No Bake Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free)
These peanut butter trail mix bars are a no-bake, easy treat to enjoy for a filling snack or healthy dessert! They won’t last long because everyone will love them.
Your new favorite homemade snack recipe
I kid you not, guys. These peanut butter trail mix bars are the absolute BEST thing to eat when the inevitable 3PM slump hits. You know the feeling – a little bit hungry, a little bit tired, and a lotta bit need a 10 minute break from working.
These bars will satisfy pretty much all your snack cravings at once! They’re hearty, chewy, salty, sweet, chocolatey, and peanut butter-y. And even though they taste decadent, they’re full of good-for-you ingredients. A perfect snack contains fiber + protein and/or healthy fat, and these bars have it all:
- Fiber comes from oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
- Protein and healthy fats come from peanut butter, nuts, seeds, and flax meal
- Naturally sweetened with just maple syrup
What’s in these no bake peanut butter trail mix bars?
- Oats: The chewy base of these bars, you’ll need old fashioned rolled oats to make this recipe. Oats provide whole grain nutrition, including soluble fiber and B vitamins.
- Peanut butter: Peanut butter is the glue that holds my life together…and also holds these bars together. I used creamy natural peanut butter, which works best because it is runny.
- Walnuts: I love walnuts for their taste, texture, and high amount of omega-3 fatty acids. I haven’t tried this recipe with other nuts, but I believe you can sub whatever you have on hand just fine.
- Flax meal: Flax seeds are another great plant-based source of omega-3s. But we can’t digest whole flax seeds, so it’s important to use flax meal or ground flax in your cooking.
- Pepitas: These green hued seeds are a good source of plant based protein, magnesium, and iron.
- Dried cranberries: I love the sweet/tart flavor of dried cranberries in these bars, but feel free to use raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots instead.
- Maple syrup: This is my favorite liquid sweetener to use in my recipes. You could use honey (not vegan) or agave for similar results.
- Dark chocolate chips: Because chocolate chips are the the best part of any trail mix!
- Cinnamon
- Salt
How to make this recipe
- Pulse walnuts + half of the oats, pepitas, cranberries, and flax in a food processor to break them down a bit.
- Combine peanut butter and maple syrup in a bowl and stir.
- Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl, including ingredients you pulsed in the food processor.
- Pour the wet ingredients into dry, and mix very well.
- Press ingredients into a parchment paper lined baking pan, then refrigerate to set.
- Cut into squares, then drizzle with melted chocolate if desired. They are delicious either way!
If you love this recipe, you may also like
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Salted Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
No Bake Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free)
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: snack
Description
These peanut butter trail mix bars are a no-bake, easy treat to enjoy for a filling snack or healthy dessert! They won’t last long because everyone will love them.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/3 cup pepitas
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 3 tbsp flax meal
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips + an additional 1/3 cup for melting and drizzling, if desired
- 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine walnuts, half the oats, half the pepitas, half the cranberries, and flax meal in a food processor. Pulse for about 1 minute to break down the ingredients so they are a bit crumbly.
- Combine the processed mix with the rest of the dry ingredients, salt, cinnamon, and chocolate chips in a mixing bowl. Stir together.
- Gently mix together peanut butter and maple syrup.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry, and thoroughly mix together.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to firmly press the mixture into the pan in an even layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.
- Cut into 16 squares.
- If making chocolate drizzle, melt chocolate chips in a microwave or using a double boiler. Use a spoon to drizzle over each square.
Notes
- Can be stored at room temperature or in the fridge.
Keywords: trail mix bars, peanut butter trail mix bars, vegan, gluten free