Today we are going to be making a new favorite of mine, peanut butter chocolate trail mix bars.
I had been looking for a lower sugar replacement to my favorite clif bar (Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch is SO GOOD!), so I decided to try my hand at making my own. With 5 ingredients and a few minutes of work, these bars are a new favorite and will definitely be a staple in the future.
These can really be customized with whatever ingredients you think would taste good together. If you're feeling more adventurous, try and build your own 'trail mix' and pick out all of the different kinds of nuts and fruit you'd like to use! Be sure to leave a comment if you give these a try, but I hope you enjoy the new treat!
INGREDIENTS (MAKES 8 BARS)
• Old Fashioned/Steel Cut Oats (80g/1 Cup)
• Peanut Butter (120g/.5 Cup)
• Honey (30g/1.5 TBSP)
• Trail Mix* (112g/.75 Cup)
• Pitted Dates (45g/4 Dates)
*Make sure to use trail mix with chocolate chips, these are needed to keep the bars from crumbling. Any trail mix with chocolate chips will be great! I used a bulk trail mix from Safeway that included Almonds, Peanuts, Chocolate Chips, Raisins, & Sunflower seeds.
INSTRUCTIONS
Toast the oats in your oven at 325˚F (165˚C) for 10 minutes. Place the oats in a bowl with your trail mix and honey. Finely chop the dates and melt your peanut butter in the microwave (about 20 seconds) or on the stovetop. Combine all ingredients until mixture is a dough-like consistency. Firmly press the mixture into a uniform shape, seal with plastic wrap, and place in your refrigerator or freezer to cool and solidify. Once your bar is fully cooled, cut into 8 equal pieces and enjoy!