No Cow
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Unusually high protein for a vegan bar—20g in ~200 calories—with just 1g sugar achieved via fiber and alternative sweeteners; beloved for macros, polarizing for taste and texture.
When to choose No Cow Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Great for dairy‑free or plant‑based eaters who prioritize a high protein‑to‑calorie ratio and steadier energy over dessert‑level sweetness—especially post‑workout or as a late‑afternoon protein bump, assuming you tolerate sugar alcohols well.
What's in the No Cow bar?
No Cow’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar is built like a dairy‑free candy bar that happens to carry 20 grams of plant protein.
The muscle comes from a pea–brown rice blend (with a nudge from peanut flour), while the peanut butter personality is real peanuts plus roasted peanut flour and chocolate chips made from chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, rounded with vanilla.
Carbs look high on paper, yet most are soluble corn fiber and glycerin with erythritol and natural high‑intensity sweeteners keeping sugar to just 1 gram. Fats are modest and come mainly from peanuts and a bit of cocoa butter, which helps keep calories to a reasonable 200.
If you want a vegan, low‑sugar bar with high protein and lower net carbs, this one is engineered for that—just know it gets there with several refined ingredients.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g of protein comes from a vegan duo—pea protein and brown rice protein—supported by a little peanut flour. Pea brings lysine while rice supplies sulfur amino acids, a classic pairing that balances the amino acid profile without dairy or soy. It lands near the top of the pack for protein while staying fully plant‑based.
Fat
59LOWOnly 5g of fat, mostly from peanuts and a touch of cocoa butter in the chocolate chips. Peanut fat leans heart‑friendly (monounsaturated), while cocoa butter contributes stearic and oleic acids for creamy texture. Overall fat is on the low side compared with many bars, without relying on added seed oils.
Carbs
2620HIGHThe 26g of carbs are largely structural rather than a fast sugar hit. Soluble corn fiber—a refined fiber made from corn starch—adds bulk and helps steady blood sugar, while glycerin (a plant‑derived humectant) keeps the bar soft; erythritol supplies sweetness without many calories. Total carbs look above average for bars, but the digestible share is lower than it appears, and sensitive stomachs may want to ease in.
Sugar
14LOWSugar sits at 1g because sweetness comes from a blend: erythritol (a zero‑calorie sugar alcohol made by fermentation) provides sugar‑like body, while stevia and monk fruit add an intense lift. That keeps blood‑sugar impact low, though it is a more processed path to sweetness and, for some, larger amounts of polyols can cause GI discomfort.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, most energy comes from the hefty protein dose plus a modest amount of fat. Many listed carbs are fiber or erythritol, which contribute fewer usable calories than sugar would—one reason the bar stays relatively light for its protein. It’s a filling, protein‑forward bite without a heavy calorie load.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron is the standout at about 15% of daily value, likely coming from the pea and rice proteins with a little help from cocoa. Calcium and potassium are minimal, and there are no added vitamins—this bar is about protein and fiber, not fortification.
Additives
To deliver sweetness and a soft bite without added sugar, the recipe uses several refined helpers: soluble corn fiber for bulk, glycerin to hold moisture, erythritol for sugar‑like body, and tiny amounts of stevia and monk fruit for sweetness; sunflower lecithin in the chips keeps things smooth. Effective and common in low‑sugar bars, but decidedly more processed than a date‑and‑nut formula.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Corn starch
Fats and oils
Groundnut plant seeds
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Corn or wheat starch
Rapeseed
Cocoa beans
Sunflower seeds
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 protein density: 20g of vegan protein for roughly 200 calories is rare, and it’s exactly what many athletes and dairy‑free eaters are hunting.
The pea‑and‑rice blend gives a more complete amino acid profile without soy or whey, and the bar stays light because most of the carbs come from fiber and erythritol rather than sugar.
Fans say it’s surprisingly satiating for the calories, and several note that it sits well in the stomach—some even use it daily as an easy protein bump. Independent roundups have noticed too: BarBend highlights the protein‑per‑calorie math, while SELF calls out the fiber‑plus‑protein combo as a solid pick for people who do well with sugar substitutes.
Taste has its supporters as well; certain flavors have real followings (Birthday Cake, Key Lime, and the “dipped” line get frequent shout‑outs). For those who like it, the soft, fudge‑like chew is a pleasant change from crunchy date‑and‑nut bars.
Main Criticism
Texture and aftertaste are the sticking points. Many reviewers describe some flavors as dry, gritty, or chalky, with a noticeable stevia/erythritol finish—especially in the non‑dipped bars.
A few report batch inconsistency: one box is soft and tasty, the next leans crumbly or thin compared with product photos. The sweetness profile is more “engineered” than bakery‑fresh, which turns off folks who prefer straightforward sugar or fruit‑sweetened bars.
And like any product using sugar alcohols and lots of fiber, a minority of people experience digestive grumbles if they dive in too fast. Price can feel steep if you don’t love the flavor.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If you evaluate bars like training tools—protein first, calories second—No Cow makes a strong case.
The macros are exceptional for a vegan bar, and the lower sugar approach means steadier energy for many people. But if you treat bars like dessert, the flavor and mouthfeel may disappoint; that stevia edge some taste buds pick up is real.
The good news is there are levers you can pull: the dipped flavors tend to mask dryness, and a 10–12‑second microwave zap or pairing with coffee can soften the chew and round the sweetness.
As for the internet drama (shout‑out to the Redditor who called these “a crime against humanity”), the average experience skews far calmer—Amazon ratings hover around four stars across thousands of reviews, which suggests a quiet middle that finds them perfectly fine.
Digestively, it’s prudent to start with half a bar if sugar alcohols have ever bothered you. And flavor hunting matters here: peanut butter–forward or dipped options are safer bets than the most delicate bakery‑style flavors if you’re texture‑sensitive.
What's the bottom line?
No Cow’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip is a functional, plant‑based protein bar first and a treat second. It delivers 20g of pea‑and‑rice protein in about 200 calories, keeps sugar to 1 gram by leaning on fiber, erythritol, and a pinch of stevia/monk fruit, and even brings along a modest shot of iron. The trade‑offs are exactly what you’d expect from that blueprint: a denser chew, a sweetness profile that reads “low sugar,” and the possibility of GI grumbling if you’re sensitive to polyols.
Choose this if you’re dairy‑free or vegan and you want a reliable, high‑protein, lower‑sugar bar for post‑workout or a between‑meal anchor. Start with flavors known to hit better on texture (peanut butter–leaning or dipped) and see how your stomach does—half a bar is a friendly trial run.
If you want a candy‑bar experience, this won’t woo you; there are tastier options built for that brief. But as a pragmatic protein tool that travels well and does the math right, No Cow earns its spot in the gym bag.