I’m not a fan of ingredient-laden muesli bars, and the problem with using prepared muesli is that every brand can vary. Toasted or untoasted, plain or honey coated clusters, nuts or nut-free, gluten free even. This recipe requires a basic toasted muesli and the one I use is the cheap and cheerful Hubbard’s Simply toasted range. Look for similar styles.

Ingredients

• 650 gram bag toasted muesli
• 100 grams dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots (about ¾ cup)
• 250 gram bag coconut sugar
• 250 grams butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 20cm x 30cm sponge-roll slice tin with baking paper. Set the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Into a large bowl stir together the muesli, dried fruit and coconut sugar.
3. In a saucepan over a low heat, melt together the butter and honey with the vanilla, cinnamon and mixed spice. Once the butter has melted, pour into the dry ingredients and mix well to make sure the butter ingredients are thoroughly blended through the dry ingredients.
4. Turn into the prepared tin and press down firmly. Ideally roll a smooth, straight-sided glass over the top of the muesli, pressing down firmly.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the slices has begun to brown well around the edges and the whole mixture can be seen bubbling when you look through the oven door.
6. Remove the slice from the oven and place on a wooden or heat-proof board. Place a piece of baking paper on top and sit a second slice tin on top. Half fill this tin with water (make sure it does not leak) to make an even weight pressing down on top of the slice and leave until cold.
7. If you do not have a second slice tin, use magazine or something of similar size. Weighting the slice will ensure it is deliciously firm and easy to cut into pieces. Keep in an airtight container to ensure the muesli slices do not absorb moisture from the air causing the pieces to become moist and crumbly.

Cooks Tips

For this recipe, muesli is taken to be a toasted product that is mainly oats, with the addition of a few nuts and dried fruit including coconut and a few seeds. Muesli toasted into clusters is not suitable here.