the middle: Exo Banana Bread behaves less like a protein bar and more like a compact slice of trail food. That’s by design—seeds and fruit take the wheel, with cricket powder riding shotgun—so you get steadier energy and fruit‑forward sweetness, not a lean, 20g‑protein slab.
Texture is the wildcard; one Redditor complains it’s “chewy sticky,” while an Amazon reviewer named Mike went full dramatic and compared a different flavor’s texture to month‑old French toast. Given the recipe (plum purée, bananas, chicory root fiber), a dense, nougat‑ish chew is the most likely reality; storage temperature can swing it toward firmer or softer.
Price is higher than big‑box bars, yes, but you’re paying for a niche protein source and a short ingredient list. As for the “ick” factor, most tasters report the flavor is simply banana‑vanilla‑spice; if you don’t announce the crickets, few would guess.
The open question isn’t taste so much as fit: do you want a sustainable, fruit‑and‑seed bar with complete protein—or a pure protein hitter?
What's the bottom line?
If “banana bread, but make it useful” is your brief, Exo’s Banana Bread (Classic) delivers. It’s gluten‑free, peanut‑ and soy‑free, built from bananas, seeds, and warm spice, and it sneaks in complete protein via cricket powder. Expect 290 calories with 10g protein, 17g fat, and 26g carbs—a satiating, real‑food snack for trail miles, long meetings, or breakfast you eat in the car.
Sweetness comes from fruit, not syrups; chicory root fiber adds prebiotic heft; and you might even get a small iron assist from the crickets. Trade‑offs? It’s pricier than mass‑market bars, the chew can run dense, and if you’re sensitive to inulin‑type fibers or prunes’ natural sorbitol, go slow.
Also: it isn’t vegetarian or vegan, and it contains coconut. For everyone else, this is a cozy, grown‑up take on banana bread that matches steady energy with a cool, genuinely functional protein source.
Condensed listicle blurb: Exo Banana Bread (Classic) — Cozy banana‑vanilla‑spice with 10g of complete protein from crickets, fruit‑first sweetness, and satiating fats from seeds. Best for hikes and long gaps between meals; skip if you need a 20g protein punch or can’t do a dense, chewy bar.