No bake trail mix snack bars

While I have been compensated for this trail mix snack bar recipe by #CollectiveBias and its advertisers, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support The Ninj! #CrispyComeback 

No-bake, low-guilt trail mix snack bars are an easy treat that can satisfy all your cravings at once: crunchy, chewy, salty and sweet.

Yes, I'm a health-conscious food blogger, but I get cravings just like everyone else.

That's why I'm so excited about these no-bake trail mix snack bars: They can pretty much satisfy whatever craving you have, be it salty, sweet, crunchy or chewy.

Oh, and did I mention that they're super easy to make, with no baking required? And since they're packed with oats, nuts, peanut butter, honey and other goodies, they rate low on the treat guilt-o-meter.

The secret weapon that sets these trail mix snack bars apart is M&M's® Crispy. They're like regular M&M's but with a crispy rice center -- and at only 180 calories per serving, they meet my low-guilt criteria for these snack bars. I had never tried M&M's® Crispy before but apparently they're darned popular (I guess I've been living under a rock) -- so much so that they've been brought back based on customer demand.

Power to the people that love their crispy-chocolately treats!

These little guys are great for cravings -- while shopping at CVS for a larger bag to make these trail mix snack bars (and eat, to be honest!), I also picked up some of the little individual bags at the chekcout (hey, they were on sale) and have been keeping one in my purse for when I want a little sweet treat. (Bonus: You can download a $1 coupon for M&M's Crispy® at CVS, too!)

And speaking of sweet treats, did I mention that these trail mix snack bars are super easy to make? Yes, I know I did, but it bears repeating because, seriously, there's no baking required! If you can use a spoon, you've got all the skills necessary to be enjoying these bars later today.

Once you've cut them into bars, wrap them up individually and store them in the fridge. They're handy to throw into lunchboxes or to take with you for a post-workout pick-me-up.

Or for anytime you get a salty-sweet-crunchy-chewy craving.

When you get a craving, which one is it usually: salty, sweet, crunchy or chewy? Leave a comment: The Ninj wants to know.

No-Bake Trail Mix Snack Bars

Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
1/2 cup M&M's® Crispy
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup broken pretzel pieces
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey

Directions:
Add the first 6 ingredients (seeds through pretzel pieces) to a large bowl and stir to combine. Warm the peanut butter and honey in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth and combined. Add the honey mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until everything is well-coated.

Line a 8x8-inch baking pan with wax paper, leaving large flaps on either side to fold over the top. Spoon the mixture into the pan and press it down really well, making sure to press it into all the corners. Fold the wax paper flaps over the top so the mixture is covered. Refrigerate for at least one hour, then use the wax paper flaps to lift the contents from the pan. Peel off the wax paper and cut into bars (9 large or 16 small).

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