No Cow
Maple
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Among vegan bars, this one stands out for its protein-to-calorie ratio: 22g of plant protein at about 200 calories with just 1g sugar, plus a maple profile built from natural flavors and a light crunch from pea-protein crisps.
When to choose No Cow Maple
Choose this if you want a dairy-free, high‑protein snack with minimal sugar for post‑workout or between meals—and you’re okay with sugar alcohols and a firmer, sometimes drier chew.
What's in the No Cow bar?
No Cow’s Maple Protein Bar channels maple without the syrup, leaning on natural flavors for that breakfast‑table note while keeping sugar very low. Under the hood it’s a plant‑protein build—pea plus brown rice, with pea‑protein crisps for texture—delivering a top‑tier 22g of vegan protein and just 5g fat.
Total carbs land on the higher side for bars, but most come from added fiber, sugar alcohols, and a bit of refined starch rather than dates or oats. If you want big protein with minimal sugar in a dairy‑free package, this bar fits the brief—just know the maple comes from flavoring, not a tap on a tree.
- Protein
- 22 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2215HIGHAll the protein here is plant‑based: a blend of pea and brown rice, plus pea‑protein crisps for crunch. Pea brings lysine and rice contributes methionine, a classic combo that rounds out amino acids without dairy. With 22g per bar (about the 95th percentile), it’s a substantial, vegan protein hit.
Fat
59LOWFat is modest at 5g, coming mainly from almonds with small amounts of palm oil and cocoa butter to hold the bar together. Almonds skew the profile toward heart‑friendly monounsaturated fats, while palm oil and cocoa butter add more saturated fat—but in small quantities here. Overall, it’s a leaner‑fat bar than most.
Carbs
2520HIGHMost of the 25g of carbs are engineered rather than whole‑food: soluble corn fiber and glycerin for softness, with small amounts of starch from pea starch and rice flour. That setup keeps sugar low and usually steadies blood sugar more than syrup‑based bars, though some people feel gas or bloating from added fiber and sugar alcohols. If you track net carbs, know that a large share of these carbs aren’t digested like sugar.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1g sugar because sweetness comes from a blend of erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol) plus stevia and monk fruit, not maple syrup or fruit. That keeps glycemic impact low, though stacking several sugar‑alcohol‑sweetened foods in a day can bother sensitive stomachs. The maple character is flavor‑driven rather than syrup‑driven.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories (below the category average), this bar is light for how much protein it delivers. Calories are driven mostly by protein and the added fiber/starch matrix, with just 5g fat contributing a smaller slice. It reads more as a high‑protein snack than a full meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
There’s no vitamin fortification, but iron lands around 17% Daily Value—mostly from the pea and brown rice proteins, with a small nudge from almonds. Calcium and potassium are modest (about 4% and 1% DV). Micros aren’t the headline here; protein is.
Additives
This formula leans on refined helpers: soluble corn fiber for bulk and glycemic moderation, glycerin to keep it soft, erythritol with stevia/monk fruit for sweetness, and natural flavors for the maple note. These keep sugar and calories down but make the bar more processed than nut‑and‑date styles. Most tolerate them well, though added fiber and sugar alcohols can upset sensitive guts at higher intakes.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Corn starch
Fats and oils
Almond tree seeds
Yellow and green peas
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Corn or wheat starch
Stevia leaves
Monk fruit
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“O-M-G these actually aren’t that bad. No chalky powdery finish like I was worried about. The flavor is great too. As far as protein bars go, I’d give these an 8/10 and will def keep in the rotation.”
“However, No Cow is by far my favorite brand.”
“I looove no cow bars. Birthday cake flavor is 👌👌”
Main Praise
The headline win is the macro math. Reviewers repeatedly point to an unusually strong protein-to-calorie ratio for a vegan bar, which makes it easy to hit targets without leaning on dairy.
Several fans call it their go-to brand, with some flavors—Birthday Cake, Key Lime, and Dipped Salted Caramel—earning real affection, and Maple drawing nods from those who like breakfast-y notes. The fiber helps with fullness, and a number of buyers say it sits well when eaten solo as a mid-afternoon bridge.
Independent outlets back that up: BarBend named No Cow a top high‑protein vegan pick, while SELF highlighted it as a high‑fiber option that many clients tolerate well. There’s even a quiet bonus for plant-based eaters: a meaningful bump of iron per bar.
Main Criticism
Taste and texture are the sticking points. Many critics find certain flavors dry or grainy, with an unmistakable stevia or sugar‑alcohol finish—one Amazon reviewer compared it to eating a scoop of pea protein.
A few Redditors report inconsistency from bar to bar and from flavor to flavor, with some batches soft and others chalky. Digestive discomfort pops up in a minority of reviews, likely tied to the combo of added fiber and sugar alcohols; if you’re sensitive, it’s worth noting.
Some also flag price and say the bars can look thinner than marketing photos.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land between “an 8/10, keeping it in the rotation” and the Reddit verdict of “a crime against humanity”? Likely somewhere in the middle—and it depends on what you value.
If you’re chasing protein density without dairy and want sugar kept to a whisper, this bar absolutely delivers; the numbers are tough to beat in the vegan category. If you want a dessert-like chew and a clean finish, some flavors may disappoint, especially in the standard (non‑dipped) line where dryness shows up more often.
The maple taste comes from flavoring rather than syrup, which keeps sugar low but won’t replicate the sticky‑sweet pancake experience. Practical tip gleaned from the crowd: sample a single bar first, and if texture is your hang‑up, try the dipped varieties, which many say smooth out the grain.
And if your gut grumbles at sugar alcohols, this probably isn’t your everyday snack.
What's the bottom line?
No Cow’s Maple Protein Bar is a strategic choice: big vegan protein, restrained calories, minimal sugar, and a bit of iron—all in a dairy‑free package. It’s more gym buddy than pastry chef, and it doesn’t apologize for that. Fans appreciate the satiety and the macro efficiency; critics call out dryness and a noticeable sweetener aftertaste, with experiences varying by flavor and even by batch.
If you prioritize protein utility and can tolerate sugar alcohols, it earns a spot in the bag—especially post‑workout or during busy days when you want something that won’t derail your intake. If you want a treat-like texture or have a sensitive stomach, look elsewhere or opt for the dipped flavors first.
Maple delivers the breakfast vibe via natural flavors, not syrup; keep expectations there, have a drink nearby, and you’ll know quickly whether this is your new staple. Note: contains almonds.