Sweet, salty, chewy, and crisp, these no-bake trail mix granola bars are sure to satisfy any craving! Gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan, they’re a healthy snack that anyone can enjoy!
This post is for my fellow snack addicts. For those who can’t comprehend how (or why) someone could get by on three square meals a day. For those who constantly find themselves rifling through their kitchen cupboards in search of the the perfect thing to munch on.
My fellow snackers, your search is over. These no-bake trail mix granola bars are guaranteed to satisfy and kick cravings in the teeth, thereby taking away the [sometimes agonizing] process of having to stand in the kitchen and ask yourself “what do I feel like eating?“
These. You feel like eating these.
Want something sweet? These have it.
Something salty? These have it.
Chewy? Yep.
Crispy? Uh huh.
Chocolatey? Obvioiusly.
Healthy? You betcha!
Allergy-friendly? Yes, yes, YES!
No matter what you want, these bars can provide.
Unless, of course, you’re craving something like your grandmother’s famous triple cheese lasagna, left sitting in the fridge for 2 days so the flavours and textures can develop just so. If that’s the case, I’m afraid these won’t do you much good. But I do have to admit to being slightly jealous that your cravings are that specific since I can’t figure out what it is that I want 99.9% of the time. That’s why you’ll often find me doing laps around my kitchen, grabbing little handfuls of ‘this & that’ with the hope that I’ll accidentally manage to hit the nail on the head.
Actually, thats probably why I threw a little of ‘this & that’ into these bars…
Oats. Crispy rice cereal. Pretzels. Raisins. Cranberries. Pumpkin seeds. Chocolate chips. And, of course, the liquid gold that holds it all together– brown rice syrup and sunflower seed butter…
What you won’t find in these bars? Trans fats, refined sugars, and any of the chemicals and preservatives that are often found in store-bought bars. Because whether you’re a serial snacker or the three-square-a-day occasional snacker, it’s important to fuel your body with foods that will leave you feeling good in the long run.
I made these gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan so that everyone can enjoy them, but feel free to customize them based on your personal preferences and needs. Don’t have brown rice syrup on hand? Honey works just fine. Don’t like the taste of sunflower seed butter? Sub in your favourite nut or seed butter. I like to keep these nut-free to make them safe to take to school, but again… it all depends on what you need. Hope you love ’em as much as I do!
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
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No Bake Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Granola Bars
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (160 g) brown rice syrup (or honey if not vegan)
- 2 Tbsp (32 g) sunflower seed butter*
- 1 Tbsp (14 g) coconut oil
- 3/4 cup (60 g) old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup (15 g) crispy rice cereal
- 1/2 cup (17 g) pretzels, crushed**
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (80 g) dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries)
- 1/2 cup (70 g) pumpkin seeds***
- 1/3 cup (60 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 (20×20 cm) baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Generously spray the foil with cooking spray and set aside.
- Add brown rice syrup, sunflower seed butter, and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and nuke on high until ingredients are fully melted and combined, about 1 minute. Remove from microwave and allow to cool and thicken.
- Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stirring until evenly distributed. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
- Transfer mixture to prepared pan and use a spatula or your hands to spread it evenly, making sure to press down firmly. Cover pan with a sheet of foil and place into the fridge to set, at least 2 hours but preferably overnight. When bars have set, remove from pan using the foil overhang, and use a sharp knife to cut into individual bars. Store bars in the fridge or freezer for best results.
Notes
* You can easily sub this with your favourite nut butter if you don’t need these to be nut-free. ** Make sure to use certified gluten-free pretzels if you need these to be gluten-free. *** Feel free to sub these with another type of seed or nut if you don’t need them to be nut-free.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. All opinions and text are my own. Lots of love for showing some love to the brands that help sponsor Spoons! If you want to learn more about gluten-free or allergy-friendly living, you can visit Udi’s community page or check them out on Facebook!
This was fast, easy, and amazing. Thank you for sharing this! I love how versatile it is! This will definitely become part of our rotation. 🙂
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This cake looks delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe to make it.
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It’s correct. I also don’t like to eat too sweet. Have you tried any other alternative recipes to reduce sweetness?
Thanks for the recipe, Amanda! I like the crunch and taste, but they’re way too sweet for me. I should’ve cut them into very small squares to enjoy once in a while. I don’t know how to cut the sweetness down without loosing the needed liquid. I used honey instead of brown rice syrup; never heard of that. Any suggestions? Much appreciated!