A delicious, no-bake homemade granola bar recipe! Granola bars just got better with Monster Trail Mix!
I’ve always loved trail mix. It’s kind of like the perfect snack right? Of course, my trail mix usually has chocolate chips and M&Ms because finding those little morsels in my trail mix makes my extremely happy. With our family as busy as it is right now I am constantly packing up snacks to go. I swear, my boys eat every thirty minutes. The other day, I loaded up Bryce in the car to go to Target and as soon as I got the car started he asked, “What snacks did you bring for me?“
Seriously? Â For the five minute drive to Target this kid now expects a snack?
Reece told me the other day it would be nice if our car had a fridge. I told him that’s what ice chests were for 🙂  Ha!
Since I don’t want every single snack to be pre-packaged, I’ve been making a lot of my own lately. One of our very favorites is these Monster Trail Mix Granola Bars. They take all of ten minutes to whip together and no baking required – easy!
I always have a huge container of Monster Trail Mix on hand and it’s so easy to incorporate it into this yummy granola bar recipe. To make sure Reece and Bryce are super psyched to eat these granola bars, I pick out some of the M&Ms from the trail mix (not all!) and throw those on top along with some extra chocolate chips.
I mean who can resist a granola bar that is studded with sweet M&Ms and chocolate chips? This absolutely ensures that the granola bars are considered a “treat” and that they get gobbled up quickly 🙂  The trail mix I use (Archer Farms from Target) has peanuts, raisins, chocolate and peanut butter chips, and M&Ms. You could easily use a combination of these ingredients to customize your own bars.
I get 12 nice-sized bars from this recipe. After chilling for 2 hours, simply cut the entire slab in half and then cut each half into six bars. See all those little extra crumbs? Those are mine!
Monster Trail Mix Granola Bars (10-minute, no-bake)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup peanut butter creamy
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 tbsp butter unsalted
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal
- 1 cup Monster trail mix
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, honey and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
- Bring sugar mixture just to a boil and then continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes stirring constantly, or until sugar dissolves.
- Stir in oats and crispy rice cereal until evenly coated.
- Let mixture cool for 5 minutes.
- (Optional) Meanwhile, pick out a handful of M&Ms from the trail mix and set aside.
- Place parchment paper in an 8x8 inch baking dish. Make sure the paper hangs over on either side so you can pull out the granola bars and cut them up with ease.
- Once mixture has cooled slightly, fold in trail mix and press into the prepared dish.
- Sprinkle M&Ms and chocolate chips over the top of the bars and use the bottom of a bowl or cup to press them into the bars. You don't want them to fall out when cutting!
- Place dish into refrigerator and let bars set up for 1-2 hours.
- Cut into bars and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
These granola bars are perfect for satisfying hungry tummies while on the run. Whether it’s a quick snack before swim or soccer practice or a sweet treat in his lunch, I love knowing Reece will polish this snack off without complaint 🙂
More snacks my boys love:
 Coconut Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Two Green Smoothies Your Kids Will Love!
For all dinner recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Have a great day!
Demi says
Ok I feel like an idiot…. But I can’t find the recipe anywhere? Haha help me out!
Demi says
Geez never mind haha the plug in the recipes on doesn’t work on my phone, I can see it from the computer!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh good! Thanks Demi!
Jen @JuanitasCocina says
Oh my gosh…I could turn these from a snack into a meal!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
For sure Jen! They are super filling!
Erika @ The Hopeless Housewife says
What a fun treat! We would love for you to link it up with our Wednesday link party.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Erika!
Megan @ megbakes says
I love that trail mix! I bet those bars are so delicious!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They are Megan! One batch goes way too quickly in our house 🙂
Erin @ Table for 7 says
Love these! They look delicious and no bake makes is a huge plus!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Absolutely! They are soo good too Erin!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Oh yum. Your photos are gorgeous Trish!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks bunches Aimee! Finally got my lens (happy dance!) 🙂
Sarah E. says
Those look fantastic! Pinned to share 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much Sarah! They’re delicious!
Kathy says
Yum! That is my kind of granola bar!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Kathy! Mine too 🙂
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
Wow! These look great Trish! My family is going to loves these:)
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Definitely one of those treats that is highly anticipated around my house Shannon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Valley Chow says
Those look awesome! Definitely want to give these a try 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you so much!
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork says
Trish, you’re totally keeping your title of “Best Mom Ever,” with these Monster Trail Mix Granola Bars. I’d hug you if you whipped out one of these from your purse for me. Pinning!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hehe! Thanks Meghan – these always go fast around here 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I can relate. If I don’t have a snack in my purse there is utter mayhem. I often wonder what happens when Mel is out with Jordan alone. Lots of convenience store stops, I’m betting. Trail mix granola bars are pretty much my most favorite thing ever!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Ha! Same here! Of course Chris thinks the solution for when he’s only with the boys is to just take them to Grandma and Grandpa’s 😉
Donna Howard says
Trish – I’m a mom to two grown girls!!! So I am a little out of the cereal thing, but what is rice cereal? Is that rice krispies? I know those! Just not sure what to use! But I totally love Monster Mix!! I am going to make these for my husband who will totally fall in love with them — and we’ll convince ourselves that in some way they’re healthy!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You got it Donna – Rice Kripies or any generic brand will do. My husband loves these too!
Donna Howard says
Hello Trsh, finally got some Monster mix (love love love that stuff!) and made these today. So here is my question – how in the world do you get them to cut so nice?? I haven’t cut mine yet, but just took them out of the fridge and not sure a knife will go through them!!! I know I’ll ruin them by trying before you get a chance to reply but for next time!!
Thanks Trish for all you do to help me cook/bake better!!
Donna Howard says
never mind Trish I just cut the with a big ole knife and it wasn’t too bad. They’re edible!!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yep! That’s what I did! After they warm up a bit being out of the fridge they shouldn’t be hard at all 🙂 Thanks Donna – hope you had an awesome Memorial Day!
Liz says
I love all the chocolate chips and M&M’s on top! I also like that you don’t have to bake them 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
They’re super easy Liz and just delicious!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
They look incredible! I have a no-bake granola bar recipe (relinked it today actually) that uses the same ingredients (except raisins not M&Ms) and they’re my fave granola bar ever. I love that you used M&Ms. I need to get on that!