These homemade Trail Mix Bars are a simple snack bar recipe you can customize with your favorite trail mix. Use a nut-and-fruit blend, a chocolate trail mix, or even a salty-sweet version to create an easy treat for parties, packed lunches, or afternoon snacking.

There is something I love so much about a simple dessert bar. We’ve made plenty of them here in Inspired by Charm. I especially love the cereal based bars because you essentially just mix everything together, press it into a pan, let it set, and somehow you end up with a treat that feels like it took a lot more effort than it actually did. These Trail Mix Bars are exactly that kind of recipe. They are quick, crunchy, sweet, a little chewy, and full of all those good snacky bits that make you want to go back for just one more piece.

What makes this recipe especially fun is how easy it is to make it your own. The Honey Nut Cheerios give the bars a light, crisp base, while the trail mix brings in all the flavor and texture. Depending on the mix you use, you can lean more chocolatey, fruity, nutty, salty, or somewhere in between. I love having recipes like this in my back pocket because they work for so many moments: picnics, lunchboxes, road trips, casual gatherings, or just a little something sweet waiting on the counter.

array of Trail Mix Bars on a white platter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS hide

1 Why You’ll Enjoy This Recipe

2 Ingredients

3 How To Make

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 Trail Mix Bars

Why You’ll Enjoy This Recipe

It’s wonderfully easy to make. The base is just Honey Nut Cheerios and trail mix, so there’s no complicated prep or fussy steps. Once the brown sugar mixture is ready, everything gets tossed together, pressed into the pan, and left to cool.
It has the best mix of textures. You get the light crunch from the Cheerios, the chewy and crunchy bits from the trail mix, and that sweet brown sugar coating that holds everything together.
They are easy to customize. Change the trail mix and you can change the whole personality of these bars. Try a chocolate peanut mix, a dried fruit and nut blend, a tropical trail mix, or even a different flavor of Cheerios to make them your own.
It’s a no-fuss dessert bar that still feels special. I love a recipe that takes basic ingredients and turns them into something a little unexpected. These bars are quick, colorful, and packed with enough flavor and crunch to keep everyone coming back for another piece.

Ingredients

Before I can walk you through this dessert bar recipe, we need to gather all the ingredients.

Honey Nut Cheerios – These create the light, crunchy base for the bars and add a little honey-sweet flavor that works beautifully with the trail mix.
Trail Mix – Use your favorite purchased trail mix here, whether it’s nutty, fruity, chocolatey, or a little bit of everything. If you choose a trail mix with chocolate, just keep in mind that the chocolate will melt a bit when the hot brown sugar mixture is added, which I personally think makes the bars even better.
Unsalted Butter – Butter helps create the rich, glossy binding mixture that holds the cereal and trail mix together.
Brown Sugar – Brown sugar gives the bars their warm sweetness and helps the mixture set once it cools.
All-Purpose Flour – A small amount of oven-cooked flour helps thicken the binding mixture so the bars hold together nicely.
Light Corn Syrup – Corn syrup keeps the coating smooth and helps give the bars that chewy, snack-bar texture.
Salt – Just a pinch balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors in the cereal, trail mix, and brown sugar coating.

How To Make

And with all of the ingredients assembled, I think we’re ready to make these Trail Mix Bars. I’ll walk you through the steps below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Line a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper, then lightly spray with baking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the Honey Nut Cheerios and trail mix. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, flour, corn syrup, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for one minute.

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adding Trail Mix Bars ingredient into baking pan.

Working quickly, pour the brown sugar mixture evenly over the cereal mixture and toss to coat. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Let cool for about 30 minutes, or until completely set. Cut into bars and serve.

And that’s it! So simple. So delicious!

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store Trail Mix Bars?

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature. I like to place parchment paper between layers so they do not stick together. They are best enjoyed within a few days while the cereal still has a nice crunch.

Can I use a trail mix with chocolate?

Yes, you can use a trail mix with chocolate. I mentioned this above, but it’s worth saying again. The chocolate may melt a bit when the hot brown sugar mixture is poured over the cereal and trail mix. I actually like this because it adds a little extra richness throughout the bars, but if you want more distinct chocolate pieces, choose a trail mix without chocolate and stir in chocolate chips after the mixture has cooled slightly.

Can I use a different cereal?

Yes, you can play around with other cereals, especially ones that are crisp and not too delicate. Plain Cheerios, multigrain Cheerios, peanut butter Cheerios, or similar O-shaped cereals should work well. Just keep in mind that sweeter cereals will make the bars sweeter overall.

Trail Mix Bars on a platter and served on a plate.

More Cereal Treat Bars You’ll Love

I hope you love these Trail Mix Bars as much as I do. If you give this recipe a try or find a unique combination of trail mix and cereal you love, tell me all about it by stopping back and leaving a comment and a 5-star rating below.

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Trail Mix Bars

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bars, cheerio treat bars, cheerios, dessert bars, trail mix

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 25

Servings:

Calories: 342kcal

Ingredients

4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
3 cups purchased trail mix
¼ cup unsalted butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour oven cooked½ cup light corn syrup
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Line a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper, then lightly spray with baking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the Honey Nut Cheerios and trail mix. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, flour, corn syrup, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for one minute.
Working quickly, pour the brown sugar mixture evenly over the cereal mixture and toss to coat. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Let cool for about 30 minutes, or until completely set. Cut into bars and serve.