MusclePharm
Confetti Birthday Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Candy‑bar experience—crunchy shell, soft center, sprinkles—with 20 grams of complete protein from a whey + soy blend. The dessert magic comes from an engineered mix of sweeteners, fibers, and a frosting‑white coating.
When to choose MusclePharm Confetti Birthday Cake
Best for post‑workout or sweet‑tooth moments when taste compliance matters and you tolerate sugar alcohols. Less ideal if you avoid soy, artificial sweeteners, or heavily processed ingredients.
What's in the MusclePharm bar?
MusclePharm’s Confetti Birthday Cake Bar leans on a whey‑first protein blend backed by soy isolate to deliver 20 grams of complete protein—near the top of the pack.
The cake‑and‑sprinkles vibe comes from vanilla and colorful candy bits (sugar and corn syrup bound to rice flour/corn grits with a little palm oil), while titanium dioxide and beta‑carotene create that bright party look.
Carbs are kept modest not by fruit or whole grains but by sugar alcohols (maltitol), chicory root fiber, and a pinch of sucralose. The tradeoff: strong satiety and a fun flavor, but a label that reads more “confection plus functional additives” than “whole‑food” bar.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 16 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes primarily from a whey blend (concentrate and isolate) with soy protein isolate in support, plus a small assist from gelatin. Whey is a fast‑digesting, leucine‑rich dairy protein with excellent quality; the isolate form keeps lactose low for many people. Soy isolate is also complete, though a notch lower in amino‑acid quality than whey, so the combo delivers a robust 20 grams with good muscle support—just note the milk and soy allergens.
Fat
109MIDTen grams of fat are driven mainly by palm kernel oil and palm oil (more saturated), with some soybean oil and likely a touch from the almond/peanut ingredients. Palm fats give the bar its creamy, cake‑like structure but aren’t as heart‑friendly as fats from nuts or olive oil, while soybean oil brings omega‑6 polyunsaturates. The amount helps with fullness; if you’re watching saturated fat, keep an eye on portions.
Carbs
1620MIDMost of the 16 grams of carbs come not from oats or fruit but from refined sweeteners and fibers—maltitol (a sugar alcohol) for bulked sweetness, chicory root fiber (inulin) for body, and a little vegetable glycerin to keep the bar soft—plus small amounts of sugar and corn syrup in the sprinkle pieces. This mix tends to hit blood sugar more gently than straight sugar, and the protein/fat help steady energy. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols or inulin, larger portions can cause gas or bloat.
Sugar
54MIDSugar stays modest at 5 grams, mainly from the sprinkle pieces (sugar and corn syrup) and a little milk sugar from whey. Most sweetness is carried by a sugar alcohol (maltitol) and an artificial sweetener (sucralose) used in tiny amounts—an approach that cuts sugar but relies on highly processed sweeteners. If you prefer to avoid sugar alcohols, this is worth noting.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, this sits on the higher side for protein bars because it packs both 20 grams of protein and 10 grams of fat. Carbohydrate calories are partly tempered by sugar alcohols and added fiber, so most of the energy is split between the dairy/soy proteins and palm/soy oils. It eats more like a small snack‑meal than a very light bite.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals exceed 10% of daily value. You get a small calcium bump from the whey and some sodium from salt. Vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene appear on the label, but at levels that don’t meaningfully shift the micronutrient picture.
Additives
To nail texture, sweetness, and shelf life, the bar uses sugar alcohols (maltitol) and glycerin to sweeten and keep it soft, emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin; mono‑ and diglycerides) to hold it together, a preservative (potassium sorbate), and sucralose for a final sweetness lift. Titanium dioxide creates a bright white, confetti‑cake look—allowed in the U.S., but no longer permitted in the EU. Overall, it’s a fairly processed ingredient list.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Corn or wheat
Oil palm fruit
Cattle hides and bones
Chicory root
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Nahcolite
Sugarcane and sugar beet
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Seriously 'Combat Crunch' are the best I have eaten if protein is your goal. They taste the best in my opinion and actually have texture (crunchy outside soft inside) without the heavy sweetener aftertaste of other 20g protein bars.”
“Combat crunch! I've tried literally every bar these are the only ones that don't have a garbage after taste (sorry quest vega good fats rxbar etc) maybe it's just something I notice more than other people.”
“So my Costco just started carrying Combat Crunch protein bars...literally the best fucking bars I have EVER eaten. Two flavors, cookie dough and chocolate peanut butter cup. I think we have reached the pinnacle, these protein bars taste exactly like a candy bar possibly even better.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are the headline.
Fans on Reddit and Amazon consistently single out Combat Crunch as one of the rare 20‑gram protein bars that genuinely eats like a treat—crunchy outside, soft pastry‑like center, and surprisingly little of that metallic sweetener finish.
Independent reviews back it up: BarBend and Fitness Informant both highlight the candy‑bar feel and broadly solid flavor lineup, with some flavors even standing out as legit good, not just “good for a protein bar.
” The macros are dependable across flavors, and at about 230 calories with 20 grams of protein, it satisfies in a way many lighter bars don’t. It’s also often priced competitively, which matters if this is a daily habit.
Put simply, if palatability is what keeps you consistent, this checks that box with gusto.
Main Criticism
Not everyone loves the chew; several reviewers found it denser and taffier than the label implies, with a crunch that fades quickly once you start chewing. A few Amazon buyers reported chalkier batches and inconsistent texture, which suggests quality can vary by lot or by flavor.
The sweetness strategy leans heavily on maltitol (a sugar alcohol) and chicory root fiber (inulin) plus a touch of sucralose. That combo keeps sugar at about 5 grams, but it can cause gas or bloat for sensitive people and tastes a touch synthetic to some.
Ingredient‑conscious folks will also notice palm oils and titanium dioxide in the white coating—legal in the U. S.
, not permitted in the EU—so this isn’t a short, “kitchen staples” label. Net carbs land in the double digits, which may be a knock if you’re keeping carbs very tight.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth sit?
If you judge bars by real‑food minimalism, Combat Crunch will feel too engineered: palm‑based fats for structure, maltitol and inulin for sweetness and softness, sucralose for the final lift, and titanium dioxide for that bakery‑case white.
If you judge by adherence—the bar you’ll actually want to eat—this one earns its fans. Redditor AuntySocialite even admitted the taste was so close to a chocolate bar they questioned the macros.
But the nutrition is straightforward: roughly 230 calories, 20 grams of whey‑heavy protein, 10 grams of fat, and 16 grams of carbs with 5 grams of sugar. The trade‑off is clear: you’re buying a dessert‑leaning experience that’s built, not baked.
That can be a feature or a flaw depending on your stomach’s relationship with sugar alcohols and your stance on additives. Flavor availability has also shifted over time (some are still mourning a peppermint release), so your favorite may rotate in and out.
What's the bottom line?
Combat Crunch is a crowd‑pleaser for people who want their protein to feel like a treat. You get a credible 20 grams of complete protein from a whey‑first blend with soy support, wrapped in a legitimately fun texture that can make hitting your numbers a lot easier. At 230 calories with 10 grams of fat, it eats more like a small snack‑meal than a dainty bite, which can be perfect post‑training or for a long afternoon stretch.
The cost of that candy‑bar charm is an engineered label: maltitol and inulin for sweetness and body, sucralose for the finish, palm oils for structure, and titanium dioxide in the white coating. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, start with half a bar and some water.
If you want a short, whole‑food ingredient list, this isn’t it. But if your priority is a dessert‑like bar that you’ll actually look forward to eating—and you’re fine with the additives—Combat Crunch delivers exactly what it promises.