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]]> Our Trail Mix Bars recipe is the perfect alternative to store bought chewy granola bars. Made with a mixture of nuts, cereal, and other snack-worthy ingredients, they’ll give you an energy-boost to power through your day. They’re perfect in a pinch as a breakfast or anytime snack. The best thing about this Trail Mix Bars recipe is that it’s totally customizable so you can make it to suit your tastes.

Trail mix treat bars cut into squares.

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Table Of Contents
  1. WHAT IS TRAIL MIX BAR?
  • INGREDIENTS
  • INSTRUCTIONS
  • TIPS FOR THE BEST TRAIL MIX BARS
  • HOW TO STORE
  • MORE CEREAL TREAT BAR RECIPES
  • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Trail Mix Bars Recipe

    • WHAT IS TRAIL MIX BAR?

    Trail Mix Bars and somewhere between a cereal bar and a chewy granola bar. It’s a no-bake recipe that combines nuts, cereal, pretzel, chocolate chips and M&Ms. You can also add or substitute dried fruits, seeds and oats as well.

    Trail Mix Bars are a healthier snack alternative to cookies and they’re easier to make, too!

    ❤️ WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS TRAIL MIX BAR RECIPE

    ✔️ A healthy snack option: Packed with flavor, texture and a balance of sweet healthy ingredients.

    ✔️ Easy to make: This stovetop recipe only requires a few ingredients and 5 minutes to make.

    ✔️ Grab-n-go: A healthier snack option to grab in a hurry

    ✔️ Diets: vegetarian

    ✔️ Special Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish

    Trail Mix bars in a pan.
    Trail mix bars ingredients in a bowl.

    INGREDIENTS

    This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for trail mix bars, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements and printable instructions, see the recipe card below.

    You may have all of these Trail Mix Bars ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

    • Pantry Ingredients: Cheerios, peanuts, M&Ms, semisweet chocolate chips, pretzel sticks, brown sugar, corn syrup.
    • Refrigerated/Frozen Ingredients: butter.

    VARIATIONS

    Add or swap the following ingredients to make these Trail Mix Bars suit your tastes:

    Nuts/grains: Try rolled oats (or gluten-free oats), almonds, pecans, walnuts or cashews.

    Seeds: Add sunflower seeds, flax seeds, safflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or chia seeds.

    Dried fruit: Raisins, cranberries, coconut flakes, cherries, strawberries, or bananas.

    Cereals: Substitute any flavor Chex or Cheerios.

    Other additions: Add these ingredients to the syrup and then pour over the trail mix: peanut butter, salt, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon.

    Go vegan: Swap butter for oil in this recipe to make it vegan.

    Trail mix bars ingredients.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    This section shows how to cook Trail Mix Bars on the stove top, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

    COMBINE: In a large bowl, combine cheerios, peanuts, m&m’s, chocolate chips and broken pretzel sticks.

    MELT: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add corn syrup, butter and brown sugar. Stir until bubbling and melted.

    POUR: Let cool for 5 minutes until it’s cool enough not to melt the chocolate. Pour over the cereal mix and stir gently to combine. Press into a greased 9×13-inch dish.

    COOL & CUT: Refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting into squares.

    Syrup in a dutch oven.

    WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Trail Mix Bars then you’ll love our Fruity Pebble Bars, Fruit Loop Bars, or S’Mores Bars.

    TIPS FOR THE BEST TRAIL MIX BARS

    Follow these tips to make the best Trail Mix Bars.

    ✔️ Use your favorite trail mix mix-ins. Consider dried fruit or other fun ingredients.

    ✔️ Wait for syrup to cool enough so as not to melt your m&ms and chocolate chips before mixing it into your ingredients. It will still be runny enough when cool so don’t worry about it hardening quickly.

    ✔️ Stir gently. Mix everything together gently so that the ingredients don’t crumble.

    ✔️ Refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting and serving. If you refrigerate for 2-3 hours it will be less likely to fall apart.

    HOW TO STORE

    Countertop: Store in an airtight container or individually wrapped in cling wrap at room temperature. They will last for 3-4 days.

    Freeze: Wrap your Trail Mix Bars in plastic wrap individually. Place treats in a freezer bag to store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    Defrosting: Thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours.

    Trail mix bars uncut.

    MORE CEREAL TREAT BAR RECIPES

    Looking for more cereal treat bar recipes Trail Mix Bars, then you’ll love our Fruity Pebble Bars, Fruit Loop Bars, or S’Mores Bars.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    For perfect results every time, here are answers to the most common questions about cooking (one of the keywords).

    What is in trail mix?

    Trail mix traditionally includes nuts, granola, dried fruits and bits of chocolate or chocolate candies. Our bar includes some cereal and pretzels. The great thing about trail mix bars is that you can customize them to suit your tastes!

    Is trail mix a healthy snack?

    Trail mix is a great source of protein and heart-healthy fats. By including certain types of can increase the amount of important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which could help reduce inflammation and protect against various chronic health conditions. 

    What can I add instead of Cheerios?

    Inthis trail mix bar recipe we use Cheerios but, in place of Cheerios, you could add oats, a granola cereal or Chex cereal, just to name a few ideas.

    trail mix bar square.
    Print

    Trail Mix Bars Recipe

    Easy to make trail mix bars are full of pretzels, cheerios, m&ms, chocolate chips, and nuts. They're held together with a homemade syrup. Perfect as a lunchbox snack.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Keyword chocolate coconut bars, dessert bars, snack bar, trail mix, trail mix bars
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Cool Time 2 hours
    Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
    Servings 20
    Calories 182kcal
    Author Andrea + Stef

    Ingredients

    • 3 ½ cups Cheerios
    • ¾ cup peanuts
    • 1 cup M&Ms
    • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
    • ¾ cup pretzel sticks broken into pieces
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
    • ½ cup light corn syrup
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, combine cheerios, peanuts, m&m's, chocolate chips and broken pretzel sticks.
      Trail mix bars ingredients in a bowl.
    • In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add corn syrup, butter and brown sugar. Stir until bubbling and melted.
      Syrup in a dutch oven.
    • Let cool for 5 minutes until it’s cool enough not to melt the chocolate. Pour over the cereal mix and stir gently to combine. Press into a greased 9×13-inch dish.
      syrup being poured over cereal mixture for trail mix bars
    • Refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting into squares.
      Trail mix treat bars cut into squares.

    Notes

    1. Use your favorite trail mix mix0ins. Consider dried fruit or other fun ingredients.
    2. After making the sugar syrup, wait until it cools enough not to melt your m&ms and chocolate chips before mixing it into your ingredients. It will still be runny enough when cool so don’t worry about it hardening quickly.
    3. Stir everything together gently.
    4. Refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting and serving. If you refrigerate for 2-3 hours it will be less likely to fall apart.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

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