REDCON1
Cookie Dough
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare multi‑source protein blend (beef, salmon, chicken, egg whites, plus soy and plant proteins) wrapped in a soft, cookie‑dough‑like bar that reviewers consistently call out for best‑in‑class texture.
When to choose REDCON1 Cookie Dough
Choose it when you want a dessert‑leaning bar that eats like a small meal—post‑workout, on the road, or to bridge a long afternoon. Skip it if you want ultra‑simple ingredients, very low carbs, or you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
This Cookie Dough bar leans on a multi‑source protein blend—beef, salmon, chicken, egg whites, pea, and brown rice—plus a separate dose of soy protein isolate, with a little whey appearing only in the coating.
That lineup delivers 20g of protein (top‑tier among bars) while the carbs sit on the high side, coming from both whole‑food starches (dehydrated sweet potato and yam, oat and brown‑rice flours, fruit) and refined carbs and sweeteners (maltodextrin, dextrose, sugar alcohols).
Fats come mostly from palm and soybean oils, cocoa butter, and a touch of MCTs. The “cookie dough” flavor cues are classic: semisweet chocolate drops, cocoa, and vanilla, all wrapped in a confection‑style coating.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHProtein here is a true mixed bag: animal proteins (beef, salmon, chicken, and egg whites) are blended with plant proteins (pea and brown rice), then reinforced with soy protein isolate; whey shows up only in the coating. Egg, soy, and whey are high‑quality complete proteins, while pea helps round out plant amino acids. If the “beef protein isolate” component skews collagen‑type (common in the category), the egg/soy/pea partners help cover amino acid gaps.
Fat
99MIDMost of the fat is supplied by palm oils (palm kernel and palm), soybean oil, cocoa butter in the chocolate pieces, and a splash of MCT oil. That means a mix of saturated fats (palm, cocoa butter) and omega‑6‑rich seed oil (soybean), with MCTs providing quick‑burning energy rather than essential fats. If you prefer bars built on nuts or olive oil, note this formula leans on more processed fats and palm‑derived sources.
Carbs
2920HIGHCarbs are a hybrid of whole foods and refined additions. You get starches from dehydrated sweet potato and yam, oat and brown‑rice flours, plus blueberries and goji—but they’re blended with quick‑absorbing carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose, and bulk‑sweeteners like sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol) and glycerin. Expect faster energy than a bar built solely on intact grains/legumes, tempered somewhat by the bar’s protein, fiber (chicory root fiber), and fat.
Sugar
64MIDSugar lands at 6g, largely from the semisweet chocolate drops, a little dextrose, fruit, and potentially lactose from the whey in the coating. Most of the sweetness, though, comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol and sorbitol), glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup), and a tiny dose of sucralose to sharpen sweetness. That combo keeps sugars modest but uses highly processed sweeteners that can bother sensitive stomachs at higher intakes.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher end for bars), most of the energy comes from the substantial carb load and a moderate fat layer, with 20g of protein contributing meaningful staying power. Because some carbs are sugar alcohols and fiber, the effective calories per carb gram are a bit lower than straight sugar—but this still eats like a small meal, not a light snack. Good fit for a meal‑replacement or post‑training window.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium stands out at 20% DV, likely boosted by the dairy components in the coating (whey). Small amounts of iron and potassium probably come from cocoa, oats, and the protein blend. The label lists beta carotene and vitamin A palmitate, but the bar doesn’t present as a vitamin‑fortified product beyond that notable calcium bump.
Additives
This is a heavily engineered bar: sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol) and glycerin keep it soft and sweet with fewer sugars; lecithins and mono‑/diglycerides help it hold together; potassium sorbate preserves it; sucralose adds a tiny, intense sweet lift; titanium dioxide is used to whiten the coating (permitted in the U.S., not in the EU). Useful for texture and shelf life, but definitely a long list of refined additives.
Ingredient List
Cattle hides, bones, or meat
Cold-water finfish
Domestic chicken muscle meat
Eggs
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Ipomoea batatas storage root
Yellow and green peas
Blueberries
Lycium barbarum shrub fruit
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“1. RedCon MRE bars - German choc and cookies and cream - 20g protein, 20g carb. MRE bars are my go to, tho…”
“Do Redcon1 MRE Bars count? I love those. All flavors. Animal protein, sweet potato, unique ingredients.”
“I've tried the mre bars, pre workout and occasionally MOAB and have had great results.”
Main Praise
Fans keep returning to two words: taste and texture.
Across Reddit and independent reviews, people call MRE Bars their go‑to because they’re softer and less jaw‑work than typical bars, with a convincing cookie‑dough bite and chocolate hits that feel more bakery than bodybuilding.
The Cookie Dough flavor follows that pattern, and other flavors like German Chocolate and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip get credit for tasting like a real treat. At 20g of protein, it satisfies in a way many lighter, lower‑calorie bars don’t—several reviewers frame it as a legit meal replacement rather than a nibble.
The Amazon crowd backs that up with a strong average rating and plenty of “worth it” comments despite the premium price. In short, if your number one criterion is a high‑protein bar you’ll actually want to finish, this one routinely clears that bar.
Main Criticism
The flip side of that dessert‑like experience is a long, engineered ingredient list and a heavier macro profile. Carbs run high for a bar in this category and include refined additions like maltodextrin and dextrose alongside whole‑food starches, so it’s not for low‑carb purists.
Sweetness leans on sugar alcohols (like maltitol and sorbitol) and glycerin with a touch of sucralose—fine for many, but a known gut irritant for some. Price is consistently flagged as above average, and a few flavors don’t hit the mark for everyone (Banana Bread catches flak for being too faint).
The fats skew toward palm and soybean oils rather than nuts or olive oil, which some readers prefer. And while the brand highlights “real‑food” cues, the reality is a confection‑style bar that uses modern additives to achieve that soft, candy‑adjacent chew.
The Middle Ground
If you only read the hype, you’d expect a farm‑to‑wrapper miracle; if you only read the naysayers, you’d think it’s smoke and mirrors. The truth sits in the middle.
Redditor None‑ya‑Business‑ calls MRE Bars their go‑to, and it’s easy to see why: they’re unusually enjoyable to eat and they fill you up. Meanwhile, the “good marketing, meh product” critique isn’t baseless—this bar absolutely relies on processed sweeteners, stabilizers, and palm‑heavy fats to nail that bakery‑soft texture.
Nutritionally, it’s more small meal than snack: 20g protein, 260 calories, and a carb blend that delivers quick energy tempered by protein, fiber, and fat. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, you may feel the trade‑off quickly; if not, you’ll likely just notice that it tastes good and actually keeps you full.
And that multi‑source protein matrix?
It’s clever—egg, soy, and plant proteins help round the amino profile if the beef component leans collagen‑like—but it also means multiple allergens (milk in the coating, soy, egg, and even fish from the salmon).
It’s a deliciously engineered bar, not a minimalist one.
What's the bottom line?
REDCON1’s MRE Bar (Cookie Dough) is a crowd‑pleaser built by food science: a creamy, bakery‑style chew, chocolatey bites, and 20g of protein that makes it feel like a mini‑meal rather than a token snack. It excels at taste and satiety and earns strong marks from reviewers who prioritize enjoyment and fullness over rigid macro minimalism. The costs of that experience are clear: higher carbs, a premium price, and a long list of sweeteners and stabilizers that won’t thrill ingredient purists or anyone with a sensitive stomach.
If you’re comfortable with a confection‑leaning bar and want something that genuinely satisfies, this one delivers. Quick take for the list: A dessert‑tasting, soft‑chew bar with 20g protein and serious staying power. Great as a post‑workout or meal‑replacement stand‑in; less ideal if you avoid sugar alcohols, prefer short‑list ingredients, or need a truly low‑carb option.