It’s been almost three years since Quest announced the first ever Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar.

I remember the day quite well. I was sitting on the toilet when Quest dropped the bombshell on social media, and I nearly shit myself a pumpkin pie. I placed an order so quickly that it could only be described as a knee-jerk reaction.

Not wanting to overcommit, I pre-ordered just four boxes. But was it worth it?

Anticipation was very high in the fitness community; I recall a milestone night for Junk Banter when my review helped the site top 1,000 page views in a day for the first time – just two months after its birth. But I would consume basically1 calorie for every page view that night, as I ate the better part of five Pumpkin Pie Quest Bars trying to give it a proper assessment.

And while I found myself back on the toilet as a result of my efforts, I reached this conclusion: it was good, but could have been – and should have been – way better.

Three years later, let’s find out if I was right…

Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar

The new Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar arrives just in time for fall, and presents an opportunity for redemption.

Gone are the graham cracker crumbles of the old formula. Instead, Quest has opted for a formula just like their Birthday Cake Quest Bar. It has a soft, chewy center wrapped in some sort of “creme” coating – a term I’m using not because they assigned it (they didn’t), but because I don’t know quite how else to describe it.

A nice drizzle makes it much more aesthetically inviting than the pumpkin spice turd that was the 2015 look.

See below:

2018 version.

2015 version

But looks aren’t everything – unless, that is, you’re eating these Quest Bars in prep for a bodybuilding or bikini competition, in which case… they are the only thing. 

But if you’re a regular reader of Junk Banter, I’ve got some bad news for you…

You’re probably not going to win.

Come ON, Quest!!! You had three full years to get this right, but you did not. ??‍♂️

The new Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar tastes largely as the last one did, without the graham cracker crumbles. The pumpkin spice level is simply too minimal – same as last time.

I just don’t get it. How difficult is it to add these zero-calorie spices to the bar to improve its flavor without messing with the macros? Does it come down to cost? My blog makes a few dollars a day hosting ads that tell the secret to flushing belly bloat; please take my money, Quest, and add it to your Cinnamon, Nutmeg, & Ginger Fund.

In fact, I find myself missing the graham cracker crumbles. To this new version’s credit, the texture is great – very soft. But without the graham crumbles to distract, there’s just way too much of the same “protein & sugar alcohol” common to many Quest Bars. It’s the same flavor I severely disliked in the Birthday Cake Bar. This hints at cinnamon and tastes vaguely of pumpkin, but more spices are needed to mask this troublesome flavor.

I found the 2015 version was better upon baking, so I tried that too.

This did not conjure the same magic; it just tastes like hot, mushy erythritol.

Quest… I’ve been a consumer since 2013. I KNOW you can still make great product; in fact, I know firsthand that you’ve got at least one AWESOME new Hero Bar in the pipeline (a flavor I cannot disclose, because I am a tease). But you can’t keep breaking my pumpkin spice heart like this.

Please try again. Maybe the third time’s the charm.

Pumpkin Spice Erythritol Rating: 3 out of 10
Pumpkin Spice Heartbreak Rating: 0 out of 10
Overall Rating: 5 out of 10

SEE ALSO: Review of Every Quest Bar Ever Created

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