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.