Fruit-free muesli bars
Many women I work with share one common complaint: having a nourishing snack recipe up their sleeve that doesn’t leave them with the sugar crash, bloated or causing grief to their metabolsim. These fruit-free muesli bars are the perfect grab and go treat. Packed with a heart healthy mixed raw nuts, almond meal and toasted shredded coconut, they deliver all the earthy, savoury-sweet flavours we crave at snack times. Lightly bound with a touch of pure maple syrup (or raw honey) and a splash of vanilla extract, these bars are a wholesome powerhouse that will keep you fuelled all day long… no sticky preservative-laden dried fruit required.
Why I love it:
Blood sugar friendly: Dried fruit can be a concentrated source of fructose. By keeping these bars fruit-free, you avoid the sharp blood sugar spikes and inevitable mid-afternoon crashes, getting a slow, steady release of energy instead.
Packed with satiating healthy fats: Between the shredded coconut, almond meal and mixed raw nuts/seeds, these bars are rich in essential fatty acids. These healthy fats are crucial for skin health, hormone health, brain health, joint support and keeping you feeling full and satisfied for hours.
Plant-based protein + fibre: The nuts and almond meal deliver a hearty dose of dietary fibre and plant-based protein. This makes the bars a genuinely restorative snack after a workout or during a busy workday, rather than just a quick carb hit.
Zero refined sugars: Instead of relying on processed white sugar, artificial sweeteners or corn syrup to bind the bars, we use just enough pure maple syrup or raw honey. This provides sweetness along with trace minerals and a better glycaemic profile.
Fruit-Free Muesli Bars
Ingredients / Makes 12 (GF, Vegan)
1 ½ cups almond meal
3 tbs extra virgin olive oil
½ cup shredded coconut
1 ½ cups chopped mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, macadamias, walnuts and/or pistachios)
1 cup mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, chia or sesame)
3 tbs pure maple syrup or raw honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract or paste
Method:
Preheat your oven to 180°C and line a baking tray
Combine all of the ingredients together in a food processor or by hand
Press onto the lined tray and cut rectangles in the mixture
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months
Enjoy!
With love x