Trail Mix Granola Bars

Name: Trail Mix Granola Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 255 min
Yield: 10-12
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups rolled oats; 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal; 1/3 cup roasted almonds, chopped (I used salted, but unsalted ok too!); 1/4 cup dark raisins; 1/4 cup dried cranberries; 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (+ more for sprinkling); 1/4 cup unsalted butter; 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter; 1/4 cup honey; 1/3 cup light brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla

by Thebravemarshmallow

10-12 bars

4 hr 15 min

With all of the back to school prep that was happening in August, I made sure to save some space for dreaming up a few healthy snacks for the kiddos that wouldn't fall short on deliciousness. And what better snack to grab on-the-go than a granola bar?! We've tried so many packaged and I'm always left disappointed, so I set out to come up with a recipe that you can throw together quickly and easily using pantry staples like peanut butter, honey, rolled oats and raisins...chocolate too! I love getting the kids involved in as many of the steps to my recipes as possible and I've found that there is always a job for even the littlest of hands. These bars are great to put together with your kids - let them do the measuring of the dry ingredients and ask for their help pressing down on the mixture to ensure everything stays in place! They only need a little patience to wait until these bars chill in the fridge - then everyone can dig in!

Trail Mix Granola Bars

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Recipe details

Yield 10-12 bars
Time spent: Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 4 Hours Total time: 4 hr 15 min

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Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1/3 cup roasted almonds, chopped (I used salted, but unsalted ok too!)
1/4 cup dark raisins
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (+ more for sprinkling)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Line an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper, allowing 1-2" to hang over the sides so that you can remove the bars easily
In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, cereal, raisins & cranberries. Get your kids involved by asking them to help measure or simply pour ingredients into the bowl after you do the measuring. They can use a wooden spoon to stir ingredients until just combined - hands work too!
Next, add butter, peanut butter, honey and salt to a small saucepan and melt over low-medium heat. Stir frequently until ingredients form a smooth consistency. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Add chopped almonds to the peanut butter mixture and stir to evenly coat.
Pour peanut butter mixture over rolled oats and other mix-ins. Using a spatula, gently fold ingredients until the peanut butter mixture has coated all ingredients.
Toss in your chocolate chips and fold in 2-3 times, but then stop! If you mix for too long, those chips will melt all over your mixture. Its ok for some to melt, but we want most of those chips to hold their shape for added texture to these bars.
Pour granola mixture into prepared baking pan. Scrape sides of the bowl using a spatula and gently push mixture into the corners of the dish.
Using another piece of parchment paper, place on top of the granola mixture and either press down firmly with hands or use the bottom of a drinking glass (square is ideal because you can really get into those corners!). Once you've pressed down on every inch of the mixture, slowly remove the parchment paper.
Sprinkle on 1/4 to 1/3 cup of more mini chocolate chips (totally up to your taste!)
Cover with press n seal or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours. I know its hard to wait, but this is an important step not to cut short to ensure the bars hold their shape.
Once chilled, cut into bars the size of your choice! Store in fridge up to 2 weeks.

Tips

I wrapped these individually in parchment paper for super easy grab and go, but if you use a single piece of parchment in between layers in an air tight container, you should be set!
Salted or unsalted roasted almonds work in this recipe, but I really enjoyed the sweet & salty combo using almonds roasted in a bit of sea salt. So yum!

Comments

Michele on Oct 06, 2020

I am so glad you shared this recipe. I did however exchange the peanut butter for almond butter because of allergies. They are absolutely wonderful.

Like Reply
- Thebravemarshmallow on Oct 07, 2020
  
  Hi Michele! I am SO happy you enjoyed the trail mix bars and such a fantastic idea to swap out for a different nut butter. May have to try that one myself:) Thanks so much!
  
  1
Mar15135187 on Nov 25, 2022

If I made them as a gift can they be packaged and mailed. 🤨

Like Reply

Trail Mix Granola Bars

Trail Mix Granola Bars

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Instructions

Tips

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