Heading on a hike? Need a 2pm snack? These Almond Flour Trail Bars are packed with protein to give you the boost of energy you need!
These Almond Flour Trail Bars are…
- Quick
- Nutty
- Sweet
- Crunchy
- Protein-packed!
What is a Trail Bar?
Trail bars basically trail mix but in bar form! They are popular among outdoor enthusiasts who want an all-encompassing snack that is easy to carry. The bars are also great as a quick breakfast or for the 2pm munchies! Lightly baked, these Almond Flour Trail Bars are just mixed, cooled, and cut – so easy! But almond flour is safe to eat raw, as are the remaining ingredients. The pre-cooked mixture is also a delicious raw granola!
These Almond Flour Trail Bars are high in protein! With the additions of peanut butter, hemp seeds, and pistachios, one serving of these bars will provide over 10 grams of protein, keeping you full and fueled!
This recipe can be made with ingredients you probably have in your pantry right now! But these Almond Flour Trail Bars defy the saying of ‘less is more’ – the more seeds, nuts, and toppings added give the bars fantastic flavor and crunch! Don’t be afraid to add a variety of extra ingredients! Yum!
Ingredients for the Almond Flour Trail Bars
Almond Flour – Almond flour is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and paleo. It is lower in carbs and sugar than regular flour, but higher in calories. It is an excellent ingredient for baked goods and trail bars!
Medjool Dates – Dates are truly nature’s candy! On their own, they taste like caramel – delicious! When mixed with other ingredients, like in the Almond Flour Trail Bars, they act as both a sweetener and binder. Dates are also high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Nut or Seed Butter – Adding a scoop of nut or seed butter adds a creamy texture and boosts the nutty flavor of the trail bars. Use whatever kind you have in your pantry!
Applesauce – Applesauce provides moisture to the bars while adding in a subtle sweet flavor.
Oats – Oats are full of wonderful vitamins and nutrients that are vital to a healthy digestive system. They boost the healthy qualities of the bars and provide texture.
Vanilla Bean Paste – Just a touch of vanilla bean paste is enough to compliment the natural sweetness of the dates. If the nut or seed butter you’re using has vanilla bean paste or extract already, consider eliminating this addition.
Salt – Salt rounds out the flavor profile of the trail bars. But, similar to the vanilla bean paste above, if the nut or seed butter you’re using has added salt, taste test the batter first before using more.
Mixed Nuts & Seeds – Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, and pistachios give a much needed crunch to the smooth texture of the bars. If you prefer another nut or seed, like walnuts or chia seeds, feel free to substitute! Just keep in mind that the nutritional information will change.
Optional Ingredients
Chocolate, shredded coconut, freeze-dried berries – The chunkier, the better for these Almond Flour Trail Bars! The variety of textures and flavors will create a fantastic combination. One bite will be like scooping a handful of trail mix straight into your mouth!
Dietary & Allergen Compatibility
| Diet | Recipe compatible as written? | Recommended substitutions |
| Keto | No. | |
| Paleo | Yes. | |
| Whole30 | Yes. | |
| Gluten-free | Yes. | |
| Vegetarian | Yes. | |
| Vegan | Yes. | |
| Low Sodium | No. | Eliminate salt. |
| Dairy-free | Yes. | |
| Mediterranean | Yes. | |
| Low FODMAP | Yes. | |
| Atkins | No. |
| Allergen | Present in recipe? | Recommended substitutions |
| Milk | No. | |
| Eggs | No. | |
| Fish | No. | |
| Shellfish | No. | |
| Tree nuts | Yes. | Swap tree nuts for other add-ins. |
| Peanuts | Yes. | Swap peanut butter for similar kind. |
| Wheat (Gluten) | No. | |
| Soy | No. | |
| Sesame | No. |
How to Make Almond Flour Trail Bars
Step One: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step Two: Place dates into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
Step Three: Add in almond flower, nut/seed butter, applesauce, oats, vanilla bean paste, and salt, then pulse again until blended.
Step Four: Pour seed mixture on top of food processor mixture and mix with a wooden spoon. Add optional ingredients, if desired.
Step Five: Spread trail bar batter into a 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper and press until firm.
Step Six: Bake for 20 minutes, cool completely, then cut into bars and enjoy!
Watch the video version…
FAQ
It depends on your individual diet. Almond flour has less sugar and carbs than regular flour, but is higher in calories and contains a common allergen (nuts). Use it according to your dietary preferences.
Sometimes, but not for this Almond Flour Trail Bars recipe. Xanthan gum is helpful when baking with almond flour since it acts as a binder.
Homemade almond trail bars will last 1-2 weeks when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They may last up to several months if stored in the freezer.
Yes! Almond flour is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and paleo.
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PrintAlmond Flour Trail Bars (Protein-Packed!)
Heading on a hike? Need a 2pm snack? A quick breakfast? These Almond Flour Trail Bars are packed with protein to give you the boost of energy you need!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 cup medjool dates, pitted (~10 pieces)
1/2 cup peanut butter (or similar nut/seed butter)
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mixed seeds (sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, & pistachios)
Optional: walnuts, chocolate, shredded coconut, freeze-dried berries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place dates into a food processor and pulse until smooth.
Add in almond flour, nut/seed butter, applesauce, oats, vanilla bean paste, and salt, then pulse again until blended.
Pour seeds on top of food processor mixture and mix with a wooden spoon. If desired, add optional ingredients.
Spread trail bar batter into a 8×8 baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 20 minutes, cool completely, then cut into bars and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 353
- Sugar: 28.7g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 19.8g
- Saturated Fat: 2.3g
- Carbohydrates: 38.9g
- Fiber: 5.9g
- Protein: 11.8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Can I use coconut flour instead?
Hi Pam, coconut flour works a bit differently than almond flour since it absorbs a lot more moisture. If you want to use coconut flour, you’d need much less—usually about 1/4 to 1/3 of the amount of almond flour. You may also need to adjust the amount of apple sauce to balance the texture. It might take a bit of experimenting, but I think it could work! Let me know if you give it a try!