REDCON1
Iced Lemon Cake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A meat‑forward protein blend (beef, salmon, chicken) with egg and plant proteins, wrapped in a genuinely bakery‑style, iced lemon cake experience—unusual texture and flavor for a bar that still delivers 20g of protein.
When to choose REDCON1 Iced Lemon Cake
Reach for it when you want a satisfying, dessert‑leaning bar to bridge meals or after training.
Best for folks who value flavor and texture and are comfortable with sugar alcohols and a longer ingredient list (and who don’t avoid dairy entirely, since the icing contains a touch of whey).
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
REDCON1’s Iced Lemon Cake bar leans into a bakery-style experience: a creamy, palm‑oil–based “icing” (with a touch of whey) and bright lemony tang from natural flavors and citric acid, finished with fruit-and-vegetable colors.
Under the frosting, it packs 20g of protein—near the top of the category—built from a meat‑forward blend (beef, salmon, chicken) with egg whites, plus soy, pea, and brown rice proteins, and a little whey in the coating.
Carbs land on the higher side for a protein bar at 25g, drawn from a mix of whole-food starches (dehydrated yam and sweet potato, gluten‑free oats) and more refined sources (maltodextrin and dextrose), with sweetness kept in check by sugar alcohols and zero‑calorie sweeteners.
Fat sits at 10g from the icing oils (palm/palm kernel, soybean), MCT oil, and nuts. Net effect: 260 calories that eat like a small meal, with a dessert‑like finish and a decidedly modern ingredient list.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHAt 20g, protein is upper‑tier here and comes from a meat‑first blend—beef, salmon, and chicken—backed by egg whites, plus soy, pea, and brown rice proteins (with a little whey in the coating). Animal proteins and egg deliver complete amino acids; the added plant proteins help round out the profile. Note that some “beef protein isolates” on the market are collagen‑based; if that’s the case here, the egg, dairy, soy, and pea help balance the amino acid mix.
Fat
109MIDThe 10g of fat mostly comes from the icing and inclusions: palm and palm‑kernel (to keep the coating firm), soybean oil, and MCT oil, along with natural fats from peanuts and almonds. That means a mix of saturated fat (palm/MCT) for structure and quick energy, plus unsaturated fats from nuts and soybean oil. It’s a pragmatic blend for texture and shelf life rather than an olive‑oil‑style fat profile.
Carbs
2520HIGHCarbs are higher than average for a protein bar and come from both whole‑food and refined sources. You get starches from dehydrated yam/sweet potato and gluten‑free oats for steadier energy, but also fast‑digesting carbohydrates like maltodextrin and dextrose, plus texture‑builders like glycerin and sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol). Expect a mixed energy curve—some sustained fuel from the roots and oats, with a quicker lift from the refined carbs; polyols can bother sensitive stomachs if portions stack up.
Sugar
84HIGHWith 8g of sugar, the bar sits mid‑pack. Sugars come from a little added sugar, milk sugar in the whey‑based coating, and small amounts from fruit pieces; most sweetness is actually delivered by sugar alcohols and high‑intensity sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium). That keeps sugar grams moderate but relies on highly refined sweeteners—good for sugar control for some, though polyols can cause GI upset in sensitive people.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher side among bars), this is closer to a compact meal than a light snack. Calories are spread across all three macros—20g protein, 25g carbs, and 10g fat—while the icing oils, nuts, and refined carbs add density. It’s well suited post‑workout or as a hold‑you‑over option between meals.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins or minerals above 10% DV. Small contributions likely come from the proteins and nuts (iron), whey (a nudge of calcium), and starchy roots/fruit (potassium), while beta‑carotene and vitamin A palmitate are used more for color than meaningful nutrition. Think of this as a protein‑first bar, not a multivitamin.
Additives
This is a modern, confectionery‑style build: humectants (glycerin) keep it soft, sugar alcohols lighten the sugar load, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides) and cellulose gum stabilize texture, potassium sorbate extends shelf life, and sucralose plus acesulfame potassium sharpen sweetness. All are widely permitted and do their jobs well, but the label will read long if you prefer minimally processed bars. If you’re sensitive to polyols, pace portions.
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
Taste and texture are the headliners. Independent reviewers repeatedly rank MRE Bar near the top for mouthfeel, calling it softer and less chewy than most, with a satisfying iced shell and a tender center.
Redditors like None-ya-Business- and ClarkGriswoldsEggnog praise the flavors and the animal‑protein twist, noting it feels more like a small meal than a token snack. Fitness Informant goes so far as to award a “perfect score” on texture, and PricePlow’s tester compared Oatmeal Chocolate Chip to a nostalgic no-bake fudge treat.
There’s also a genuine sense of fullness thanks to 20g of protein and a macro spread that doesn’t shy from carbs or fat. For people tired of the same whey‑only nougat bricks, the lineup feels fresh, especially in lemon, German chocolate, and cookies‑and‑cream styles.
Main Criticism
It’s not a minimalist bar. The ingredient list is long, the sweeteners are modern (sugar alcohols plus sucralose/acesulfame potassium), and the carb count runs higher than typical ‘lean’ picks.
That makes it a poor fit if you’re avoiding polyols or aiming very low carb. Several reviewers flag price as a sticking point, landing a bit above average.
And while flavor coverage is broad, not every variety hits—one Redditor called out Banana Bread for barely-there banana. If you expect a short, whole‑food ingredient panel, the icing oils, refined carbs (like maltodextrin/dextrose), and emulsifiers will feel like a trade‑off for the texture.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—clever confection or overbuilt snack? Probably both.
The macro profile (about 260 calories with 20g protein, 25g carbs, 10g fat) makes MRE a compact meal replacement more than a dainty pick‑me‑up. That’s exactly why fans love it: it satisfies like food and tastes like dessert.
Critics have a point, though—the texture and low sugar come courtesy of a modern toolbox: palm‑based icing, sugar alcohols, and high‑intensity sweeteners. If you’re sensitive to polyols, you may feel it.
There’s also the nuance that some “beef protein isolates” on the market skew collagen‑like; if that applies here, the added egg, soy, pea, and rice proteins help round out amino acids, but purists might still prefer a straight whey or milk blend.
In short: if you want an indulgent, bakery‑style bar that actually fills you up, the praise rings true; if you want spartan ingredients or keto‑lean macros, the negatives won’t magically disappear.
What's the bottom line?
REDCON1’s MRE Bar aims to be cake with credentials—and largely pulls it off. It’s one of the few bars that feels like a treat while delivering real staying power, thanks to 20g of protein and a macro profile built for satiety. The texture is genuinely special: firm icing, soft middle, easy chew.
The catch is philosophical more than technical. To get that dessert‑like experience with moderate sugar, MRE leans on sugar alcohols and a longer label. If you’re cool with that—and want something more meal‑like than a wafer‑thin snack—it’s a compelling pick for post‑workout or busy days.
If you’re chasing ultra‑minimal ingredients, very low carbs, or you’re sensitive to polyols, look elsewhere. Otherwise, this is the bar you reach for when you want something that eats like bakery and behaves like fuel.