No Bake Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars

Naturally sweetened and no bake, these granola bars are loaded with trail mix flavors! Perfect for a snack on the go, or a healthy homemade alternative!

If you’re not a fan of the packaged granola bars on the shelves these days, try these mouthwatering no bake trail mix granola bars!  Not only are they no bake (which in this case, translates to hardly any effort!), but they’re also naturally sweetened for a chewy granola bar you can feel good about eating!

I have a secret to tell you guys… before this, I had never made granola bars before.  I know, I know.  Honestly, I’d buy the ingredients to make them, and then forget about it, or something would come up and they wouldn’t get made.  So we’d end up reaching for the box on the grocery store shelves.  My kids are big granola bar fans, or as my 3 year old calls them “Ola bars”, so I knew this was one thing I needed to cross off my cooking bucket list!

When I sat down and brainstormed about what kind of granola bars I wanted to make here for the blog, I had SO many ideas… but I quickly narrowed it down to something that had a lot of great texture, flavor, and was reasonably healthy (it is the start of the new year after all).  That’s when it hit me… TRAIL MIX!!

I’ve been a trail mix lover for YEARS… even the trail mix that doesn’t have chocolate candies in it lol.  There’s just something about the crunchiness of the seeds, chewy sweetness of the dried fruits, and salty savoriness of the nuts.  So I made sure to pack these trail mix granola bars FULL of those flavors!!

Theses babies are loaded with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sliced almonds, pistachios, oats, shaved coconut, dried cherries (or cranberries, whatever you prefer), and dried blueberries!  All held together with a mouthwatering peanut butter (or go for another nut/seed butter if you prefer), honey and coconut oil mix that gives it a great chewy texture!

I used old fashioned (or rolled) oats for this recipe, because it’s what I had on hand, but in retrospect, if you’re having trouble with the bars holding together, try the quick cooking oats next time.  They’re smaller and might bind together a bit better.  In all honesty, these hold together best when refrigerated.  You can certainly keep them on your counter at room temperature, but they may fall apart easier.

These trail mix granola bars would be perfect to pack in a cooler for a road trip, or to bring to a kid’s baseball game.  Just make sure to bring plenty, because people won’t be able to stop at just one bite… there won’t be any “sharing” going on lol.  My daughter took one bite and her eyes got all huge as she announced, “best. granola bar. ever!”.  Yep, I was all smiles at that point!

Feel free to switch up the nuts/seeds/fruit combos and create your own perfect combination!

I hope you guys give these delicious no bake chewy trail mix granola bars a try!!

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No Bake Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars

Naturally sweetened and no bake, these granola bars are loaded with trail mix flavors! Perfect for a snack on the go, or a healthy homemade alternative!

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 15 mins

Servings: 8 bars

Calories: 352

Recipe Author The Chunky Chef

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (can use quick cooking as well)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup dried cherries (or cranberries)
• 1/2 cup dried blueberries
• 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (raw)
• 1/8 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/8 cup flax seeds

Instructions

• Line an 8x8" baking pan with wax paper (or parchment paper), enough so the paper overhangs the edges of the baking pan.  This makes removing the bars a lot easier.
• Add oats, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, dried cherries and dried blueberries to a large mixing bowl.  Toss to combine.
• Combine peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, salt, cinnamon and vanilla in a microwaveable mixing bowl.  Microwave 30-40 seconds, or until honey is bubbling/foamy.  Stir well to combine.
• Pour melted peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to stir it all together.
• Transfer mixture to prepared baking pan.  Top with a sheet of wax paper (or parchment paper) and press down firmly into an even layer.  Really compact it well.  I used the side of a square glass vase to press it down.
• Refrigerate 2+ hours, or overnight.  Slice into 8 bars and serve.

Notes

Bars hold together better when refrigerated, but can be kept at room temperature if desired.

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