Healthy Homemade Muesli Bars are easy to make at home with gluten-free good for you ingredients. These yummy bars are healthy and hearty, making them the perfect snack to eat on the go.

a muesli bar on parchment paper

Homemade Muesli Bars Recipe

If you are a die-hard snacker then this is going to be your new favourite recipe!

I know it’s a big claim, but these healthy muesli bars are not only easy to make and totally delicious but they’re packed with whole grains, nuts and seeds that will keep you feeling full and energized! These bars are made with similar ingredients as homemade muesli packed into a nutritious bar. They make a perfect healthy snack to enjoy at home or to take on the go and are great to meal prep.

What Are Muesli Bars?

Muesli bars are a convenient and nutritious snack made from a mixture of oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and natural sweeteners. Originating from the Swiss breakfast dish called muesli, these bars are a portable version of the classic mix, offering a balanced combination of fiber, healthy fats, and protein. They’re perfect for an on-the-go snack, a quick breakfast, or a wholesome treat anytime during the day.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Nutritious and Filling: Packed with oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, these muesli bars offer a great balance of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, keeping you full and energized for hours.
  • Customizable: You can easily adapt the recipe to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Whether you’re gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free, there’s a variation for you.
  • No Refined Sugars: Sweetened naturally with honey or maple syrup, these bars are free from refined sugars, making them a healthier option compared to store-bought versions.
  • Quick and Easy to Make: With minimal prep and no baking required, these muesli bars come together in just 10-15 minutes.
  • Perfect for Meal Prep: These bars store well, making them an ideal make-ahead snack for busy weeks. Simply grab one whenever you need a quick bite!

Muesli Bars Recipe Ingredients

  • Oats: this makes up the base of the muesli used in the bars. It’s best to use classic rolled oats in this recipe for a rich and chewy texture. If needed, you can also use quick oats.
  • Coconut: unsweetened shredded coconut is best! If you use sweetened coconut it will make the bars too sweet.
  • Nuts: you can use any type of nuts you love in this recipe! I use a mix of walnuts and almonds.
  • Seeds: you can also use any type of seeds you love. I use pumpkin seeds and chia seeds.
  • Chocolate chips: this is optional, but if you are a chocolate lover you’re gonna wanna add these in!
  • Cinnamon: just a dash for flavour.
  • Honey: this is used not only to sweeten the bars but also acts as a “glue” to hold the bars together.
  • Avocado oil: this will add some moisture to the bars and help them stick together more.
  • Vanilla extract: for flavour.

*This is just a recipe overview. The full recipe details can be found below in the recipe card.

How To Make Healthy Muesli Bars

Step 1

Start by making the muesli. Add the oats, shredded coconut, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, cinnamon and salt to a large mixing bowl and stir together.

Tip: it’s best to use unsalted, unroasted nuts and seeds in the muesli. The nuts and seeds will roast as the bars bake in the oven.

  • oats, nuts, coconut and chocolate chips in a mixing bowl
  • muesli in a mixing bowl

Step 2

Mix the honey, avocado oil and vanilla extract together in a bowl, then pour into the bowl of muesli and mix until everything is evenly coated.

  • honey, avocado oil and vanilla extract in a bowl
  • muesli bar ingredients in a mixing bowl

Step 3

Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and add the muesli mixture to the pan. Press the muesli down VERY firmly into the pan to really pack it down. Then bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

  • unbaked muesli bars in a square pan
  • baked muesli bars in a square pan

Step 4

Let the bars cool completely on the countertop, then remove them from the pan and slice them into even bars.

  • sliced muesli bars
  • cut up muesli bars on parchment paper

Recipe Variations And Substitutions

One of the best parts about this muesli bars recipe is how easy it is to customize. There are so many different possibilities when it comes to these bars! Here are some of my recommendations for substitutions and variations. Feel free to swap out the ingredients suggested in the recipe for any of the ingredients here.

  • Nuts: walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, brazil nuts, cashews, pine nuts.
  • Seeds: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds.
  • Dried fruit: cranberries, cherries, chopped dates, chopped figs, chopped apricots, blueberries, currants, chopped pineapple, chopped mango.
  • Sticky sweeteners: honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, rice syrup
  • Oil: avocado oil, melted coconut oil, melted butter or ghee.

How To Store Muesli Bars

To keep your muesli bars fresh and crispy store them in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature for up to a week, but if you’d like them to last longer, refrigerate them for up to two weeks.

Expert Tips For Making Healthy Muesli Bars

  • Use unsalted nuts and seeds. It’s best to use unsalted nuts and seeds in this recipe so the bars don’t come out too salty.
  • Don’t reduce the amount of honey or oil in the recipe. These are IMPORTANT ingredients that are needed to help the bars stick together! If you reduce or omit them the bars will fall apart.
  • Press the bars as firmly as you can into the pan. This step is VERY important, otherwise, the bars will fall apart. You really want to pack the muesli into the pan and continue to press press press until they are really packed down.
  • Wait until completely cooled before removing from the pan or cutting. If you try to remove the bars from the pan while they are still warm or try to cut them while they are still warm they will fall apart. The bars need to cool so they can firm up.
  • Cut with a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp knife for clean, even cuts. A serrated knife can also help when cutting through dried fruits and nuts.

Frequently asked questions

Are muesli bars healthy?

Yes! Muesli bars make a healthy filling snack or breakfast. One bar has 270 calories, 5 grams of fibre and 6 grams of protein.

Is a granola bar the same as a muesli bar?

While granola and muesli are different, (muesli is eaten raw and granola is baked with sweeteners and oil) muesli bars and granola bars are quite similar. The main difference is that muesli bars are made with muesli.

Can I make these muesli bars without nuts?

Yes, you can substitute the nuts with extra seeds or even add more dried fruits to keep the texture interesting.

Can I freeze muesli bars?

Yes! Muesli bars can be frozen in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. To defrost let the bars thaw on the counter.

Can I make these muesli bars without oats?

While oats are a traditional base for muesli bars, you can replace them with puffed quinoa, buckwheat groats, or crushed cereal for a different texture.

How do I keep the bars from crumbling?

Be sure to use enough sticky sweetener to bind the ingredients together and press the mixture firmly into the pan. Chilling before cutting also helps the bars hold their shape.

muesli bars stacked on top of each other

More bars and bites you’ll love

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a muesli bar on parchment paper

Healthy Muesli Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 large or 20 small bars 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

These Healthy Muesli Bars are packed with oats, nuts and seeds and make the perfect healthy snack!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 1/4 cups rolled oats (gluten-free certified if needed)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil (can sub melted coconut oil or butter)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper.
  2. Mix the oats, shredded coconut, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl. 
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together the honey, avocado oil and vanilla extract.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. 
  5. Add the muesli bars to the 8×8 inch pan and press the bars VERY firmly into the pan! Keep pressing until the bars are very packed down. (I like to take an extra sheet of parchment paper and place it over the bars while I press down so my hands don’t get sticky.) 
  6. Bake in the oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. 
  7. Let the bars cool completely before slicing. (This is important or else the bars will crumble.) 
  8. Slice into bars.

Notes

It’s VERY important to press the bars down as hard as you can into the pan before baking. If the bars aren’t packed together they can end up crumby and fall apart. 

You want about 3/4 cup-1 1/4 cup of nuts, seeds or dried fruit. Feel free to swap out the nuts & seeds used in the recipe for any other nuts, seeds or dried fruits you love!

Store in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 2 weeks. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/10th of recipe
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 16g
  • Fat: 15g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 6g