Recipe Background
Trailblazer Bars capture childhood hikes and city vibes with portable ease.
The summer I moved to the city with a backpack full of dreams, I found myself needing easy snacks that could keep up with my new whirlwind life. I was crashing on a friend's couch in her cramped studio, which wasn’t exactly equipped for cooking gourmet meals. One evening, feeling both adventurous and nostalgic, I remembered my childhood love for trail mix during family hikes. I had honey and creamy peanut butter that I always kept for quick breakfasts, sitting idly in the pantry. Inspiration struck. Why not combine those flavors into something more substantial? I threw in some coconut oil and a splash of pure vanilla extract for depth.
Having only a small saucepan, I melted my concoction into a silky smooth blend. Old-fashioned rolled oats and crispy rice cereal added the necessary crunch, while ground flaxseed meal gave it that wholesome finish I’d come to appreciate with time. For sweetness, I tossed in mixed dried fruit and thought, why not go a little wild with dark chocolate chips and mixed nuts? As my tiny oven-less kitchen didn't allow for much baking, I pressed everything into an aluminum-lined pan and let the fridge work its magic overnight.
Early the next morning, I sliced through the set bars, each piece a testament to my new city life—practical yet indulgent. A little tip I picked up: always let your mixture cool before the final stir to keep those chocolate chips beautifully intact. These bars, adventurous and quick to make, soon became my go-to, as portable as they were delicious, granting me a small taste of home as I blazed new trails.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 cup crispy rice cereal
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit
- 1/3 cup mixed nuts
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions
- Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on two of the sides.
- Generously coat the foil or the paper with baking spray.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the honey, the peanut butter, and the coconut oil.
- Melt the honey mixture until smooth, stirring to fully combine.
- Transfer the honey mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, the rice cereal, the flaxseed meal, the cinnamon, and the salt.
- Stir the dried fruits, the nuts, and the chocolate chips into the oat mixture.
- Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing it into an even layer.
- Place the bars in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
- Remove the bars from the pan using the overhang of the foil or the parchment paper.
- Using a sharp knife, slice them into bars.
- Serve.
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