Exo
Chocolate Fudge Brownie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Exo uses acheta (cricket) protein alongside pea and egg whites, delivering natural B12, moderate protein, and low sugar via allulose and monk fruit in a short, minimally additive ingredient list.
When to choose Exo Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Adventurous, eco-curious snackers who want a light, gluten-free, not-too-sweet cocoa bar for midmorning or post-workout—not a candy bar, but a functional chocolate fix.
What's in the Exo bar?
Exo’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie bar leans into a novel protein trio—cricket (Acheta domesticus) blended with pea protein, plus a supporting role from egg whites—to deliver a balanced 14 grams of protein in a lighter‑than‑average 160‑calorie package.
The brownie vibe comes from alkalized cocoa and pockets of semi‑sweet chocolate chips, rounded out with vanilla. Carbs skew more refined (cassava‑derived binder and crisp inclusions), while sugar stays low thanks to allulose and a touch of monk fruit.
Fats come mainly from sunflower butter (vitamin‑E rich) with a little cocoa butter from the chips.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 2 g
- Calories
- 160
Protein
1415MIDProtein here is a blend: cricket + pea in the Acheta Protein Blend, reinforced by egg whites and pea‑protein crisps. That combination spans high‑quality animal (cricket; egg whites) and complementary plant amino acids, which helps cover any single‑source gaps. At 14 grams, it’s a moderate hit—more about quality and variety than sheer volume.
Fat
79MIDMost fat comes from sunflower butter, giving predominantly unsaturated fats and a modest bump of vitamin E, with smaller amounts from cocoa butter in the chocolate chips (richer in stearic, a neutral saturated fat). At 7 grams, the fat is on the lighter side for a bar, which keeps calories in check without relying on highly processed seed oils.
Carbs
2220MIDCarbs are driven by a cassava‑derived binder labeled prebiotic tapioca concentrate—functionally a refined syrup used to hold bars together—plus starches from the pea‑crisps (pea starch and rice flour). Allulose contributes sweetness with little glycemic impact, and the chips add a small amount of sugar. Expect quicker energy than oats or sweet potato would provide, buffered somewhat by the bar’s protein and fat.
Sugar
24MIDOnly 2 grams of sugar, mostly from the semi‑sweet chocolate chips, while sweetness primarily comes from allulose (a low‑calorie sugar made via enzyme conversion) and a pinch of monk fruit extract. That keeps blood sugar steadier than a typical brownie‑style bar, though both sweeteners are highly refined; sensitive stomachs may notice GI effects at high intakes of allulose.
Calories
160210LOWAt 160 calories (low for the category), the bar’s energy comes mostly from refined carbs and moderate protein, with relatively little fat. Using allulose (very low‑calorie) helps keep calories down while preserving sweetness, making this more of a light snack than a meal‑replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
Two standouts pop above 10% Daily Value without fortification: vitamin B12 (about 30% DV), which is naturally present in cricket flour, and vitamin E (about 10% DV) from sunflower butter. Iron (~10% DV) likely comes from cocoa and the protein blend (cricket and pea).
Additives
Additives are minimal and purposeful: soy lecithin in the chocolate chips helps the chocolate stay smooth; natural flavor is used sparingly for aroma. The sweetness strategy is modern and refined—allulose for bulk and monk fruit for an intense boost—delivering low sugar with fewer calories, though these are processed sweeteners and can bother sensitive guts at large doses.
Ingredient List
Cassava root starch
Sunflower seeds
Farmed house crickets
Yellow pea seeds
Corn or beet fructose syrups
Eggs
Yellow peas
Yellow and green peas
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Sugarcane and sugar beet
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
The most consistent compliment is how surprisingly familiar it tastes. Redditors note you don’t taste the cricket or pea—just a straightforward protein bar with chocolate that isn’t cloying.
Bon Appétit calls the texture soft and chewy and praises the restrained sweetness, which squares with the label’s 2 grams of sugar and no sugar alcohols. NPR’s tasters found it slightly sweet and filling, with staying power that belies the modest 160 calories.
Several Amazon reviewers like that it’s not coated in chocolate, so it doesn’t melt all over your hands, and appreciate the ingredient story—protein that’s smaller-footprint than livestock, plus a real-cocoa brownie profile.
For many, the draw is that balance: moderate protein, real chocolate, and none of the dessert theatrics.
Main Criticism
Texture divides the room. One Reddit user likened it to the sticky chew of RXBARs, and multiple Amazon reviewers found certain bars dry, even chalky, and in need of a water chaser.
Price is another sore spot; a few buyers feel the novelty of cricket flour keeps costs higher than expected. Taste opinions vary by flavor: some call it simple and nice, others say it’s just okay and less rich than the name implies.
And of course, the ick factor shows up in a minority of reviews—one person simply couldn’t get past the word “cricket,” regardless of taste.
The Middle Ground
How can one outlet call it soft and chewy while a reviewer calls it dry? Part of that is expectation—“fudge brownie” sets up a gooier, higher-fat bar than Exo actually is.
With 7 grams of fat and 160 calories, it’s built to be light and portable, not a frosting-dense brownie replica. The pea crisps and low-sugar formula can bend texture toward chewy or slightly dry if you’re used to syrupy bars.
On sweetness, the consensus leans positive: allulose does the heavy lifting without the cooling bite of sugar alcohols, and monk fruit tops it off—smart if you want gentle sweetness, less great if you equate “brownie” with icing-level sugar.
Pricing complaints are fair; cricket protein is still niche in the U. S.
, and small-scale ingredients tend to cost more. Where does the truth land?
If you want rich, fudgy decadence, you’ll likely miss it; if you want a tidy, cocoa-forward, not-too-sweet bar with a sustainability angle, Exo delivers that brief well.
What's the bottom line?
Exo’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie reads like a modern protein bar: 14 grams of protein from an animal–plant trio, 160 calories, and 2 grams of sugar sweetened mostly by allulose, with a short ingredient list and minimal additives. It’s more cocoa-snack than bakery brownie, and that’s the point. You get natural B12 from the acheta flour, a nudge of vitamin E from sunflower butter, and some iron from the blend—quiet nutrition without a candy-coating act.
Texture sits in the middle—chewy with crisp bits rather than oozing—and taste is intentionally restrained, which many appreciate and some find underwhelming. Price runs higher than mainstream bars, and a few palates read it as dry; if you prefer gooey or frosting-sweet, this won’t scratch that itch. If you’re curious about cricket protein and want a lighter, gluten-free chocolate bar that won’t spike you or melt in your bag, this is a thoughtful option.
If your heart is set on a dessert-in-disguise, look elsewhere. Quick take for listicles: A low-sugar, cocoa-forward bar with 14 grams of protein and a sustainability story—more smart snack than fudge fantasy.