The Very Best Homemade Muesli Bars

Name: Homemade Muesli Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 100 g (1/2 cup) coconut oil ( (liquid)); 170 g (1/2 cup) honey; 125 g (1/2 cup) peanut butter (or any nut butter); 1/4 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp salt; 135 g (2/3 cup) brown sugar; 150 g (1 2/3 cups) rolled oats; 50 g (1/2 cup) desiccated coconut; 180 g (1 1/4 cups) trail mix ((mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit)); 40 g (1/3 cup) plain flour; 25 g (1 cup) puffed rice ((rice bubbles, rice krispies or similar)); 85 g (1/2 cup) chocolate chips (see notes)

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My most popular homemade muesli bar ever!! Soft and chewy bars made from rolled oats, puffed rice, honey, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, coconut oil, nut butter and more.

A healthy and nutritious recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prepare and is a delicious energy-boosting snack.

A muesli bar filled with oats, nuts and seeds, placed on a white baking paper sheet.

Ask any of my readers what one of their favourite Bake Play Smile recipes is and I can almost guarantee you that my homemade muesli bars will be near the top of their list (along with my famous chocolate mud cake, super easy peppermint slice and New York cheesecake, of course!!)

These muesli bars are soft, chewy, nutty, crunchy and sweet... plus, they're healthy!

Once you try my homemade muesli bars, you'll never buy store-bought bars again.

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

Have a read through the reader comments on this recipe and you'll see why everyone loves this recipe:

Healthy recipe - this recipe is made using nuts, seeds, puffed rice, honey and coconut, making it a healthier alternative to some other muesli bar recipes. And just knowing they contain only what you put in - no 'hidden' preservatives, additives or artificial flavourings!
Versatile - my homemade muesli bars are so incredibly versatile! Follow my recipe and use a store-bought trail mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit, or mix and match with any of your favourite dried fruits and nuts. Scroll down for more of my substitution suggestions.
Dairy-free - these muesli bars are completely dairy-free making them a great option for those with dairy intolerances or allergies.
Quick & easy - this recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook. Perfect for when you're in a rush and need to whip up some healthy snacks.
One bowl recipe - forget about using any fancy equipment or making a big mess in your kitchen. This entire recipe is prepared using just one bowl.
Freezer-friendly - my homemade muesli bars freeze perfectly. Plus they take just a few minutes to defrost at room temperature, making them a great 'grab and go' snack.
5 Star recipe - this recipe is a reader favourite! With all 5 star reviews and comments, you really need to try these muesli bars for yourself!

An overhead shot of homemade muesli bars on baking paper.

What You Need

The ingredient list may look lengthy... but you'll find that most of the ingredients are already in your pantry or fridge.

Note: please scroll to the recipe card for the ingredient quantities and full detailed method.

Wet Ingredients

coconut oil - using coconut oil gives these muesli bars the most delicious CRUNCH!!! I do not recommend substituting the coconut oil with butter or vegetable oil as they don't give the recipe the same result.
honey - a natural sweetener that helps to bind the ingredients together.
peanut butter - you can use any type of peanut butter you like. I find that store-bought creamy or crunchy peanut butter works better than homemade, but the choice is yours!

Flavourings

cinnamon, vanilla and salt - these give the muesli bars a delicious flavour while the salt balances the sweetness and enhances the flavour of the bars.

Dry Ingredients

brown sugar - using regular brown sugar or dark brown sugar gives the muesli bars a soft and chewy texture.
rolled oats - choose rolled oats or quick oats for this recipe.
coconut - use desiccated coconut which is a fine, dry coconut.
trail mix - choose a trail mix with a good selection of nuts, dried fruits and seeds.
plain flour - also known as 'all purpose' flour.
puffed rice - use Rice Bubbles, Rice Krispies or any similar puffed rice.
chocolate chips - also known as chocolate bits. Cadbury's is a popular good quality brand, and you could use, milk, dark or white chocolate chips in this recipe.

Step By Step Instructions

This one bowl recipe takes just 10 minutes to prepare!

Note: please scroll to the recipe card for the ingredient quantities and full detailed method.

Step 1 - Melt

Place the coconut oil, honey and peanut butter into a microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted.

Melted peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in a glass bowl.

Step 2 - Mix

Add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt and brown sugar to the melted mixture and stir together until combined.

Brown sugar and cinnamon on top of liquid nut butter.

Add the oats, coconut, trail mix, flour and puffed rice.

Flour and puffed rice added to other ingredients in a bowl.

Stir to combine.

Trail mix added to homemade muesli bar mixture.

Step 3 - Add The Chocolate Chips

Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Add the chocolate chips and stir through quickly.

Note: Some of the chocolate chips may melt slightly.

Chocolate chips added on top of a granola bar mixture in a bowl.

Step 4 - Bake

Press the mixture firmly into a prepared baking tin and bake until just golden.

Allow the slice to cool completely before cutting into slices.

TIP: To cut perfectly neat slices, place the slice in the fridge for several hours (preferably overnight) before cutting.

Nuts, seeds, dried fruit and oats mixture pressed into a tin.

Recipe Variations

This is such a versatile recipe!

You can mix and match with any of your favourite granola bar ingredients.

Here's a few of my recipe variation suggestions:

substitute the store-bought trail mix with the same weight of your favourite mix of dried fruits, nuts and seeds
substitute the honey for rice malt syrup
substitute the peanut butter for almond butter or any nut butter
use quick oats in place of rolled oats
for a healthier option, use cacao nibs in place of chocolate chips

Note: I do not recommend trying to make this homemade muesli bar recipe nut-free as the peanut butter helps to bind the mixture together.

For nut-free muesli bars, try this recipe or my chocolate chip granola bars.

A nut and seed granola bar on baking paper.

Expert Tips & FAQ

Follow my tips and have a batch of delicious homemade muesli bars ready in no time.

Adding the chocolate chips

Ensure the mixture has cooled before mixing through the chocolate chips. They may still melt a little but if you work quickly, you'll still have lovely little chunks of chocolate throughout.

Can I make these nut-free?

I don't recommend attempting to make these muesli bars nut-free as the peanut butter binds the mixture together. However for nut-free muesli bars, try this nut-free recipe or my chocolate chip granola bars.

Are these homemade muesli bars dairy-free?

Yes they are! This makes them a great option for those with dairy intolerances or allergies to dairy products.

Are muesli bars and granola bars the same?

Yes! The terms refer to the same thing and are used interchangeably these days. Muesli bars is the more commonly used term here in Australia, whereas the term granola bars is more popular in the US and Canada.

Cutting the muesli bars

Allow the slice to cool completely before cutting into slices.
For best results, place the slice into the fridge for several hours (preferably overnight) and then cut into pieces.

Storing

Store the homemade muesli bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. By keeping them in the fridge, the bars will stay crunchy and delicious.

Freezing

Freeze any leftover muesli bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. The bars take just a few minutes to defrost at room temperature, making them a great option for a grab and go snack.

Three pieces of muesli bars on a white cake stand.

We all love a batch of homemade muesli bars!

Here's a few more of my most popular muesli bar recipes:

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars - these simple and sweet bars are a favourite with kids (and far better for you than the store-bought options!)
Nut Free Muesli Bars - perfect for nut-free schools or for children with nut allergies.
Almond, Cranberry & Dark Chocolate Muesli Bars - one of my personal favourite muesli bars! This one is just as popular with adults as it is with the kids.
Healthy Coco Pop Bars - a delicious snack that the kids will LOVE!