DIY musli bar?

[Juudbruinsma]

Anyone got a good recipe for musli bar / energy bar to bring on hikes? Still haven't found the perfect snack (which gives plenty of good long lasting energy and is tasty at the same time), so looking to make my own.

What's worked for me so far is home made date-peanut-chocolate slices, where I blitz peanuts (unsalted) and dates in food processor, add melted (very) dark chocolate, chia seeds and a bit of salt, put into tray, flatten and chill, then cut up into slabs. Very easy and pretty tasty (as my partner said: it tastes a bit like a snickers bar!) But looking for other options to try.

[north-north-west]

I once had a taste of one put together by doogs. Better than anything you can buy. No idea what he puts into them, but.

[dunamis]

I'm all ears too!


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[benjabimon]

With things like these I usually just make stuff without following a recipe, using: dates, lots of raw cacao, all kinds of nuts (raw or toasted), pepitas, sunflower seeds, desiccated coconut, a bit of coconut oil, maybe some goji berries. Just whatever is tasty. With the dates as a binder pretty much anything can be chucked in I think I've killed my food processor however, as this stuff gets chunky, sticky, and hard to mix.

[Juudbruinsma]

Haha! I actually killed my foodpricessor last weekend making the recipe above... So, if anyone knows a rock solid food processor brand - I'm in the market!

Benjabimon - I am looking for a musli bar that I can bring with me on a 5 - 6 day trip (cool climate), will the date/raw cocao concoction last (and not melt/ go mushy)?

[benjabimon]

Ooops, that sucks! Those things aren't cheap. I killed one a few years ago doing the same, and I my current one leaks now because of making these things. I guess anything from a reputable brand would be a good bet, anything upwards of $400 or so. I don't know if good ones can be had cheaply, which is sad, because I don't want to spend that much on a kitchen gadget. It seems like there is a real jump in quality with these things once you break past the $100 barrier and shell out more for them. Kenwood I think is meant to be good

You could definitely take them on a 5 - 6 day trip, especially if it is in a cool climate. If left in the sun they might go a bit mushy, but they should be fine as long as you only add a bit of coconut oil. Just keep them wrapped in grease proof oven paper. If you are really worried I can recommend the Big Sky food cozy that the friendly guy at Backpacking Light (thankfully) talked me into buying. A nice little insulated bag for rehydratable meals also doubles as a cooler bag.

I found the biggest problem with these kind of homemade bars was not eating them all before a trip

[walk2wineries]

well, one compromise is the muesli bars at farmers markets if yours have any! Hughsli are good. If you are looking for recipes try searching "breakfast bar" particularly US sites; "energy bar" tends to produce raw mixes. They tend to use the term "Granola bar" rather than Muesli bar. I haven't tried this Breakfast bar as it has the "h" word....http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/31575/s ... e+oat+bars

[damoprz]

The rice cakes/bars cyclists make are pretty amazing.

[walk2wineries]

just saw this. Sorry you asked? http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/ ... ars-recipe

[Son of a Beach]

My favourite is "Honey Oat Bars". Not sure where we got this recipe from originally, but it is soooooo good. Bushwalking, or at home.

NB: Highly recommended to double the recipe to properly fill a full-sized lamington tray!

Pay careful attention to the instructions. You cannot cut them neatly when cooled, and you cannot remove them neatly when not cool! You must cut them when hot, and they must be completely cold when you remove them.

[walk2wineries]

My favourite is "Honey Oat Bars". Not sure where we got this recipe from originally, but it is soooooo good. Bushwalking, or at home.

NB: Highly recommended to double the recipe to properly fill a full-sized lamington tray!

Pay careful attention to the instructions. You cannot cut them neatly when cooled, and you cannot remove them neatly when not cool! You must cut them when hot, and they must be completely cold when you remove them.

Ingredients.PNG

Method.PNG

Thanks for that. the icon made me wonder if it was from a supermarket site - this looks very similar but has been dumbed down for those of us who find 1/2 cups easier than 50g . http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/38447/honey+oat+bars I wonder if coconut oil would sub for butter - I like butter but have vegan mates.

[Eremophila]

I'm actually salivating reading the recipe!

Coconut oil hardens more than butter when at room temperature, so should be fine.

And even if the texture's not right, you can still eat it.....

[Moondog55]

Not a muesli bar but for the trip back up to Falls Creek I have some sort of banana cake in the oven
I simply added rolled oats and desiccated coconut, used half the number of eggs and mixed plain and SR flour so it doesn't rise too high
Adding an extra half hour to the cooking time at a low [150C] temperature to make sure any yeast or mould spores are dead.
I would have added walnut or pecan nuts but we had none in the pantry.
Adding chocolate chips would have been good too but none of those in the pantry either

[walk2wineries]

www.taste.com.au/quick-easy/galleries/h ... re-bought/ also, the current "Great Walks" magazine has a couple of recipes. One for cherry & oatmeal that i intend to try

[kitty]

Found this on the back of a choc drops packet. I think its almost identical to your DIY creation.

1.5c pitted dates
1/3c cocoa powder
1/3c chia seeds
1/3c coconut flakes
1tsp vanilla extract
1/4tsp salt
1/4 c dark choc drops
1c walnut pieces
1/3c oats

Blend dates in food processor until thick paste.
Add cocoa powder, chia seeds vanilla, coconut, salt.
Pulse until combined.
Remove from food processor and mix in walnut, chocolate and oats.
Press mixture into baking tray lined with baking paper.
Refrigerate overnight.
Cut into bars.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

[walk2wineries]

Several recipes in the Feb issue of Great Walks look okay....

[MicheleK]

Having spent a LOT of time in search of a nutritious muesli bar that was not full of sugar and empty calories that also held together very well, i have found it, care of The Fitchen:
http://thefitchen.com/the-best-granola-bars-ever/

The key is the apricots that are blitzed to form a paste that binds the lot together. I have also used dried figs in place of the apricots. Yes, there are a lot of ingredients, but they are quality ingredients and worth the search.

The Best Granola Bars Ever
Author: The Fitchen
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8
Category: Snack
Ingredients
1 c. rolled oats (1/2 of the oats ground in food processor)
1/4 c. raw pepitas
1/4 c. raw cashew pieces
1/4 c. millet (hulled)
2 Tbsp. raw sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp. oat groats (= steel cut oats)
5 dried Turkish apricots (or figs)
2 Tbsp. flax seeds
2 Tbsp. Thompson seedless raisons (or sultanas)
2 Tbsp. dried, unsweetened cranberries (or currants)
1/3 c. brown rice syrup
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 Tbsp. raw honey
1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil

Instructions
Preheat oven to 325ºF
Mix all ingredients except apricots, brown rice syrup, peanut butter, coconut oil, and raw honey in a large bowl.
Food process apricots until they ball up.
Add brown rice syrup, peanut butter, coconut oil, chopped apricots, and honey to a sauce pan.
Heat mixture over med/low heat.
Add heated wet mix to dry mix.
Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and add granola bar mixture.
Flatten with hands or rubber spatula.
Bake for 25 minutes. allow to cool before cutting.
Cut into 8 bars.

[Eremophila]

Recently made the Honey Oat Bars as per above, added extra butter as the mixture was very dry. Still a bit crumbly but very tasty and filling.
Also made the recipe posted by Kitty, with added pistachios and dried goji berries. Once again it seemed really dry so I added coconut oil. The finished product was even more crumbly but soooo good! Both held up ok in our Larapinta food drops in some fairly warm weather.

[Son of a Beach]

Good to hear. That reminds me... I need to make some Honey Oat Bars for this weekend!