Trail mix and granola bars remain a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts for fuel and convenience. There are a ton of great options on the market, but I prefer to make my own so I know exactly what goes into them, without preservatives. I love both trail mix and granola bars and decided it just made sense to combine them. I have a good base recipe I like (included here), but tend to swap out the ingredients for what I have on hand or if sudden inspiration hits me. My recent Thai-inspired twist turned out amazing.
Trail Mix Bars Base Recipe: 1 c rolled oats, ½ c chopped nuts, ½ c seeds, 1c chopped dried fruit, ½ c chocolate chips, ½ c warmed nut butter, ½ c shredded unsweetened coconut, ½ c sticky sweetener (such as maple syrup), ¼ tsp spices, ¼ tsp salt. Mix together and press into 8×8 inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 min. Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting.
Thai-inspired Trail Mix Bars: 1 c rolled oats, ½ c Trader Joe’s Thai lime and chili cashews, ½ c pumpkin seeds, ½ c chopped medjool dates, ½ c dried mango, ½ c warmed peanut butter, ½ c shredded unsweetened coconut, ½ c maple syrup, and the zest of one lime. Mix together and press into 8×8 inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 min. Allow to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least an hour before cutting.
With so many different kinds of nuts, dried fruit, and spices, the flavor combinations for trail mix bars are endless. Try some Indian spices, maybe some golden raisins, pistachios and white chocolate, or just look in your cupboards to see what needs to be used up.
Alana Livingston
