Trail Mix Bar Cookies

by Michele Pesula Kuegler | July 13th, 2021 | Desserts, Recipes
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All the pieces of trail mix in an indulgent bar cookie; you decide whether it’s a treat or a health food.

Trail Mix Bar Cookies

Michele Pesula Kuegler

Shhh. . .I won't tell anyone they aren't a health food, if you won't

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Course Dessert

Servings 24 bars

Ingredients

  

  • 1 cup butter room temperature
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped pecans

Instructions

 

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and both sugars on speed 2 for 4 minutes.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate each.
  • Add vanilla, and mix.
  • Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour, and mix until incorporated.
  • Add oatmeal, stirring until combined.
  • Add white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and pecans, stirring until incorporated.
  • Grease the bottom and sides of a 13×9 pan with butter.
  • Transfer batter to pan, using the back of a spoon or spatula to spread evenly in the pan.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Cool in pan on a wire baking rack.

Keyword bar cookies, trail mix, trail mix bar cookies

Currently situated on the Gulf Coast, there’s no opportunity to hike mountains here. However, I do see some biking and kayaking in my future, which would make these Trail Mix Bars a fine reward at the end of the trip. Or they could be a weekend treat. Options, options. Either way, they’re a nice, moist bar cookie that you can pretend is healthy-ish.

To learn more about this recipe, originally published in August 2019, keep reading.

I enjoy being physically active, but by no means am I a natural athlete. Nope. Hand me a ball, bat, or glove, and I’ll give it my best. However, coordination is not my friend. Still, I like to do things that raise the heartrate and take some strength and/or endurance. One hobby that falls into that category is hiking.

Unfortunately I don’t hike nearly as often as I’d like. I’d say half of the reasons fall on me directly, the other half are couple-based. If you’re a regular reader, you know that my hubby and I are on the road a lot. Between being in locations where hiking isn’t an option and not wanting to pack my gear, that rules out a portion of our time. Plus, my hubby really isn’t a fan of hiking. Sure, he’ll go along to humor me, but he really isn’t psyched at the thought of spending multiple hours climbing a mountain.

Now, there are a decent amount of weekends when we’re home that I could hike. That’s where I take responsibility for not hiking. I need to find a group that hikes regularly but also won’t mind that my attendance is sporadic. I do need to work on this because there’s nothing quite as awesome as expending energy to get to the top and then get amazing views. Yep, I’m glad to spend a good portion of my day doing that.

Are you a corner bar cookie person??

I also have a partner in crime for occasional hikes- my son. Going to school in Colorado, he had prime hiking almost right outside his dorm. Hiking and rock climbing were two of his stress relievers. So, when he’s home, we usually try to fit in a hike somewhere in the White Mountains. Just this June, he and I took a 6-hour hike and had great views of New Hampshire and beyond.

When we hike, we take it seriously with proper clothing, gear, and food. My son, being a 23 year old who’s about twice my size, seriously considers the food we pack. If I were packing, I would bring about half of what we bring. I understand that we need to think about things, such as if the trip takes longer, but I also know I have a smaller appetite.

One of the things he always brings is some sort of trail mix, made out of whatever is in our cabinets. Most likely there will be dried cranberries, some sort of chocolate chip, and then a variety of crackers and/or nuts. These cookies pretty much mirror the baggie of trail mix we carry. As such, a sample batch was mailed to him, in his new location: Alabama.

Or a middle bar cookie person??

Sadly, in this new location, I don’t think there will be much hiking. On a good note, he is now only two hours to the beach, and he hasn’t been that close to the water in five or so years. So, maybe he’ll take up a water sport while hiking is on the back burner.

As for me, I probably should work on finding that hiking group. I could even bring a batch of these bars when I do!

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