REDCON1
Crunchy Peanut Butter Cup
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare meat‑based protein blend (beef, salmon, chicken) in a bar that eats like dessert: soft inside, crunchy chocolate‑peanut outside, with oats and sweet potato in the mix.
When to choose REDCON1 Crunchy Peanut Butter Cup
Best for a satisfying pre/post‑workout or on‑the‑go small meal when you want 20 grams of protein and real chew. Not ideal if you avoid animal proteins, soy/dairy/eggs, or sugar alcohols.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
REDCON1’s Crunchy Peanut Butter Cup leans into a meal‑style formula: a multi‑source protein blend led by beef, salmon, and chicken, backed by egg whites and plant proteins (brown rice and pea), with a small hit of whey in the chocolatey coating.
It lands near the top of the category for protein while also running higher in carbs and calories—think fuel, not featherweight.
The peanut‑butter‑cup flavor comes from real peanuts for crunch and cocoa in the coating; gluten‑free oats and small amounts of sweet potato/yam powders add body, while fibers and sweeteners keep the sugar number modest.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHThis bar’s 20 grams of protein come from a broad blend: beef, salmon, and chicken proteins at the core, plus egg whites and plant proteins (brown rice and pea), with soy isolate and a touch of whey from the coating. That mix covers essential amino acids well; if the beef isolate skews collagen‑heavy, the egg, soy, pea, and whey help balance it for muscle repair. Protein sits near the 90th percentile—substantial for a single bar.
Fat
99MIDFat comes mainly from vegetable oils (palm, palm kernel, soybean) and peanuts, with a little MCT oil. Expect a mix of saturated fats from palm‑based oils and heart‑healthier unsaturated fats from peanuts and soy; MCTs are quickly used for energy but don’t supply essential fatty acids. Overall fat lands around the middle of the pack, aimed at texture and stability rather than richness.
Carbs
2920HIGHCarbs are a true blend: whole‑food sources like gluten‑free oats, dehydrated sweet potato and yam, and a bit of blueberry/goji sit alongside refined, fast‑acting carbs (maltodextrin, dextrose), plus glycerin and sugar alcohols for sweetness. That means quicker energy with some fiber (oats, chicory root fiber) to steady the curve. If you’re polyol‑sensitive, the maltitol/sorbitol combo may cause bloating at higher intakes.
Sugar
64MIDOnly a small portion of sweetness comes from sugar and dextrose, plus some natural sugars in the fruit and a little lactose from whey solids. The heavy lifting is done by sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin, and tiny amounts of artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium). That keeps sugars modest, though polyols can unsettle sensitive stomachs—especially if stacked with other “sugar‑free” foods.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories, this bar is on the higher side for the category. Most of that comes from the sizable carbohydrate blend (including calorie‑bearing sugar alcohols and glycerin) and the 20 grams of protein, with moderate fat filling in the rest. It eats like a small meal or a serious pre/post‑workout snack rather than a light nibble.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium is the standout at about 20% Daily Value, largely supplied by the dairy components in the coating (whey powders/milk solids). Iron and potassium show only small amounts, and while beta‑carotene and vitamin A palmitate appear on the label, they don’t translate to a notable %DV here.
Additives
This bar pairs whole‑food pieces with a fair bit of food tech: glycerin to keep it soft; sugar alcohols to cut sugar; emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides) and cellulose gum for structure; potassium sorbate for freshness; and sucralose/Ace‑K to fine‑tune sweetness. These are common and safe at typical amounts, but they do make the bar more engineered—and the polyols plus chicory fiber are usual suspects if your gut protests.
Ingredient List
Cattle hides, bones, or meat
Cold-water finfish
Domestic chicken muscle meat
Eggs
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Oat grain
Ipomoea batatas storage root
Yellow and green peas
Blueberries
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
Taste and texture are the headline acts. Multiple reviewers call it unusually good for a protein bar—soft and easy to eat, with a crisp coating that makes it feel like an actual treat.
PricePlow’s reviewer compared Oatmeal Chocolate Chip to a “Fudge No Bake,” and Fitness Informant stamped the texture as best‑in‑class. Real‑food touches (oats, a little sweet potato) add to the “meal‑ish” feel, and fans like Reddit’s None-ya-Business- keep MRE Bars as a go‑to because they’re filling without being a brick.
Even on Amazon, Tonya J. raves about the German Chocolate flavor and the whole‑food profile.
If you want a bar that feels substantial and actually satisfies, this one consistently delivers.
Main Criticism
You’ll pay more than average, and you’ll get more carbs than a “lean” macro bar. Several reviewers flag the price as a sticking point, and the higher calorie/carb load moves it firmly into meal‑replacement territory for some.
On the formulation side, it uses processed carb sources and relies on sugar alcohols for sweetness; those are low‑impact on blood sugar but can bother sensitive stomachs. A few Reddit takes shrug at innovation, calling the brand “meh,” and flavor hits aren’t universal (one user felt Banana Bread was light on banana).
If you want a minimal‑ingredient bar or strict low‑carb, this is probably not your pick.
The Middle Ground
So where’s the truth? Probably right between “top‑tier treat” and “too much.
” The texture and flavor praise is loud and consistent—from Fitness Informant’s “best I’ve had” to PricePlow’s glowing notes—which suggests the eating experience is a genuine strength, not hype. At the same time, Redditor ClarkGriswoldsEggnog celebrates the unique animal‑protein + sweet potato angle, while others say it’s pricey and not groundbreaking.
On nutrition, it’s honest about being a small‑meal bar: about 260 calories, 20 grams of protein, more carbs than a super‑lean snack, and a sweetness system that leans on sugar alcohols (these can be fine for many, but if polyols give you grief, start with half a bar).
Formula‑wise, the blend includes soy isolate, egg whites, and a touch of whey in the coating—great for a complete amino profile, not great if you avoid those allergens. Call it a well‑engineered, dessert‑leaning, fuel bar: purpose‑built for people who want substance, not a wafer‑thin fix.
What's the bottom line?
If you want a protein bar that eats like an actual treat and actually fills you up, REDCON1’s MRE Bar (Crunchy Peanut Butter Cup) is hard to beat. The soft‑meets‑crunch texture and flavor variety are legitimate strengths, and 20 grams of blended protein gives you robust coverage for recovery or a longer stretch between meals. The trade‑offs are clear: it’s pricier than many, not low‑carb, and its sweetness leans on sugar alcohols—which some guts dislike.
It also includes soy, egg, dairy, and peanuts. But if your digestion does fine with polyols and you want a satisfying, dessert‑like bar that functions as fuel, this is a strong, repeat‑worthy pick. Listicle quick take: Dessert crunch, soft center, 20 grams of blended animal‑and‑plant protein.
Around 260 calories, great as a small meal on the go. Heads‑up: uses sugar alcohols and includes soy, egg, dairy, and peanuts; not a low‑carb play.