REVIEW: ONE Crunch Protein Bars [Protein Rice Krispies?]

Flavors Tried: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon French Toast, Marshmallow Treat

Price: $8 for 4 bars ($2 per protein bar)

Nutrition: 140 Calories, 5g Fat, 18g Carbs (1g Sugar), 12g Protein

ONE Crunch Protein Bars

ONE Bars have long been one of my favorite protein bars on the market. I love their soft & chewy texture, and the flavors are different from many other bars out there.

I tend to love the limited edition flavors and seasonal flavors, with some of my favorite ONE Bar flavors being Strawberry Shortcake, Fruity Cereal, and Pumpkin Pie.

Naturally, I was ecstatic when I found out that ONE Brands was launching these new ONE Crunch bars.

It feels like most protein bars I try are the same: a dense “nougat” layer, a makeshift caramel layer, and a chocolate coating. Trying something different is wonderfully refreshing.

Since I know that I enjoy ONE Bars, my expectations for these Crunch bars were very high. And when they’re marketed to be a healthier version of a Rice Krispies Treat, that sets a very high bar.

ONE Crunch protein bars are currently available in three flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon French Toast, and Marshmallow Treat. Let’s see if they can live up to the high expectations.

ONE Crunch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

ONE Crunch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

My worry with this particular flavor was that it would taste like a generic peanut butter protein bar (like the Level-1 Protein Bars I tried).

If you’ve ever had a peanut butter-flavored protein bar, you likely know what I’m talking about: an artificial peanut butter flavor that resembles peanut butter but is distinctly different.

This ONE Crunch protein bar tastes like a combination of actual peanut butter and fake peanut butter flavor.

Yes, there are some chocolate chips in this bar, but it’s very much a secondary (and subtle) flavor. This is essentially just a peanut butter bar.

And I am definitely not complaining about that.

The interior has some Rice Krispies Treats vibes to it, but it’s much denser than your typical marshmallow treat. You don’t have that soft & gooey marshmallow texture, but it’s light enough that it has a similar feel to it.

Does this bar blow me away? No, but it’s pretty solid overall for a peanut butter-flavored protein bar.

ONE Crunch Cinnamon French Toast Protein Bar

ONE Crunch CInnamon French Toast

Biting into this bar, it was noticeably denser than the peanut butter chocolate chip flavor. I can’t say for sure if it’s always like that, or if each batch turns out slightly different, but this one was not as light and airy.

When it comes to the taste (and smell) I don’t necessarily think this is French toast. You definitely taste cinnamon, and you get a sweetness from the white chocolate coating, but this bar reminds me much more of a cinnamon roll flavor than it does French toast.

Of course, that’s not a bad thing; cinnamon rolls are delicious. But if you’re looking for a maple syrup flavor, you won’t find it in this bar.

Considering ONE Bars makes a Maple Donut protein bar, I know they have maple in their arsenal to make this bar taste more like French toast. That being said, the cinnamon flavor is pleasant.

I do wish this one was a bit less dense, but the flavor is pretty good. Just make sure you go into it expecting a cinnamon-flavored bar instead of a French toast bar.

ONE Crunch Marshmallow Treat Protein Bar

ONE Crunch Marshmallow Treat

The marshmallow treat ONE Crunch bar is the real test.

These protein bars are supposed to be a healthier alternative to Rice Krispies Treats, and this is the flavor that mimics that exactly. So, how similar is it to an actual marshmallow treat?

If I had to put a number on it, 1 being not at all similar and 10 being a spot-on replica, I’d give this protein bar a 6.

If you were doing a blind taste test, you’d know what they were going for. But, just like the cinnamon french toast bar, I found this to be a bit too dense.

If ONE Bar was able to lighten this protein crunch bar up a tiny bit, this bar would be significantly better. As-is, it reminds me more of a cereal bar than a Rice Krispies Treat.

The flavor of this bar isn’t quite a marshmallow treat- I’d consider this more vanilla than anything else. Not an unpleasant flavor by any means, but it’s also not Rice Krispies Treats.

If you’re looking for a bar that more closely resembles an actual Rice Krispies Treat, I think Sinless Snacks captured the essence of a marshmallow treat a bit better.

Overall Thoughts: ONE Crunch Protein Bars

ONE Crunch Bars

These ONE Crunch protein bars are a nice change from traditional protein bars. If you’re bored with the usual chewy protein bars out there, I see the appeal.

But they have their downsides.

These ONE Crunch bars are a bit denser than I’d like (I would love a bar that can easily fall apart) and the flavors aren’t very accurate to what they’re marketed as.

Over time, if ONE Bar can improve on the flavors and texture, these bars have potential. But they’re a tier below the regular ONE bars.

ONE Crunch Protein Bars
REVIEW: ONE Crunch Protein Bars [Protein Rice Krispies?]
Summary
If you're expecting a light & airy marshmallow bar, you need to shift your expectations. While not as dense & chewy as a regular protein bar, these ONE crunch bars are much denser than I would have hoped. The flavors are okay, but not enough to put them above the regular ONE bars.
Texture
6
Flavor Accuracy
6
Nutrition
7
Overall Taste
6.5
The Good
Crunchy texture is different from most chewy protein bars out there
Solid macros
Lower calorie than many other bars
The Bad
Too dense
Flavors not as accurate as you would want
6.4
Give Them a Try
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