Exo
Salted Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo of cricket, pea, and egg-white protein gives this bar complete amino acids plus a natural boost of B12, all at just 160 calories and 0 grams of sugar—sweetened with allulose and monk fruit instead of sugar alcohols.
When to choose Exo Salted Caramel
Curious omnivores who want a lighter, gluten-free, zero-sugar bar for between-meeting fuel or a pre-workout bite. Not for vegans or strict vegetarians; those with shellfish allergies should check with a clinician, as some may cross-react to insects.
What's in the Exo bar?
Meet the salted‑caramel bar that gets its muscle from an unconventional trio: cricket protein (Acheta domesticus), pea protein, and egg whites. That blend lands you mid‑pack protein with top‑tier quality—egg white is a gold standard, pea is highly digestible, and cricket brings complete protein plus B12.
The sweetness is built without sugar, leaning on allulose and a whisper of monk fruit, while a tapioca‑based binder keeps everything soft and chewy. Carbs come from a mix of oat flour and pea/rice crisps, with flax and sunflower butter rounding things out with fiber and unsaturated fats.
Translation: low calories for the category, zero sugar, and a flavor built from natural caramel notes and a pinch of salt—no actual caramelized sugar needed.
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 21 g
- Sugar
- 0 g
- Calories
- 160
Protein
1415MIDProtein here comes from a three‑way team: a cricket‑and‑pea blend, pure egg whites, and pea‑protein crisps. Egg white delivers exceptionally high‑quality, complete protein; pea protein is also strong, and cricket adds complete amino acids plus naturally occurring vitamin B12. At 14 grams, it’s a moderate dose, but the mix favors digestibility and nutrient density over sheer bulk.
Fat
79MIDMost of the 7 grams of fat come from sunflower butter, with a helpful nudge from ground flaxseed. That means predominantly unsaturated fats, some vitamin E, and a little plant omega‑3 (ALA)—a cleaner profile than palm‑heavy bars. It’s enough to take the edge off hunger without weighing the bar down.
Carbs
2120MIDCarbs are a blend of whole‑food and refined sources: oat flour and flax for fiber, plus pea/rice crisps and a cassava‑derived binder labeled “prebiotic tapioca concentrate,” with allulose providing sweetness. Expect some quicker‑burning energy from the starches, tempered by the bar’s fiber, protein, and fat for a steadier feel than a sugar‑forward snack. It lands around the middle of the pack for total carbs.
Sugar
04LOWSugar reads 0 grams because sweetness comes from allulose (a low‑calorie sugar made from corn or beet syrups) plus a tiny hit of monk fruit extract. There’s no cane sugar or honey here; the tapioca‑based binder helps with texture. Most people do well with these, though very large single doses of allulose can be laxating—this single bar is typically well below those thresholds.
Calories
160210LOWAt 160 calories, this sits on the lighter end of protein bars. Allulose sweetens at a fraction of sugar’s calories, so most energy comes from the bar’s starches and its 14 grams of protein, with a modest contribution from fats. Think snack‑size fuel rather than meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout is vitamin B12 (25% DV), which points to the cricket ingredient—egg whites don’t carry B12. Vitamin E (10% DV) is classic sunflower butter territory, and iron (10% DV) likely comes from the cricket and pea proteins with a small assist from oats.
Additives
A short list of refined helpers does the heavy lifting: allulose for bulked sweetness, monk fruit extract for an intense boost, and a tapioca‑based binder to hold it together. Natural flavor supplies the caramel notes. It’s a purposeful, modern toolkit—no artificial colors and no sugar alcohols like maltitol or erythritol—chosen to keep sugar at zero while preserving a soft chew.
Ingredient List
Cassava root starch
Sunflower seeds
Corn or beet fructose syrups
Farmed house crickets
Yellow pea seeds
Eggs
Yellow peas
Yellow and green peas
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
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
Fans point to a few standout wins. First, the flavor is restrained and not cloying—food editors and everyday buyers alike say it tastes like a real bar, not a candy bar in costume.
The macro mix feels deliberate: 14g of protein for substance, 160 calories to keep it snack-size, and a sweetness profile built on allulose and a touch of monk fruit that sidesteps the crash and the sugar-alcohol afterburn.
Sustainability gets frequent applause; even skeptical reviewers warmed to the idea once they tasted it and realized the cricket note doesn’t shout. Several people love that it isn’t chocolate-coated, which means it travels well and doesn’t melt in a backpack.
And for a bar this light, the staying power is better than you’d expect—NPR’s testers even noted it kept them satisfied for hours.
Main Criticism
Texture divides the room. Redditors compared older Exo bars to that sticky, tooth-clinging chew of an RXBAR, while multiple Amazon shoppers called certain flavors dry and in need of a water chaser.
Price is the other recurring gripe; a few buyers feel the novelty factor nudges the cost higher than comparable bars. Taste-wise, most complaints are mild—more “meh” than “ugh”—but one outlier called out a metallic aftertaste in a different flavor.
And yes, there’s the psychological hurdle: a handful of reviewers simply can’t get past the word “cricket,” even when the flavor itself seems fine.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “soft and chewy” camp or the “dry and sticky” crew? Probably both.
Texture in bars often varies by flavor and formula tweaks over time, and people are sensitive to different kinds of chew. If you like a denser, RXBAR-like bite that isn’t overtly sweet, you’re more likely to land in the happy camp.
If you want a chocolate-coated, candy-bar crunch, you’ll call this plain. The nutrition math is honest: 14g of protein isn’t a meal replacement, but it’s quality protein—egg white and cricket are complete sources, with a little B12 cherry on top.
The zero-sugar angle is achieved with allulose and monk fruit—more processed than honey or dates, but generally well tolerated and not the same as the GI-bomb sugar alcohols some people avoid.
Price? Early-stage, specialty-protein economics are real; you’re paying for a smaller supply chain as much as sustainability.
And for those with shellfish allergies, a quick reality check: insects are arthropods, too—talk to your clinician if you’re unsure.
What's the bottom line?
Exo’s Salted Caramel bar is a confident yes for the curious eater who cares about ingredient intent and doesn’t need a dessert masquerade to enjoy a snack. It’s light, tidy, and thoughtfully built: moderate protein you’ll actually digest well, a zero-sugar sweetening strategy that keeps the taste balanced, and a sustainability story that’s more than marketing copy. The trade-offs are straightforward—texture won’t win over candy-bar loyalists, and the price can sting—but if you want a clean, travel-proof bar that won’t blitz your blood sugar, this one earns a place in the rotation.
fix, a pre-gym nudge, or an easy breakfast add-on. If you’re open to insect protein (and not vegan), Salted Caramel is the friendliest on-ramp: familiar flavor, grown-up sweetness, and surprisingly steady fuel. Listicle quick take: Exo Salted Caramel—14g quality protein from cricket, egg white, and pea; 160 calories; 0g sugar via allulose/monk fruit; gluten-free.
A soft, restrained chew that travels well. Best for curious omnivores who want steady energy without a candy coating; skip if you need a crunchy, chocolate-dipped bar or you’re avoiding insect proteins.