Adapted from my chewy muesli bars, this is a recipe for crunchy muesli bars that stay crunchy for over 3 weeks! I munch on these as a sweet-treat fix, yet they’re healthy enough for breakfast because they’re sugar-free. Endlessly customisable!
In pursuit of crunchy muesli bars
Chewy muesli bars are so easy to make. They don’t even need to be baked!
Crunchy muesli bars, however, were irritatingly difficult to crack. At least, without using sugar. Wildly popular crunchy muesli bars from my school playground days (mysteriously difficult to find these days – if at all?) had a frightening amount of sugar in them for something marketed as “healthy”.
While I am not one to shy away from sugar in my baking, I just always feel that some things should be a little more wholesome. Muesli bars being one such thing!
Cracking the crunchy muesli bar code
In a nutshell – if you bake a basic muesli bar recipe, it will come out crunchy but doesn’t stay that way for very long. Sometimes a few hours, or the day at best. The next day they are chewy/sticky/sweaty.
For stay-crunchy muesli bars, I found I had to do a double-bake situation:
toast the oats and nuts
mix with glue (peanut butter and honey)
press in pan, chill to firm
cut, then bake.
Lots of iterations of the above were tried in pursuit of this final recipe! I hope you love and munch on these crunchy muesli bars for many years to come. 🙂
Ingredients in crunchy muesli bars
Excellent recipe to cater to nut allergies! Just use 2 3/4 cups of “anything you want” though I’d use at least 3/4 cup of oats (my recipe uses 1 1/2 cups) for muesli-bar density. Any less and you will start moving into nut-bar territory (chunkier) and the glue (peanut butter + honey) may be insufficient to hold the bar together.
Express pass: Just use 2 3/4 cups of your favourite muesli mix!
Natural peanut butter – This recipe calls for natural peanut butter which is just pure peanuts without sugar and salt added. It’s runnier than commercial peanut butter spread (Bega/Kraft, Skippy, Jif) so it’s easier to mix through. I fear if you try this with commercial peanut butter spread, you will be cursing me with a thick doughy mixture! (Also, pure peanut butter is healthier – no palm oil, no sugar etc).
I use smooth but crunchy is fine too.
Non-peanut alternatives – Hazelnut, almond and cashew butter work great! While tahini would be an option I think the sesame flavour would dominate a little too much.
Honey – The sweetener for the glue and also what makes the muesli bar crunchy once baked. Maple syrup also works but they are not quite as crunchy and don’t hold together quite as well. But a good alternative.
Rolled oats – Just plain rolled oats, like we use for recipes like oatmeal cookies and Anzac biscuits. Not quick oats, not a ready-made porridge mix, not steel cut oats.
Almonds – I like chunky bits of almonds in my muesli bars. It’s best to give them a rough chop else you end up with giant pieces of almonds throughout which can make it more difficult to get clean cuts.
Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – These always make an appearance in my muesli bars for a nice splash of green colour.
Sultanas – My nostalgic dried fruit of choice, though you can absolutely substitute with anything you want.
Cinnamon – For flavour. Pumpkin spice mix is also lovely, as is a dab of vanilla extract (mix into the glue). Other spices I like to dabble with include: all spice, mixed spice and ginger.
Salt – Don’t skip this! Just a touch makes a difference. It does not make it salty.
Mini chocolate chips (optional) – The choc chips in store bought choc chip muesli bars are mini ones which are smaller than regular choc chips used in cookies. Mini ones are about 5mm / 0.2″ wide. I found them at my local Scoop Wholefoods (one of those places where you help yourself and pay by weight) but since deciding to publish this recipe, they have become strangely hard to find! So don’t fret if you can’t find them, just use regular ones.
Alternative – Chocolate drizzle across the top. Do this after baking! I just pop a small handful of chocolate chips or chocolate melts in a small ziplock bag. Microwave until melted, snip the corner off then drizzle across the muesli bars.
How to make crunchy muesli bars
The order of the steps matter for long-lasting crunchiness!!! And cutting the muesli bars before baking to lock in crunchiness is key. 🙂
Toast the oats and nuts in the oven for just 10 minutes. Drying out the oats a bit is a crunchiness insurance step, and toasting the nuts brings out the flavour.
Muesli glue – Warm the peanut butter and honey in the microwave (just 30 seconds) then give it a good mix to combine. The mixture is thinner when it’s warm which makes it easier to mix through.
Mix – Put the warm oats/nuts into a heatproof bowl and add everything else: dried fruit, cinnamon powder and salt. Pour over the warm glue then mix until thoroughly combined. It might seem like there’s not enough glue, but there is! Persist, use a cutting motion if needed. If it gets too hard to mix, microwave the bowl for 20 seconds which will loosen the mixture up and make it easier to mix.
Press – Put a sheet of paper over a 20 cm / 8″ square pan (no need to grease and create more washing up for yourself). Then press the mixture evenly into the pan. Hands is easiest, I find.
Optional choc chips
Cool then press – If you are topping your muesli bars with choc chips, let the mixture cool a bit first else the choc chips will melt! Then sprinkle across the surface and press in by covering with another sheet of paper (to prevent melting on contact with your hands).
Choc chips – post press!
Fridge – Put the pan in the fridge for 1 hour or until it is firm enough to lift the whole slab out without it sagging. At this stage, these are chewy muesli bars so you can eat them as is. But if you are in pursuit of crunchy, plough on!
Cut into 10 bars.
Bake for 25 minutes in a moderate oven (160°C/325°F (140°C fan-forced) until they are quite golden. You need to be brave here because pale = not as crunchy as they could be, but burnt = bitter! Check at 22 minutes to be cautious.
Cool for crunch! You will be able to feel that the muesli bars are crunchy but touching them. But don’t try to move or pick them up until they are fully cool so they will set and harden.
Storing crunchy muesli bars
Once fully cool, store them in an airtight container to preserve crunch. In “normal” weather, they will stay crunchy for up to 5 days just keeping them in the pantry. This also means you can pop them in a lunchbox and they’ll stay crunchy!
But to prolong the crunchy-life of these muesli bars and most especially in hot, humid weather (ie Sydney right now!), store the muesli bars in the fridge. This keeps them crunchy for well over a fortnight. I’m up to three weeks and they are still fine!
And actually, in warm weather, munching on cool muesli bars straight out of the fridge is actually very appealing.
Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Crunchy muesli bars (granola bars)
Ingredients
The glue:
- 1/4 cup honey (Note 1)
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter, smooth (or crunchy!) (Note 2)
Muesli bars (Note 3):
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats* (not steel cut)
- 1/2 cup almonds* , roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup pepitas* (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup sultanas*
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon powder (or other, like pumpkin spice)
- 1/4 tsp cooking / kosher salt
- 2 tbsp small chocolate chips or 3 tbsp regular dark choc chips, optional (Note 4)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F (140°C fan-forced). Place a sheet of baking paper over a 20 cm / 8" square tin with overhang so it's easy to lift out later (no greasing needed).
- Toast: Spread the oats, chopped almonds and pepitas on a tray. Bake for 10 minutes. Tip into a heatproof bowl. (Note 5) Add the sultanas, cinnamon and salt.
- Muesli mixture: Microwave the honey and peanut butter in a heatproof jug for 30 seconds on high. Mix to combine. (Note 6) Pour over the oat mixture and mix through. It might seem like it won't mix in, but persist, it will! Use a cutting motion if needed. Last resort – Note 7
- Press: Tip the muesli mixture into the pan then press firmly into the pan. Once cooled, scatter the choc chips across surface (if using). Cover with a sheet of paper then press down firmly with your hands to push the choc chips in.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm enough to lift out without bending.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F (140°C fan-forced).
- Cut: Use the paper overhang to lift the muesli slab onto a cutting board. Cut in half, then each into 5 (10 bars). Transfer onto a tray using the paper, then space the muesli bars out.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until quite golden on the surface and golden brown on the edges but not burnt.
- Cool & crunchy: Remove from the oven and cool on the tray – it will become crunchy! Store in an airtight container once cooled, in the fridge if it's warm where you are. It will still be crunchy 3 weeks later!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Early morning at his second favourite place on earth – Bayview dog beach. (I like to think his first favourite is wherever I am!)
Great recipe! Really crunchy!
First time I make granola bars that actually stick. Mine usually turn out crumbly.
So yum but I overcooked them at the final step. Keep an eye on them, I’d set a 15 minute timer and then regular checks as I set for 25 and realised they were burning on the edges just after 20. Maybe my oven runs hot though!
These are delicious and so much better than the ultra processed commercial version. I sub in cacao nibs and goji berries as well as some sesame seeds and flaxseed. The kids love them! Great recipe.
Love these – added the chocolate in with the fruit so it melts when you stir the glue through.
Has anyone added protein powder? How did you adjust the recipe?
I make these about every 2 weeks – they are now a standard pantry staple.
I always use normal old peanut butter and have also been using bought granola (already toasted) in place of the oats. I also add dried apricots for a bit of sour and a healthy dose of salt for that little salty kick at the end. The chocolate is a must.
Your recipes are the best and I’m loving your cookbook (first one).
Great recipe. Worked perfectly. I used half honey, half maple syrup and some chopped dark choc as I didn’t have choc bits.
Truly delicious and so crunchy. Am taking some to workmates to try. I might press some sesame seeds onto the top before baking as I love them.
Thank you Nagi for all the work you do perfecting your recipes and writing such comprehensive instructions.
As the prices increase every week on a staple in our house, the muesli bar, I decided to try this recipe. I had everything in my cupboard and added some chopped apricots. So delicious and crunchy; no more name brand muesli bars coming into this house. Beautiful
Just made these! YUM! Using what I had on hand, craisins, pepitas and sunflower seeds, blanched almonds. Drizzled melted chocolate on top.
So good. I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter but it was not at all overpowering. Next time I will cut into 20 squares and put a chocolate button on top.
Amazing! Super easy and a great addition for the lunchboxes. I added chocolate melts on mine and it was delicious.
Great recipe, thank you Nagi! I used tahini & honey for the glue & it worked well. You’re right about the tahini flavour being strong, but if you love tahini, it’s still great!
I really love this recipe but I find them very crumbly. (Very messy when the kids eat!) Should I try adding a touch more honey? Or leave them longer in the fridge?
Hi Anita,
I put a tablespoon of milk in and it works a treat.
Could you use unsalted peanuts and process them to make your own PB? The shelves are lacking here in WA due to transport issues with flooding. The natural PB seem to be MIA.
Absolutely LOVE your recipes 💯🦋🙏
I always love a healthy snack. These look yummy and full of goodness! And let’s face it, you can never skip chocolate!
I made this the other day, after having the ingredients sit on my countertop for a week. I was getting overwhelmed as I made it late in the evening. I quickly turned to my laptop and viewed the video, this allowed me to get back on track. I let it sit in the fridge overnight and baked it the next morning. Not only it was super crunchy and delicious; my apartment also smelled so good because of the cinnamon. I took a few bars to work and shared them with my co-workers.
Thanks Nagi! Hope Dozer is much better!
I can confirm, commercial peanut butter (all I had on hand) was very tough to stir through and half my bars fell apart when I cut them… Still tastes great though! I’ll have to try with natural nut butter.
So yummy!! Definitely the best muesli bars I’ve ever had. There really were super crunchy (and remained crunchy), and the perfect level of sweetness. I love that they are made with such nutritious ingredients as well. It reminds me of snacking on granola but in the form of one, compact bar instead!
Fantastic recipe and you don’t even need to cook it cause I missed that part lol. Still crunchy and delicious. 🙂
I’m trying it cooked next!
I made these delightful muesli bars in two stages yesterday. I did the mix with peanut butter and honey bit and had it in the fridge while at work. Baked when I got home. Absolutely perfect 🥰
These do not disappoint! So crunchy with just enough sweet to calm my cravings.
I added the chocolate chips to the warmed ‘glue’ and they mostly melted through. Turned out amazing.