No Cow
Upgraded - Peanut Butter Cup
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo: 20g of fully vegan protein at 200 calories with just 1g of sugar, wrapped in a chocolate coating that tends to eat softer than the brand’s older, undipped bars.
When to choose No Cow Upgraded - Peanut Butter Cup
Best for plant-based eaters or dairy-avoiders who want a high-protein, lower-sugar snack with peanut-chocolate comfort—especially post-workout or as a late-afternoon bridge to dinner.
What's in the No Cow bar?
No Cow’s Upgraded Peanut Butter Cup gets its muscle from plants: a pea + brown rice protein blend delivers 20g of protein (top tier for bars), while real peanuts and alkalized cocoa supply that classic peanut‑butter‑cup taste with a touch of vanilla.
Most of the 24g carbs are engineered from soluble fibers and a sugar alcohol rather than from grain or fruit, so sweetness stays high while sugar stays low.
The chocolatey coating relies on palm‑based fats for structure, and the overall package comes in at a moderate 8g fat and a tidy 200 calories—lean on sugar, big on protein, and flavored by peanuts and cocoa rather than dairy.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
2015HIGHProtein here comes primarily from a plant blend of pea protein and brown rice protein, with a small assist from the coating’s vegetable proteins and the peanuts. Pea brings lysine while rice contributes sulfur amino acids, so together they form a more balanced amino acid profile—without dairy or soy. At 20g, it’s a high-protein, fully vegan bar that many find digestible and satisfying.
Fat
89MIDThe 8g of fat comes from two camps: palm and palm‑kernel oils in the chocolatey coating, and the peanuts. Palm oils are more saturated and give structure and shelf stability; peanuts contribute mostly heart‑friendly unsaturated fats. Overall fat is moderate, but the saturated share will be higher than in bars that lean on nut butters or olive oil.
Carbs
2420MIDThese carbs skew more engineered than rustic: soluble corn fiber and tapioca fiber (refined, non‑digestible carbs from corn and cassava) provide bulk with a gentler blood‑sugar impact than regular sugar. Glycerin (a plant‑derived humectant) and the sugar alcohol erythritol add softness and some sweetness with fewer calories. Expect steadier energy rather than a spike‑and‑crash, though sensitive stomachs may want to start with one bar and see how it sits.
Sugar
14LOWOnly 1g of sugar appears naturally from ingredients like peanuts and cocoa; sweetness is built with a sugar alcohol (erythritol) plus high‑intensity plant sweeteners (stevia and monk fruit). This keeps blood‑sugar impact low without using artificial sweeteners. If you’re polyol‑sensitive, avoid stacking multiple sugar‑alcohol‑sweetened foods in one sitting.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories (below the category average), a large share of the energy comes from 20g of protein and 8g of fat. The carbohydrate line includes a lot of fiber and erythritol, which contribute fewer calories than sugar or starch. That combo makes the bar filling for its size—useful between meals or after a workout.
Vitamins & Minerals
You’ll get about 15% DV of iron, likely coming from the pea/rice proteins and cocoa, with minimal calcium and potassium. There’s no vitamin premix—micros are incidental rather than fortified. Think protein first, vitamins second.
Additives
This is a modern low‑sugar build: refined soluble fibers for bulk, glycerin to keep the bar soft, a sugar alcohol for body, and stevia/monk fruit to deliver sweetness; sunflower lecithin helps the coating stay smooth. These ingredients are quite processed and chosen for function over whole‑food nutrition. If you prioritize short, pantry‑style labels, this reads engineered; if you want low sugar with a good texture, the trade‑off is intentional.
Ingredient List
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Corn starch
Oil palm fruit
Corn or wheat starch
Cassava root starch
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Sunflower seeds
Vanilla orchid beans
Stevia leaves
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 love the macro math.
For a fully vegan bar, 20 grams of protein at 200 calories is elite, and reviewers repeatedly call out the strong protein-to-calorie ratio as the reason these stay in their rotation.
The dipped/coated build often hits softer than the brand’s old-school texture, and several buyers say this flavor delivers a familiar peanut-and-cocoa satisfaction without a sugar crash. Some Amazon reviewers describe the consistency as pleasantly soft, and multiple outlets—from BarBend to SELF—praise the bar’s ability to deliver high protein and fiber without dairy or gluten.
For many people, it’s a fuss-free way to get a meaningful protein boost that’s portable, satiating, and diet-flexible.
Main Criticism
Taste and texture are polarizing. A loud minority says certain flavors can skew dry or powdery, with a stevia/erythritol aftertaste that’s hard to ignore.
A few Redditors and Amazon reviewers call out inconsistency—some boxes eat soft, others feel chalky. The sweeteners and engineered fibers that keep sugar and calories down can be a gut toss-up; some people do fine, others report mild GI grumbles.
And while peanuts provide flavor and some healthy fats, those avoiding palm-based oils or sugar alcohols may see the formula as too processed for their daily bar.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—gym-candy genius or a protein brick in disguise? The truth sits in the middle.
If you prioritize macros and dietary fit, the Upgraded Peanut Butter Cup earns its praise: it’s vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and delivers 20 grams of protein with only 200 calories, a combo that’s genuinely hard to find.
The chocolate coating helps the chew compared with some of No Cow’s older bars, and several reviewers specifically note improved softness.
Still, flavor is subjective; one Redditor flat-out called No Cow “a crime against humanity,” while another crowned it their favorite brand—both can be true depending on your palate and your tolerance for stevia and erythritol.
The formula leans intentionally engineered (refined fibers, a sugar alcohol, and high-intensity plant sweeteners). That’s a feature if you want lower sugar impact; it’s a bug if you prefer dates, maple, or other pantry staples.
In short, the bar does exactly what it claims—just make sure its approach lines up with what you like to eat.
What's the bottom line?
No Cow’s Upgraded Peanut Butter Cup is a pragmatic win: big, dairy-free protein with a familiar peanut-and-chocolate profile, tidy calories, and minimal sugar. It’s not trying to be a bakery-fresh dessert. It’s trying to be the most efficient peanut-butter-cup-adjacent bar you can toss in your bag—and on that front, it largely succeeds.
If you love whole-food sweeteners and can’t stand stevia or sugar alcohols, this won’t convert you. If you’re plant-based (or dairy-avoiding) and want a dependable protein boost that won’t spike blood sugar—and you can handle modern sweeteners—this flavor belongs on your shortlist. Consider it a gym-friendly candy nod wearing sensible shoes: not flashy, but purpose-built, satisfying, and easy to recommend to the macro-minded.