Make your own Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars at home for a fraction of the price of store-bought. They’re so much healthier, too!

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Please forgive me if I haven’t been my peppy old self lately.

I won’t bore you with the details but the truth is I’m currently going through a real harsh emotional patch, and the very fact that I even manage to get any work done at all is sort of a miracle in itself. Especially given the nature of my job, you know.

My stomach pretty much locked up on me and is obstinately refusing all food offerings. Even chocolate seems to have lost its appeal, putting My Evil Twin on forced vacation. I basically have to force myself to eat.

Needless to say that creating tasty dishes, taking beautiful photos of them and then writing interesting stuff about them are the last things I feel like doing right now.

As if to make matters worse, it seems even the weather hasn’t been on my side. We’re having the most depressing summer ever: cold, gray and damp. Bucket-loads of rain appear to be pouring from the sky every.single.day.

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

So yeah, seeing as how this is all affecting my work so much, and you guys are kind of my boss and co-workers all rolled into one, I thought I should at least let you in on the fact that I hadn’t been feeling all that great lately.

Fear not though. For the time being, I’m still capable of coming up with great recipes, only they tend to be more on the “comforting” and “easily-accepted-by-picky-tummy” side.

Like these Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars, for instance, which Mr. Stubborn Tummy appears to consider as acceptable fare. I think he would be very satisfied feeding on nothing but them until there were no more.

Good thing he doesn’t make the rules and I also happen to have a blog, and you guys, to feed!

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

To make them, start by lining a 8″ square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on either sides for easy removal and then set that aside.

Measure or weigh your ingredients, then place the peanut butter in the microwave for about 1 minute, until it gets nicely warm and melted; next warm up the honey in the same fashion but only leave that in for about 30 seconds; you do not want to let the honey to come to a boil.

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Next, combine the rolled oats, chopped almonds, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pistachios and salt in a large mixing bowl.

In a small food processor, process the dates, melted peanut butter and warm honey until they form a sticky paste, about 30 seconds, and pour that right over the reserved dry ingredients.

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Now mix all these ingredients together until they are very well combined. You could use a sturdy wooden spoon to do that but seriously, the mixture is so extremely sticky and sort of hard to mix, I strongly suggest that you use your hands instead, if you’re not afraid to get a little dirty, that is.

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Transfer the granola mixture into the prepared pan and press very firmly into an even layer. Very, very firmly. You want these ingredients to really stick and hold together. So really. Don’t be afraid to apply pressure here.

Place the granola in the refrigerator to set until firm, about 2 hours.

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Remove the pan from the fridge and lift the granola bars out by using parchment paper overhang; Use a sharp knife to cut into 12 bars and enjoy as desired.

Store the bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container or individually wrapped in plastic film for up to 3 weeks.

Oh, and do I need to tell you that you will never again go for the store-bought stuff once you’ve had a taste of these?

I know I won’t!

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie | Recipe on thehealthyfoodie.com
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4.60 from 5 votes

Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Make your own Soft and Chewy Trail Mix Granola Bars at home for a fraction of the price of store-bought. They're so much healthier, too!
Servings: 12

Instructions

  • Line a 8" square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on either sides for easy removal. Set aside.
  • Place the peanut butter in the microwave for about 1 minute, until it gets nicely warm and melted. Reserve.
  • In the same fashion, warm up the honey but only for about 30 seconds; you do not want the honey to come to a boil. Reserve.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped almonds, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pistachios and salt.
  • In a small food processor, process the dates, melted peanut butter and warm honey until they form a sticky paste, about 30 seconds. Add to reserved dry ingredients.
  • Using a sturdy wooden spoon, or even better yet your hands, mix until all the ingredients are very well combined. The mixture will be extremely sticky and sort of hard to mix so really, if you're not afraid to get a little dirty, I strongly suggest that you use your hands.
  • Transfer the granola mixture into the prepared pan and press very firmly into an even layer.
  • Place in the refrigerator to set until firm, about 2 hours. Remove from fridge and lift the granola bars out of pan using parchment paper overhang. Using a sharp knife, cut into 12 bars and enjoy as desired.
  • Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or individually wrapped in plastic film for up to 3 weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 334kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 120mg, Potassium: 346mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 15IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Sonia! The Healthy Foodie

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