Description
Homemade nut-free muesli bars deliver a perfect balance of sweet and wholesome goodness for healthy snacking adventures. Crisp oats, seeds, and dried fruits combine into an irresistible treat packed with energy and nutrition that will delight active people seeking delicious alternatives.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) rolled oats
- ⅓ cup (113 g/4 oz) honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) coconut oil or unsalted butter
- ½ cup (75 g/2.6 oz) sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup (30 g/1 oz) pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- ¼ cup (20 g/0.7 oz) shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- ⅓ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) dried cranberries or raisins
- ¼ cup (40 g/1.4 oz) chopped dried apricots or dates
- 2 tbsps (15 g/0.5 oz) chia seeds or flaxseed meal
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Toasting Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Spread oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut on a baking sheet, toasting for 8-10 minutes until achieving a light golden hue. Allow mixture to cool slightly.
- Combining Dry Components: In a spacious mixing bowl, merge the toasted oat mixture with dried fruit, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt, creating a uniform dry blend.
- Preparing Liquid Base: Utilize a small saucepan on low heat to gently melt honey and coconut oil. Remove from heat and incorporate vanilla, ensuring smooth integration.
- Mixing Wet and Dry Elements: Pour warm liquid over dry ingredients, stirring thoroughly to guarantee complete and even coating of all components.
- Molding and Setting: Prepare an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture, pressing firmly with a spoon or hands to create a compact, well-structured base that will hold together effectively.
- Chilling and Portioning: Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour until the mixture achieves a solid consistency. Extract from pan and slice into desired bar or square shapes.
Notes
- Stir dry ingredients every 3-4 minutes during toasting to ensure even golden color and prevent burning, creating a more uniform and rich flavor profile.
- Press mixture extremely firmly into pan, using steady, even pressure to help bars hold together without crumbling when cut or handled.
- Adjust honey quantity based on preferred sweetness; reduce for less sweet version or add maple syrup for alternative natural sweetener complexity.
- Wrap individual bars in parchment paper or store in airtight container between wax paper layers to maintain texture and prevent sticking for up to one week at room temperature or two weeks refrigerated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg