Exo
PB & J (Classic)
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A real PB&J flavor built from peanuts and fruit, but with protein from cricket powder that brings complete amino acids and a meaningful dose of vitamin B12, all in a low-additive, gluten-free bar without sugar alcohols.
When to choose Exo PB & J (Classic)
Best for curious, sustainability-minded snackers who want a mini meal that tastes like PB&J and do not mind real sugar; great trail fuel or a hold-you-over bar rather than a low-calorie, ultra-high-protein pick.
What's in the Exo bar?
Exo’s PB & J (Classic) tastes like the sandwich because it’s built like the sandwich: real peanuts and a jammy mix of strawberries and apricots, rounded out with honey and a hint of vanilla.
The twist is where the protein comes from—cricket powder—bringing complete, animal-derived protein and a meaningful bump of vitamin B12. Macros skew higher in carbs, sugar, fat, and overall calories than most bars, so think trail fuel or a hold‑you‑over snack rather than a light bite.
The PB & J flavor cues come straight from the peanuts and fruit, with apple juice concentrate in the strawberry component amplifying the sweetness.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Carbohydrates
- 28 g
- Sugar
- 19 g
- Calories
- 290
Protein
1015LOWProtein here is driven primarily by cricket powder, a complete, high‑quality protein that also carries vitamin B12—quite different from the usual whey or soy. Peanuts, almonds, oats, and flax add smaller amounts of plant protein, but at 10 grams total (around the lower end among bars) this reads as a snack‑level protein rather than a full meal replacement. If you’re vegetarian or shellfish‑allergic, note that cricket is an animal ingredient and can cross‑react in some sensitive individuals.
Fat
159HIGHMost of the 15 grams of fat come naturally from peanuts and almonds—predominantly heart‑friendly unsaturated fats—plus flaxseed, which contributes plant omega‑3 (ALA). Coconut adds body and flavor but also brings saturated fat, so the profile is a mix of mostly unsaturated with a notable saturated slice. The result is satisfying richness that slows digestion a bit and helps the bar feel more filling.
Carbs
2820HIGHCarbs land on the higher side and come from a blend of whole foods—strawberries, apricots, and oats—plus honey and apple juice concentrate (the latter behaves like added sugar once fiber is removed). Brown rice flour adds gluten‑free starch, while flax and oats lend some fiber to temper the rise. Expect mostly quick energy with a gentler edge from the nuts and fiber, but still a sweeter, faster burn than grain‑ or legume‑heavy bars.
Sugar
194HIGHSugar is high and comes mainly from honey and the fruit blend, with apple juice concentrate in the strawberry component boosting sweetness; there are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here. While some sugar is naturally present in the whole fruit, concentrate acts like a refined sweetener and counts as added sugar. Expect a jam‑like sweetness—delicious, quick energy, but worth noting if you’re trying to keep sugars lower.
Calories
290210HIGHAt 290 calories, this bar sits toward the top of the category, with nearly half of the energy from fats in peanuts, almonds, flax, and coconut and most of the rest from sugars and starches in fruit, honey, oats, and rice flour. The modest 10 grams of protein plays a smaller role in the calorie mix. Practically, it eats like a mini meal—great when you need staying power, less ideal if you’re chasing a low‑calorie snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is vitamin B12 at about 50% of the Daily Value, which makes sense given the cricket powder. Fruits and nuts contribute small amounts of minerals and antioxidants, but nothing else crosses the 10% DV line on the label.
Additives
This is a low‑additive bar built mostly from whole ingredients. The few processing aids—vanilla extract for aroma and citric acid in the strawberry component for tartness and color—are used in tiny amounts, while apple juice concentrate is a more refined fruit sweetener that ups the sugar. No artificial sweeteners, colors, or emulsifiers in sight.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Strawberries
Apples
lemons
Apricots
Farmed house crickets
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Oat grain
Whole-grain brown rice kernels
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
The biggest win is how normal it tastes. Across reviews and tastings, many people note that Exo bars eat like a straightforward fruit-and-nut bar rather than a stunt food, which makes the cricket protein feel approachable.
The PB&J cues are honest and familiar: roasted peanut, real fruit, a touch of honey.
Several outlets highlight that Exo bars tend to be soft and pleasantly chewy rather than chalky, and NPR’s team found them filling for hours, which matches the fat and calorie profile here.
The ingredient list reads clean and short, with no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, and the cricket powder adds a rare perk in this category: a meaningful boost of vitamin B12.
Add the brand’s sustainability angle and you get a bar that loyalists say they actually crave, not just tolerate between meetings or miles.
Main Criticism
Texture can be divisive. A handful of Amazon and Reddit comments describe some Exo flavors as dry, sticky, or RXBAR-like, and a couple of folks found peanut flavor tame.
Price comes up often too; fans think the novelty and sourcing justify it, skeptics call it a markup.
And for this specific flavor, the macros won’t suit everyone: around 19 grams of sugar and 290 calories push it into mini-meal territory, while protein sits at 10 grams, which is modest for the calories if you’re chasing efficiency.
Finally, the insect factor is a nonstarter for some, and people with shellfish allergies should be aware of potential cross-reactivity with insects.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land between crickets are delicious and hard pass?
If you like fruit-and-nut bars and are open to animal-based protein that is not dairy or soy, Exo’s PB & J delivers a familiar, jammy bite with extra nutrition and B12 you will not get from nut-only bars.
If you want a low-calorie, low-sugar, high-protein slam, this is not that; at 290 calories and 19 grams of sugar, it is more trail snack than macro math flex. Texture critiques are likely style preferences: if you enjoy RXBAR’s sticky chew, you will probably be at home; if you prefer a fluffy, nougat-style, chocolate-coated bar, this will feel different.
Taste varies by flavor too; Business Insider panned an older PB&J while praising Blueberry Vanilla, and one Redditor shrugged that peanut butter was just meh. That range suggests expectations matter as much as ingredients.
What is consistent is the clean label and the absence of sugar alcohols, which many appreciate even when the sweetness here skews high. In short, the bar does what it says on the wrapper; whether that is a win depends on your goals and your appetite for trying something a little unconventional.
What's the bottom line?
Exo’s PB & J (Classic) is exactly what it sounds like: a grown-up, gluten-free PB&J in bar form, built from peanuts, fruit, oats, and honey, with an unusual but well-chosen protein source in cricket powder. It tastes familiar, not buggy, and the satiating mix of fats and carbs makes it a smart pocket-sized meal for hikes, travel days, or long afternoons when a handful of almonds will not cut it. Where it shines is simplicity, B12, and a clean ingredient deck without sugar alcohols.
Where it stumbles is efficiency and fit: 290 calories and 19 grams of sugar are meaningful for a 10-gram protein bar, and the sticky-chewy texture will not be everyone’s favorite. It is not for vegetarians, vegans, or anyone wary of insect-based foods; those with shellfish allergies should check with their clinician first.
If you want a lower-sugar, higher-protein bar, look elsewhere. But if you want a real-food PB&J flavor with a sustainability-forward protein twist—and you want it to actually keep you full—this one earns its spot in the rotation.