If you’re looking for a quick, nutritious, and delicious snack, look no further than these Homemade Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars!
Packed with superfoods like nuts, seeds, and dried fruits (kind of like our granola!), these Easy DIY Snack Bars are a no-bake, gluten-free option that provides lasting energy and plenty of protein. Perfect for meal prepping, they’re great for on-the-go breakfasts, post-workout snacks, or even a midday pick-me-up. Bonus: They take just a few minutes to put together!
Why You’ll Love These Trail Mix Bars
These bars aren’t just tasty—they’re also packed with health benefits! Here’s what makes them a go-to snack:
- Superfood boost: Have you heard of the concept of superfoods? The idea is that certain foods are extra packed with the good stuff. Seeds like pepitas, flax, and sunflower add healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients.
- No baking required: These Easy DIY Snack Bars skip the oven and whip up in no time, making them perfect for busy schedules.
- Gluten-free: If you have celiac, are you’re gluten-sensitive or just looking for a naturally gluten-free option, these bars are perfect. Oats have no gluten! (Quick note: if you’re at all concerned about cross-contamination, you can buy oats that have been produced in a facility that’s dedicated to gluten-free food production, like Bob’s Red Mill‘s gluten-free oats.)
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2/3 cup whole almonds
- 2/3 cup dried fruit medley (choose your favorites like cranberries, raisins, or apricots)
- 3/4 cup whole cashews
- 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/3 cup ground flax seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)
- 1/3 cup honey (or liquid sweetener of your choice)
- Pinch of sea salt
Meal Prep Tip
These Easy DIY Snack Bars are perfect for meal prep. Make a batch over the weekend and you’ll have easy, grab-and-go snacks for the week. Store them in the fridge, covered, for the freshest taste.
Variations and Substitutions
- Nut-Free: Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter and the almonds/cashews for more seeds or coconut flakes.
- Vegan: Use maple syrup or agave instead of honey for a fully plant-based treat.
- Add-ins: Get creative with other mix-ins like chocolate chips, chia seeds, hemp seeds, or shredded coconut!
FAQs about No-Bake Trail Mix Bars
To make these bars vegan, simply replace the honey with maple syrup or agave.
Yes! These bars freeze well. Just wrap each bar in parchment paper and place in a freezer-safe container. They’ll last up to 3 months.
Feel free to use your favorite dried fruits! Cranberries, raisins, apricots, or cherries all work wonderfully in this recipe.
With these Homemade Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars, you’ll always have a nutritious snack ready to go. Let us know in the comments if you try them and what fun add-ins you use!
And if you’re looking for more Easy DIY Snack Bar ideas, make sure to follow us for new recipes!
Homemade Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars
Equipment
- 1 9×9 inch Sheet Pan (can also use 1/4 sheet pan, which is 13 x 9 1/2, if that's all you have)
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup whole almonds
- 3/4 cup whole cashews
- 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2/3 cup dried fruit such as cranberries, raisins, or apricots
- 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/3 cup ground flax seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
- 1/3 cup honey or liquid sweetener of your choice
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and leave some paper hanging over the edges for easy removal later.
- Add the almonds and cashews to a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped nuts, rolled oats, dried fruit, pepitas, flax, sunflower seeds, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Prepare the wet ingredients: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the peanut butter and honey. Microwave in 20-second increments until runny and easy to mix.
- Combine and mix: Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
- Form the bars: Press the mixture firmly into your lined pan, making sure it’s evenly distributed and packed tightly.
- Chill and slice: Place the pan in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours until the mixture is firm. Once set, lift the parchment paper out of the pan and slice into your desired size bars.
Video
Leave a Reply