Amazing Trail Mix Protein Bars loaded with pretzels and candy-coated chocolate, but sugar free! Healthy trail mix bars are baked in the oven, and great for a hike or meal-prep snack.

These trail mix snack bars came out of nowhere – basically had a bag of trail mix on my counter that I needed to use up, and threw these together.

Whether you’re gearing up for a hike, refueling after a workout, or just need a tasty pick-me-up at your desk, these bars have got you covered. Plus, they’re easily customizable to suit your taste buds and dietary preferences.

I used a trail mix, pretzels and candy-coated chocolate, but you can use any mix of dried fruit and nuts and chocolate or whatever!

Ingredients for Trail Mix Protein Bars

These trail mix protein bars are made with simple and clean ingredients – protein powder, whole wheat pastry flour, almond butter powder and no sugar or butter!

Whey-Casein Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein cosmic blondie bars, and also replace sugar. I used Quest Nutrition.
Whey Vanilla Protein Powder; I recommend Dymatize for this.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe. Quest Nutrition whey-casein again here.
Almond Butter Powder: The same one from PB2.
Peanut Butter Powder from Lakanto (the code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount) or PbFit works too.
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1:1 Zero Calorie Brown Sugar Substitute – I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free; (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here).
Peanut Butter
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt
Vanilla Extract
Baking Soda

For the Baked Trail Mix Bar Mix-Ins:

Trail Mix; I used Grandy Organics Antioxidant Trail Mix
Hard Pretzel Twists
Candy Coated Chocolate; I recommend the ones from Lily’s; Regular M&Ms work too.

How to make Baked Trail Mix Bars with Protein Powder

This baked trail mix bars recipe is a really easy to follow; Here’s the steps:

Whisk all wet ingredients well so its a smooth mix.
Greek yogurt, milk, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla.
Use drippy peanut butter so it mixes well with the wet ingredients and does not clump.

Mix all dry ingredients.
Whey-casein and whey vanilla protein powder, unflavored protein powder, flour, almond butter powder, baking soda.

Add dry mix to wet and whisk a bit first, then fold with spatula.
Don’t over-mix the batter!
Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
If you over-mix it, the protein powder will make the baked trail mix bars tough, dense and gummy.

Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have healthy trail mix bar recipe with no added sugar.
Add most mix-ins in: trail mix, pretzels, candy-coated chocolate.
Leave some for the top.
Pour mix into parchment lined pan.
Add remaining mix-ins on top.
Bake 25-30 minutes at 350°F.
Don’t over-bake the bars or it will get tough; Remove when the tester/knife comes out just dry, but moist.
Let cool completely (10 minutes in pan, then on cooling rack).
Slice into 16 pieces.

How to store Protein Trail Mix Squares?

These high protein trail mix squares are a great meal prep; Trail mix snack bars must be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

To freeze healthy trail mix protein squares, place in freezer-safe zipper bags or use air tight container; They should keep for 2-3 months. Thaw before eating.

Alternatives for Healthy Trail Mix Bars Recipe

I made these healthy trail mix bars with the specific products (and brands) mentioned, but I do have some alternatives you can try.
I haven’t testing them all so I can’t say how your recipe might turn out. I’d love to know if you do!

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour, 1:1 gluten free baking flour; The same amount by weight
Unflavored Protein Powder: 2½ Tbsp flour, But also reduce yogurt to 1 cup = 2 Tbsp.
1:1 Zero Calorie Brownie Sugar Replacement: Regular brown sugar
Almond Butter Powder: Peanut Butter Powder
Almond Milk: Any other milk

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