Muesli Snack Bars

Muesli Snack Bars

I came up with this recipe, because I wanted something sweet but not the guilty conscience of having too much sweet.  I invented this recipe, adding nuts, seeds and fruit to conquer my sweet craving and giving a kick of energy.

Here's what you need:

• 3 cups of Muesli (flavour/grain of your choice. I took tropical)
• 2/3 cups of self-raising flour
• half cup sunflower seeds
• half cup linseed
• half cup pumpkin seeds
• half cup sesame seeds
• half cup of nuts (almonds/ peanuts/ cashews)
• 1 cup of chopped mixed dried fruit
• 2 eggs
• 4 large tablespoons of melted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar (brown/white) *optional
• 2 slabs of 90g dark chocolate, chopped *optional

Here's how to make them:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Mix the melted butter with the muesli and flour. Then add the eggs and sugar to the muesli mixture.
• Add all the seeds, nuts and fruit to the muesli mixture, and mix the ingredients well.
• Take a greased pan, with baking/wax paper, and press out the mixture in the pan. Take note this is a sticky mess, and it's easier to press down the muesli with a spoon. 

muesli mixture

muesli mixture

• Bake for 20-25minutes or until golden brown
• About 5minutes before taking out the muesli bars, sprinkle the chopped chocolate over and place the pan back into the oven. This will allow the chocolate to melt.

spread chocolate and sprinkle some nuts

• When the muesli snack bars are done baking, the chocolate has melted. Spread the chocolate out evenly and if you want to, you can even sprinkle some nuts over the melted chocolate.
• Allow to cool down properly (chocolate will be hard)
• Cut into squares or small bars

Muesli Snack Bars

Notes:

• I used dried apricots, mango, goji berries, coconut, cranberries, raisins, dates, apple, banana
• Sugar & chocolate are both optional. I baked the other day without sugar, and the bars came out fine. I cut out sugar when I use more fruit.
• When adding chocolate chips to the bars, the chocolate melts and goes to the bottom of the bars. So I recommend experimenting, having the chocolate at the bottom or top.
• Keep bars in airtight containers