No Cow
S'mores
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
No Cow threads a rare needle for a vegan bar: 20g of pea-and-rice protein in about 190 calories with just 1g of sugar, dressed up in nostalgic s’mores mix‑ins. It’s dessert‑flavored fuel without dairy, leaning on refined fibers and sugar alcohols to keep sugars down.
When to choose No Cow S'mores
Choose it if you want a high‑protein, dairy‑free snack that’s lighter on calories for post‑workout or a late‑afternoon hold‑you‑over. Best for people who tolerate sugar alcohols and don’t mind a denser chew.
What's in the No Cow bar?
Plant-powered s’mores?
That’s the promise here: No Cow’s S’mores Protein Bar packs 20g of protein from a pea–brown rice blend (near the top of the pack) with very little fat and just 1g of sugar.
The campfire flavor comes from sugar-free marshmallow pieces (sweetened with sugar alcohols and set with carrageenan), cocoa‑butter chocolate chips, and a hint of vanilla and almond.
Total carbs look high on paper at 26g, but most come from refined fibers and low‑calorie sweeteners, which is why it’s positioned as keto‑friendly and lower in calories than many bars.
If your stomach is sensitive to polyols or prebiotic fibers, pace yourself—this bar leans on them to keep sugar low and texture on point.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g protein lift comes from a plant duo: pea protein and brown rice protein, with extra crunch from pea‑protein crisps. Pea supplies lysine while rice contributes methionine, so together they round out the amino acid profile without dairy. These are refined isolates—clean tasting and generally well tolerated—making the bar fully vegan.
Fat
59LOWAt 4.5g, fat is unusually low and comes mainly from almonds, cocoa butter, and a small amount of palm oil. Almonds bring mostly unsaturated fats, while cocoa butter skews toward stearic acid (a saturated fat that’s relatively neutral for LDL), and palm adds some saturated fat. The modest total keeps richness in check and shifts calories toward protein and fiber.
Carbs
2620HIGHMost of the 26g of carbs are engineered rather than from whole grains: soluble corn fiber (a refined fiber from corn starch) and isomalto‑oligosaccharide add bulk and chew, with small amounts of starch from pea/rice crisps. This setup keeps sugars down and tends to deliver steadier energy than a sugar‑heavy bar, though IMOs can be partly digestible and responses vary. Sensitive guts may notice gas if eaten quickly or alongside other fiber‑ and polyol‑heavy foods.
Sugar
14LOWSugar stays at 1g because sweetness is handled by sugar alcohols (notably erythritol, with some xylitol in the marshmallows) and high‑intensity sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit. That keeps blood‑sugar impact lower than cane sugar, though some people notice a cooling taste or GI rumbling at higher intakes. Any residual sugar likely comes naturally from cocoa or starch‑based inclusions.
Calories
190210MIDDespite chocolate and marshmallow pieces, it lands at 190 calories—below many protein bars. Most energy comes from the 20g protein plus the fiber‑and‑polyol matrix that provides body with fewer digestible calories than sugar; the low 4.5g fat helps, too. Net effect: a lighter bar that still reads as a dessert flavor.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron is the standout at about 20% Daily Value, largely from the pea and brown rice proteins with a boost from cocoa solids. Calcium and potassium are minimal, and there’s no vitamin fortification. Think protein and fiber first, with a helpful iron bump—not a multivitamin in bar form.
Additives
This bar uses a modern tool kit: soluble corn fiber and chicory root fiber for bulk, glycerin for moisture, sugar alcohols plus stevia/monk fruit for sweetness, sunflower lecithin for chocolate flow, and a touch of carrageenan to set the marshmallow. Each is widely permitted and used in small amounts, but together they signal a highly refined formulation rather than pantry‑style ingredients. If you’re minimizing ultra‑processed additives—or sensitive to polyols—keep that in mind.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Corn starch
Fats and oils
Hardwoods and corn cobs
Chicory root
Corn or wheat starch
Corn or tapioca
Red seaweed
Vanilla orchid beans
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
Fans like this bar because it does the math well. You get a big plant‑protein lift for relatively few calories, which is rare in the vegan space and why BarBend crowned it a top high‑protein pick.
Several reviewers highlight satiety and steadier energy—one Amazon reviewer noted it sits well and has a soft consistency.
Flavor-wise, the “dipped” line and certain picks (Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel, Key Lime) come up as standouts; a Reddit user even gave the brand an 8/10 and added it to their rotation.
And if you’re dairy‑free by choice or necessity, the pea‑rice blend offers a solid alternative to whey, with a helpful bump of iron to boot.
Main Criticism
The loudest complaints are taste and texture. Dry, chalky, crumbly—those words show up a lot, especially for non‑dipped flavors and a few misses like Cookies & Cream.
Some folks pick up a cooling or lingering sweetness from erythritol and stevia, which can read as “artificial. ” There are also reports of inconsistency from bar to bar—some boxes are soft, others dense and dusty.
A subset of reviewers mention mild GI rumbling, which tracks with the bar’s reliance on sugar alcohols and refined fibers. Price gets dinged, too, especially when a box doesn’t land flavor‑wise.
The Middle Ground
So why the split verdict? No Cow is engineered to prioritize protein and keep sugars low, which means it relies on refined fibers for bulk and sugar alcohols for sweetness.
Those choices keep calories in check but can dry out texture and add a cooling aftertaste—trade‑offs that show up in both Reddit threads and expert reviews. The flavor gap seems flavor‑ and format‑dependent: “dipped” bars generally fare better in taste tests, while some regular flavors get tagged as powdery.
A few Amazon reviewers say the bars are soft and enjoyable; others, like Benjamin, couldn’t finish a box. They’re both right.
The bar shines if your first priority is plant‑protein density and a lighter calorie count; it stumbles if you want a candy‑bar experience or you’re sensitive to polyols. The open question is which flavors you’ll land on—because for this brand, flavor choice can make or break the experience.
What's the bottom line?
No Cow’s S’mores Protein Bar is a smart tool for plant‑based eaters who care most about the numbers: roughly 20g of protein, modest calories, and just 1g of sugar. It’s built for function first, flavor second. If you’re cool with a denser chew and the sweetener profile, you’ll likely appreciate the satiety, the iron bump, and the dairy‑free protein hit.
If you’re hoping for a gooey dessert bar, start with a single bar (or try the dipped flavors) before you commit to a box. Practical tips: sample a dipped flavor like Salted Caramel or Birthday Cake, pair the bar with coffee or tea, and pace it if you’re new to sugar alcohols. Treat it like a protein tool—not a candy bar—and it earns its spot in a gym bag or desk drawer.
Condensed listicle version: Best for high‑protein vegan macros with lighter calories. Why we like it: 20g plant protein around 190 calories, dessert‑inspired flavors, and a solid fiber assist. Watch outs: texture can be dry and sweeteners can linger; try dipped flavors first if you’re picky or sensitive.