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Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars: Easy School Lunch Recipe

Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars for School Lunches - featured image
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These no-bake chewy trail mix granola bars are packed with oats, peanut butter, honey, and your favorite trail mix ingredients. Perfect for school lunches, they hold together beautifully and are ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts; roughly chopped)
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons shredded coconut (unsweetened)

Instructions

  1. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two opposite sides. Set aside.
  2. Optional: Toast oats on a baking sheet at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway, until lightly golden and fragrant.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine toasted oats, crispy rice cereal, mixed nuts, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, and shredded coconut. Stir well.
  4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine peanut butter, honey, brown sugar, and butter. Stir frequently until melted and smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Do not let it boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
  5. Pour the warm peanut butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Fold with a rubber spatula until everything is evenly coated. The mixture will be sticky and thick.
  6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Place a piece of parchment paper over the top and press down firmly with your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup until compact and even.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until completely firm.
  8. Lift the block out of the pan using the parchment overhang. Place on a cutting board and cut into 12 equal bars with a sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between cuts.

Notes

Press the mixture firmly into the pan to prevent crumbling. Chill for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, for clean cuts. For vegan version, swap honey for maple syrup and butter for coconut oil. For nut-free, use sunflower seed butter and replace nuts with seeds.

Nutrition

Keywords: granola bars, trail mix bars, no-bake granola bars, school lunch snacks, chewy granola bars, homemade granola bars

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/chewy-trail-mix-granola-bars-easy-school-lunch-recipe/