Chocolate Trail Mix Bars (Vegan Gluten-Free)
These Chocolate Trail Mix Bars are packed with nuts, seeds and buckwheat for crunch. They are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and have a delicious layer of dark chocolate on top for a great no-bake, vegan and gluten-free snack.
When you need an on-the-go snack, it’s easy to turn to ready-made granola and cereal bars. There are some brands I really love, but they get really expensive quite quickly, and there are often a few ingredients in there that you wouldn’t put in yourself. So, why not make these easy, wholesome bars made with everyday ingredients that you probably already have. They are super satisfying and taste amazing, and they also travel well, too, making them a great option for meal prep.
Why will I love these bars?
These bars are amazing:
- Nutty, seedy and naturally sweet
- Crunchy, chewy and sticky
- Chocolatey and delicious
- Made with real whole-food ingredients
- Cheaper than shop-bought bars
- Come together in one bowl
- Take a few minutes to make
- Great from the fridge for a chewy snack
- Delicious from the freezer as a crunchy bar
- Naturally plant-based, egg-free and dairy-free
- Naturally gluten-free
- With nut-free options
- Require no baking (only melting chocolate)
- No fancy equipment just a bowl and spoon
- Great for grab-and-go snacks
- Ideal for enjoying with a cup or tea or coffee
- Last well in the fridge or freezer
- Perfect for meal prepping
- A natural source of protein, vitamins and minerals
- Great for the gut and brain
If you already love the sound of these bars, then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first, let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.
What ingredients do I need?
You can see the ingredients with weights in the recipe card below and see my favourites and recommended products in the “shop the recipe” section.
For the base:
- Mixed nuts: any nut will work like almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and pistachios. I used walnuts and almonds here.
- Mixed seeds: I use a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, whole hemp and whole flaxseed here.
- Ground flaxseed: these add a lot of fibre, and goodness.
- Chia seeds: for healthy fats, some crunch and omega goodness.
- Dried fruit: I used a mix of fried blueberries and cranberries but any other dried fruits like work like raisins, chopped dates, apricots or figs.
- Buckwheat groats: these add a great crunch to the bars.
- Cinnamon: for flavour.
- Maple syrup: for sweetness. You can also use agave syrup.
- Almond butter: the runny, smooth nut butter is best here, and you can also try peanut or cashew butter. Or use tahini or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
- Coconut oil: this helps the bars to set firmer.
- Vanilla extract: for a subtle sweetness.
- Salt: for flavour.
And for the top:
- Dark chocolate: melt your favourite chocolate (chips, buttons or a bar chopped up) with some coconut oil and pour over the base. I like to sprinkle with some more flaky salt, too.
Are these gluten-free and nut-free?
These are naturally gluten-free as they contain no grains (buckwheat groats are naturally gluten-free, as they are more of a seed). These contain a lot of nuts, but you can swap the nuts for more mixed seeds to make the bars nut-free. Also use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of almond butter.
How do I make them?
These bars are ready to go in a few stages:
- Combine all of the dry ingredients: and stir well.
- Warm together the wet ingredients: until combined.
- Pour the wet over the dry mix: and stir well until everything is evenly coated.
- Press the mix into a lined dish: and chill until set.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil: and pour over the base.
- Allow the chocolate to set: and them remove from the tin.
- Slice into bars and sprinkle with salt: and enjoy.
How long will they last?
These will keep for 1-2 weeks in the fridge in a sealed container or 1 month in the freezer. You can enjoy them straight from the fridge or freezer (or allow them to thaw for 10 minutes, if needed).
What other recipes can I try?
For more no-bake snacks:
- Chocolate Cinnamon Caramel Crunch Bars
- Dark Chocolate Almond Granola Bark
- Strawberry Chocolate Fudge Granola Bars
- No Bake Cinnamon Rolls
- Golden Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Trail Mix Bars (Vegan Gluten-Free)
These Chocolate Trail Mix Bars are packed with nuts, seeds and buckwheat for crunch. They are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and have a delicious layer of dark chocolate on top for a great no-bake, vegan and gluten-free snack.
Ingredients
For the Base:
- 80g mixed nuts (walnuts and almonds), chopped
- 25g mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, whole flaxseed)
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 40g dried fruits (cranberries and blueberries)
- 2 tbsp buckwheat groats
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 60ml maple syrup
- 2 tbsp runny smooth almond butter
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
For the Chocolate Top:
- 100g dark chocolate, chopped small
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Flaky salt
Instructions
- Line a 6-inch/15-cm square tin with parchment paper.
- Into a large mixing bowl, add the nuts, seeds, flaxseed, chia seeds, dried fruits, buckwheat and cinnamon. Stir well.
- In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, almond butter, coconut oil, vanilla and salt and warm until melted and smooth.
- Pour the wet mix over the nutty mixture and stir really well.
- Transfer the mixture into the tin and press down firmly. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes, until firm to touch.
- Add the dark chocolate and coconut oil to a heatproof bowl and microwave or warm over a pan of simmering water until melted.
- Pour the chocolate over the trail mix bars and smooth out. Sprinkle with flaky salt and return to the freezer for 30-60 minutes, until set.
- Carefully remove from the freezer and slice into bars. The bars are firmer and crunchier from the freezer or keep them in the fridge for sticker bars.
- Trail mix bars will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or the freezer for 1 month. Allow to thaw for 10 minutes before eating.
Shop the recipe
Stay in touch
I look forward to hearing what you think of these Chocolate Trail Mix Bars so please let me know in the comments below and leave a star review above. If you do make this cake, I’d love to see so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest – please say hello!
With no-bake love x
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