Trail Mix Bars Oats Honey (Printable Version)

Wholesome bars rich in oats, honey, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for convenient snacking.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1/2 cup chopped mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
03 - 1/3 cup sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
04 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
05 - 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 1/3 cup honey
07 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
08 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
09 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, combine oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and chocolate chips if using.
03 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, honey, and brown sugar together, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt.
04 - Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and mix until everything is evenly coated.
05 - Transfer mixture to prepared pan and press firmly with a spatula or hands to compact evenly.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
07 - Let cool completely in the pan, then lift out using parchment overhang. Cut into 12 bars.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • They taste nothing like those cardboard-y commercial bars—chewy, buttery, and loaded with texture that actually satisfies.
  • You can customize them with whatever nuts and dried fruit are sitting in your pantry, making them different every time.
  • They come together in about 35 minutes from start to finish, cooling included, so you can make a batch before work.
02 -
  • Don't overbake these—the edges should be golden but the center still soft, because they set as they cool and you don't want them turning hard and brittle.
  • Pressing the mixture firmly into the pan is non-negotiable; loose bars will crumble apart, and I learned this the expensive way after wasting a batch.
  • Room temperature is your friend here; cut them when they're fully cool, or the cuts will be messy and the bars might fall apart.
03 -
  • If your honey is crystallized, warm it slightly in the microwave before measuring so it pours smoothly and mixes evenly.
  • Toasted nuts taste better than raw ones here, so if you have time, toast your nuts for 5 minutes before chopping and adding them.
  • A sharp serrated knife makes cutting through these cleanly so much easier than a regular blade.
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