TRAIL MIX ENERGY BAR
These healthy homemade trail mix energy bars will beat store-bought versions any day. They’re chewy, sweet, nutty, and are filled with clean ingredients. Plus, they’re versatile (just switch up your nuts and seeds) and so easy to whip up!
Generally, trail mix is viewed as a nutritious and healthy snack. It’s got a hefty dose of nuts and seeds, providing plenty of healthy fats and carbs. And a little sweetness from dried fruits such as cranberries, raisins, or blueberries, which are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants.
But when you start adding yogurt pretzels, chocolate chips or marshmallows into the mix, it changes things a bit. These types of ingredients offer minimal nutritional benefits and quickly bring the sugar levels up. So it’s best to stick with a simple nut, seed and fruit base.
HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX ENERGY BAR INGREDIENTS:
While these granola bars have your trail mix essentials, there’s a few simple superfoods I’ve snuck in here. From pepitas to chia seeds, these feel-good ingredients will give you a quick and easy nutrient boost – all in one snack. Here’s what’s in them:
- Assorted Nuts – Almonds and cashews are my go-to, but you can use pecans or walnuts as well.
- Dried Coconut Flakes – Adds a hint of coconut flavor and crisp texture.
- Dried Cranberries – They’re an amazing superfood (get unsweetened), along with other berries.
- Pepitas – Pumpkin seeds have great antioxidants and minerals.
- Chia Seeds – Small but mighty, they boasts tons of health benefits.
- Sea Salt – If you’re using raw nuts, don’t forget to add a little sea salt.
- Maple Syrup – Helps bind everything together and adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla adds a sweet depth of flavor.
Trail Mix Energy Bar
Ingredients
- 2 cups Nuts almonds
- 1/2 cup Dried Coconut
- 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Pepitas
- 1 tbsp Chia Seeds
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Add all of the nuts, seeds, dried fruit and salt to a mixing bowl and give it a stir.
- In a separate small bowl, stir together the vanilla extract and maple syrup. Pour this on top of the nuts and stir everything together, until it's well coated.
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan and use the back of a large spoon or spatula to flatten it into one layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, then cool for one hour in the pan.
- Once the granola bars are fully cooled, slice them into bars. I slice then entire portion in half, then divide each half into six bars, for 12 total granola bars.
Notes
- If your bars break apart and you loose some nuts when slicing, you can always roughly chop the nuts first. Some smaller pieces of nuts will fill in the gaps and hold the bars together better.
- If your bars are still sticky an hour after cooling, you may need to bake them a few minutes longer next time to better caramelize the maple syrup.