Description
Wholesome nut-free muesli bars deliver a delightful crunch packed with nutritious seeds and oats. Crisp and satisfying, these homemade treats offer you a perfect blend of energy and flavor for any moment of the day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) rolled oats
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) shredded coconut (unsweetened)
Dried Fruits and Seeds:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) dried cranberries or raisins
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) chopped dried apricots or dates
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chia seeds or flaxseed meal
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) coconut oil or unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare your baking workspace by preheating the oven to 350F (175C), creating an ideal environment for toasting dry ingredients to enhance their flavor profile.
- Distribute oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut evenly across a baking sheet, carefully monitoring their transformation to a delicate golden hue over 8-10 minutes.
- Allow the toasted ingredients to cool slightly, releasing their aromatic essence while preventing immediate moisture absorption.
- Transfer the lightly cooled ingredients to a spacious mixing bowl, introducing dried fruit, chia seeds, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt for balanced seasoning.
- Select a small saucepan to gently melt honey and coconut oil over low heat, creating a smooth, cohesive liquid binding agent.
- Remove the liquid mixture from heat and infuse with pure vanilla extract, stirring to integrate the flavors seamlessly.
- Pour the warm liquid over the dry ingredients, using a spatula to ensure every morsel receives an even coating of the sweet binding mixture.
- Prepare an 8×8-inch pan by lining it with parchment paper, creating a non-stick surface for easy removal.
- Transfer the muesli mixture into the prepared pan, using firm pressure from your hands or a spoon to compact the ingredients tightly, ensuring structural integrity.
- Refrigerate the compressed mixture for a minimum of one hour, allowing the bars to set and solidify into a cohesive, sliceable treat.
- Once fully chilled, lift the entire block from the pan using the parchment paper edges and slice into uniform bars or squares for serving.
Notes
- Always toast seeds and oats for deeper, nuttier flavor that enhances overall taste complexity.
- Use parchment paper overhang for easy bar removal, preventing crumbling and ensuring clean cutting.
- Gently press mixture into pan with consistent pressure to create compact, stable bars that won’t fall apart.
- Experiment with alternative liquid sweeteners like maple syrup or agave for different flavor profiles while maintaining bar structure.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg