Picture your favorite trail mix. Is it loaded with almonds, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds? Raisins, peanuts, pretzels, and chocolate chips? Apricots, pistachios, coconut, and white chocolate? Or are you more of a chopped peanut butter cups, cashew, dried cherry person? None of the above? The good news is, these trail mix bars can accommodate whatever trail mix flavors you love into an easy-to-grab bar. 
When I build my ultimate trail mix, I’m always thinking about textures and flavors. To be honest, I don’t really care what nuts/dried fruit are in it, as long as there’s plenty of contrast; I’ve never met a nut or dried fruit I didn’t love, so it’s just a matter of deciding which ones I want on any given day. I always want something salty, plenty of crunch, sweetness, and some sort of tangy flavor. Since trail mix is, in its essence, a nutrient-dense hiking snack, I also am looking for minimal added sugar in my dried fruit/sweet add-ins. Lately, I’ve been loving a combination of sprouted walnuts (they’re so crunchy! And super nutritious), chopped dark chocolate, roasted & salted pumpkin seeds, and unsweetened dried cherries. So good.
Kevin, on the other hand, is pretty boring consistent when it comes to his trail mix requests. Peanuts and cashews are okay, but preferably honey-roasted, and raisins/dried cranberries/dried blueberries are only moderately tolerable. If there’s chocolate, it better be milk. If there are mini peanut butter cups in the house, those are joining the party, too. Clearly, we’re on opposite ends of the trail mix spectrum. Not to worry, though, because I just mixed in his faves with half of the batter, and mine with the other. He got four bars, I got six, and everyone was happy. Especially me, considering I walked away with more trail mix bars. 
Other than your favorite trail mix ad-ins, these bars are made up of some pretty simple, nutritious ingredients. Their soft, chewy base is made of oats, almond flour, nut butter of your choice (peanut, almond, cashew, etc), maple syrup, and flax seeds. This coincidentally makes these bars gluten-free and completely vegan, so they’re great for just about everyone. You could even try swapping out the oats for coconut flakes to make these grain-free/paleo-friendly.
The high proportion of nuts in this recipe means you’re getting plenty of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals to sustain your energy throughout the day. If you’re sending these with your kids to a nut-free school, you can definitely use sunflower seed butter and opt for any seeds/dried fruits as mix-ins. Easy, peasy.
While you don’t actually have to take these trail mix bars on the trail, I highly recommend doing so. For me, hiking is even more mentally gratifying than it is physically. Yes, I love the increased heart-rate and labored breathing that comes with a tough hike, but I particulately crave the sense of accomplishment, strength, and self-awareness that comes with it.
Hiking also lets my mind wander in a natural, free-form, relaxing way. I can concentrate on a problem and brainstorm a solution, or I can just ponder the goings-on of the forest and the world around me. On a hike this summer, I distinctly remember Kevin and I spending some time talking about the sensation trees might get when peopme walk over their roots. It’s these creative, unusual conversations that I love. Plus, snacks like these chewy trail mix bars taste even better eaten at a mountainous overlook after a tough climb. 
I hope you’ll give these trail mix bars a try! They’re soft, chewy, slightly sweet, and can be customized to achieve whatever trail mix flavors you love. If you live anywhere near a hiking trail, I highly recommend getting outside this week, even for just 20 minutes. The brief escape from society and forced time away from your phone/tablet/computer/tv/videos games is so effective at relieving stress. Getting the opportunity to see myself as a tiny part of a complex system is equally humbling and grounding, and I hope it has a similar effect on you, too. Bring along a friend and some trail mix bars, and you’re all set!
As always, I love to hear from you! Leave a comment below, or tag me #bakedgreens on Instagram to let me know your favorite trail mix flavors! Happy hiking, friends!
Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars (V/GF)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup nut butter of choice almond, cashew, peanut, etc all work
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 cup almond meal or almond flour either work here
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-2 cups of trail mix or any combination of nuts seeds, chocolate, and dried fruit*
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- 2. Mix first 4 ingredients (all wet ingredients) in a large bowl until combined. A whisk may help combine these ingredients. Then, add in all remaining ingredients, and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to combine. Batter will be thick.
- 3. Scrape batter into prepared pan, and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until bars are slightly golden around the edges. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.
- 4. Slice cooled bars into preferred shape (I cut 10 small rectangles), and store in a sealed container for up to 5 days at room temperature. Bars may also be stored in the freezer for up to two months.