Chewy muesli bars (granola bars)

Ultra chewy, homemade muesli bars that are cheaper, tastier and much healthier than store-bought. Tastes like a chewy caramel studded with nuts and fruit! Excellent way to clear out random leftover nuts and dried fruit. Want crunchy muesli bars? Head here!

The case for homemade muesli bars

There’s some things that I’ll always (probably) buy from the shops. Like – potato crisps. And cheezels (I love ’em! Don’t judge me.😭)

But there’s some things that I’ll never buy, after discovering how good and easy homemade is. Muesli bars currently tops that list. (That’s granola bars, to those of you in the States!).

I actually bought a box of a popular brand here in Australia called Carmen’s so I could do a side-by-side taste test, homemade vs store bought. The texture is almost exactly the same. But the flavour of homemade is far superior. Put simply, you can taste all the ingredients better. Also, everything in homemade muesli bars is all-natural. No mysterious food additives or preservatives to survive on supermarket shelves!

We’re making chewy ones today

There’s an endless variety of muesli bar flavours available these days. Nut free, fruit free, chocolate chips, chocolate drizzle! With today’s recipe you can customise the flavour to your hearts’ content.

As for texture – broadly speaking, there’s two types: chewy and crunchy. We’re making chewy ones. And when I say chewy, I do not exaggerate. It’s like eating a chewy caramel – except you get to feel smug cause these muesli bars are good for you.

Doubt me? Here’s proof of chew:

What goes in muesli bars

The combination of fruit and nuts I’ve used is a copy-cat of Carmen’s classic fruit & nut muesli bars, a very popular brand here in Australia. You can really use any add-ins you want, as long as you stick to 3 1/2 cups in total as that’s how much the peanut butter-honey “glue” will hold together.

The glue

• Natural peanut butter (or almond butter) – Different to commercial peanut butter spread because it’s got no sugar, salt, preservatives etc added. It’s 100% peanuts which means better peanut flavour and it’s runnier (hence why it works better for things like satay sauce).

  Mix well if separated – The absence of stabilisers also means that the oil and peanuts will separate if left in the pantry for ages. Be sure to mix well to combine before using. If your peanut butter has solidified into cement, try microwaving briefly to warm (remove the metal lid!) then mix with a butter knife or chopstick. If that still does not work, scrape the oil & peanut cement into a jug and blitz with a stick blender (done that plenty of times!).

  Non-peanut substitute: I think almond butter is best, for flavour and texture. I’ve read in other granola bar recipes that other nut butters work too.

• Honey – For natural sweetness. Maple syrup should also work.

Add-ins

• Rolled oats – not quick oats, just plain traditional oats.

• Almonds – whole, roasted, unsalted. I like to give them a very rough chop so it disperses better.

• Sultanas – or raisins, cranberries or any other dried fruit of choice (if using big pieces like apricots, suggest chopping).

• Pepitas – because it’s in Carmen’s. Like that it adds some colour to all the brown-ness!

• Sesame seeds – because it’s in Carmen’s.

• Coconut – because it’s in Carmen’s. Use desiccated coconut (ie finely shredded) that is not sweetened. Flakes will also work but because they are larger they won’t disperse as well throughout (maybe chop or crush in hands?).

• Cinnamon – a little touch of cinnamon really works in this!

• Salt – Just a touch brings out the flavours in this.

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How to make ultra-chewy muesli bars

I love that this is a no-bake recipe!

1. Mix the add-ins in a microwavable bowl using a wooden spoon.

   Why microwavable? Because the peanut butter glue is quite thick and if the air is cool or if you take your time with the mixing or if you take a call from your friend mid-mix, the glue may get so thick it’s too hard to mix. If this happens, a 20 second microwave will do the trick!

2. Mix glue – Put the peanut butter and honey in a saucepan over low heat and mix to combine. Use a rubber spatula and cook, stirring almost constantly, for 5 minutes to thicken. Scrape the base of the saucepan, getting in around the edges. DO NOT WALK AWAY during this step as it can catch easily on the base.

3. Goal – Thick caramel-like mixture. It should mound like ribbons, as pictured above. Basically, the thicker the mixture, the chewier your muesli bars!

4. Immediately pour the mixture all across the surface of the oats. Use the wooden spoon to mix to combine until you can no longer see dry oats. At first this will seem impossible, but persevere as it will happen! Using stabbing motions and smearing against the side of the bowl helps.

   If it gets too hard to stir, microwave for 20 seconds then it will be a breeze.

5. Press – Place a sheet of paper over a 20cm/8″ square pan (no need to grease, why create unnecessary washing up??). Scrape the mixture in then press it into the pan using a combination of the wooden spatula to spread it out, then hands to press it in.

   Press firmly but keep some of the surface bumpy rather than aiming for completely flat. If you press really, really firmly ie make the surface almost completely smooth and flat, the bars will be very, very chewy. I personally found it a little too chewy, but maybe that’s what you want!

6. Refrigerate for 2 hours to set then cut into 10 bars. Or 8, if you want bars a little larger than store-bought. Then eat! Well, chew. 😂

Matters of muesli bars

Never thought I’d be writing a section titled as above, but I do have some a few practical matters to share with you on the matter of homemade muesli bars!

• Are muesli bars healthy? This homemade one is, being made with all-natural ingredients with no fat or sugar added. However, most store-bought ones are not. Look closely at the ingredients list and you’ll see sugar and unfamiliar food additives listed.

• Storage – Airtight container in the fridge keeps them fresh and perky for 2 weeks. Out of the fridge, the oats soften faster over time which alters the texture of the muesli bars. But they don’t go off.

• Cold vs room temp – The muesli bars are firmer / chewier when fridge cold then soften to store-bought muesli bar level chewiness at room temperature. I actually really like them cold, for extra chew. As I mentioned earlier, it’s like a guilt-free chewy caramel!

• When to eat it – Breakfast on the run or snack! Honestly, you’d never even think of these as “healthy” because they’re sweet and tasty. I cut them into squares, drizzle with chocolate (see last point) and serve as an afternoon tea sweet treat.

• Lunchbox shelf life – Easily all day, out of fridge is fine. Fridge storage isn’t about keeping them food-safe, it’s about keeping them fresher for longer.

• Mini choc chips – The choc chips on store bought muesli bars are smaller than the ones used in chocolate chip cookies, they are mini ones. I found them at my local Scoop Wholefoods (Mona Vale, Sydney). You know those stores where you help yourself to fruit, nuts, chocolates etc out of tubs?

  To add them to your muesli bars, press the mixture into the pan then let it cool slightly else the choc chips will melt. Then scatter the mini choc-chips across the surface and use your hands to press them in. Then refrigerate.

• Chocolate drizzle – You will only need a small quantity of chocolate drizzle. I find it hard to melt small quantities of chocolate in a bowl in the microwave (always seizes). I find the easiest way is to pop about 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (normal ones, this time!) in a small ziplock bag. Seal, microwave for 10 seconds at a time (massage to “mix) until melted. Snip corner, drizzle across muesli bars.

So, what do you think? Is this a good weekend to rummage through your pantry to round up all those leftovers nuts and dried fruit from other recipes to make homemade muesli bars?? – Nagi x

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Watch how to make it

Life of Dozer

You knew I’d do this with the flowers as soon as I was done with the food photos, right??!