Muesli bars. They really aren't the amazingly healthy food they pretend to be. They are kind of borderline, better than some things but certainly not the healthiest of foods. They can be filled with sugar and some contain a whole heap of fillers- you know- bits and bobs that aren't helping their status as health foods. I decided to finally perfect my no bake chewy choc chip muesli bars this week after master 3 had a muesli bar at the park and ate it all!
They are so yummy and they go together so easily! Not only are these muesli bars healthy-ish, but they contain yummy stuff that means they look and taste like the naughty bars, but are better for you. I remember as a kid being asked if I liked muesli bars and my answer was "yes". Until my grandma bought some which were without chocolate chips! It was certainly not what I was expecting. These take me straight back to my childhood!
If you want to swap the chocolate chips for something healthier, use the same amount of dried apricot chunks, sultanas, dried apple pieces, cranberries, whatever tickles your fancy! The small amount of good quality dark chocolate chips in these just gives them an extra bit of yumminess and appeal without adding massive amounts of sugar.
If you're struggling with making these, here's a video of how they look before pressing:
and another of how they need to be pressed down:
and ready to go in the fridge:
More muesli bars
If you can take nuts to school then these granola bars are awesome.
or try some of these from the blog
No bake chewy choc chip muesli bars
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup butter
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1.5 cups puffed rice not rice bubbles, but you could use those if you want
- ½ cup quinoa flakes
- ¼ cup linseeds flaxseeds
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- ½ cup dark choc chips
Instructions
- In a sauce pan, melt the butter with the honey and the coconut sugar.
- Bring to the boil, then allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, it will be thick and gloopy.
- Remove from the heat and stir through the vanilla.
- Add the oats, puffed rice, quinoa flakes, desiccated coconut, flax seeds to the hot mixture and mix well.
- Line a baking dish (mine was about 22cms by 33cms) with either: a double layer of baking paper or a silicone mat.
- Press the mixture down well into the baking dish.
- Top with the chocolate chips, pressing them into the mixture.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Remove from the fridge and the baking dish and slice into bars. I got 20 yumbox sized ones from this batch.
- Store in the fridge in a sealed container with baking paper in between the layers.
Nutritional Information
And if you love these ones, why not check out these white chocolate cranberry no bake muesli bars?
I'm linking up with a host of other blogger's for School Snacks for Kids Kitchen!
Check out the other amazing posts here:
Chocolate-Pecan Energy Bites | Sugar, Spice & Glitter
Watermelon Pizza | The Gifted Gabber
Easy No-Bake Granola Bars | Royal Little Lambs
Ants on a Log Fun Food Preparation for Preschoolers | Living Montessori Now
Oat and Honey Peach Muffins | Kitchen Counter Chronicles
morgan says
thanks for the recipe we have just made ours and popped in the fridge as we speak but totally forgot the vanilla will that effect it? also is it vanilla extract you use?
Kylie says
It should be fine! Just missing a little extra bit of sweetness.
morgan says
they were delicious making them again today, I am wondering if to use vanilla extract or vanilla essence?
Rebecca says
Have just made these museli bars and they smell delicious!! Are you able to freeze these museli bars?
Kylie says
Yes you can! I freeze flat on a tray and then transfer to freezer containers or bags.
CopaJo says
Hi - these are very yummy. I used coconut oil. I needed to add a lot more fat than was called for, plus i added in some additional rice malt syrup to make these stick together ... and even then they were still a bit crumbly when I cut them. Thanks for the recipe.
Kylie says
Hey! Did you bring the syrups and fat (in your case coconut oil) right up to bubbling so they were thick and glossy? It makes all the difference to the consistency.
CopaJo says
No! OK thanks for the tip - I'll give them another go. I was trying to avoid killing all the lovely nutritional bits in the raw honey by not overheating ... 🙄. Thanks for your help. Kids loved 'em.
RENEE says
Hi Kylie, thank you for your recipe. Am i able to substitute the quinoa flakes? I need to restock my pantry.
If so what would you recommend?
Warmest regards, Renee
Kylie says
Hi Renee, Add extra oats and extra coconut to make up for the quinoa, subbing 1:1! They'll be just as yummy. Have a great night, Kylie
Renee Gregory says
Wonderful, Thank you
Moai says
These are seriously yum and chewy! Thanks! How do they go frozen?
Kylie says
They go really well frozen! They defrost either overnight in the fridge or in the lunchbox.
bakeplaysmile says
Yummo!!!!!! I love a good muesli bar recipe... especially when it's no bake!!! Hehehe yep, I'd be adding the choc chips too!
Kylie says
No bake is the ONLY way to muesli bar! 🙂
Lisa Marie Way says
Hi there, just wondering what type of dark chocolate you use. The recipe looks great btw!
Kylie says
I use callebaut dark choc chips- I buy them at Costco! Any good quality dark choc will do just fine as the bars are sweet!