Home » Nut Free Apple and Sunflower Seed Muesli Bars

Nut Free Apple and Sunflower Seed Muesli Bars

These nut free Apple Muesli Bars are just delicious. They are lower in added sugar than most muesli bars and have a delicious firm and chewy texture. These apple oat bars are no bake and when you master a few tricks they’re simple and easy to prepare. They are packed with flavour and the goodness of oats, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, dried apple and cinnamon all bound together with coconut oil, brown sugar and honey.

Muesli bars are one of those snack foods that I love to make at home. You know exactly what’s in them and there’s the added benefit of no packaging! And you know how I love nude food in those lunchboxes. 

These Apple Sunflower Seed Muesli Bars are an even lower sugar version of homemade muesli bars with only 1/4 cup of honey and 1/4 cup of brown sugar to sweeten and bind the muesli bar together. They are packed full of oats and have a generous serve of sunflower seeds, making these a fibre packed lunchbox snack.

Apple Muesli Bars

These apple oat bars are chewy in texture and are definitely sweet enough despite a reduction in added sugars. The cinnamon adds a lovely fragrance to the bars and works perfectly with the apple. 

Ingredients and Substitutions

This recipe comes together with pantry ingredients. I have listed quantity information in the recipe card below. 

  • Quick Oats – these oats are smaller in size than traditional rolled oats and they quickly absorb liquid. Because they are smaller, they make more compact muesli bars. You can substitute regular rolled oats if this is what you have. I would recommend to blitz these a little in a food processor to break them down.
  • Wheat Germ – will help bind these Apple Muesli Bars together. Wheat germ is the fibre packed centre of the wheat seed. You can find wheat germ in the cereal section of your supermarket. Substitutions for wheat germ are oat flour or ground flaxseeds. You could also use almond flour however this would not be suitable for taking in the lunchbox for a lot of schools and daycares who have nut free policies. 
  • Dried Apple – the dried apple I use has a similar texture to dried apricots – I do not use crispy dried apple. Dried apple is available at most supermarkets.
  • Sunflower Seeds – packed with Vitamin E and minerals and are a great source of healthy fats. Sunflower seeds have a mild nutty flavour. You could substitute with Pepitas or an equal quantity of any other seeds. If not sending to school you may wish to replace with nuts. Almonds or walnuts would work well, just chop them up first so they are nice and small.
  • Cinnamon – the perfect spice to pair with apples and add more flavour to these Apple Muesli Bars.
  • Coconut Oil – will help keep the muesli bars solid and held together when cooled. It is important to store the muesli bars in the fridge and send in the lunchbox with a well insulated lunch bag to ensure that the muesli bars hold together. You can substitute the coconut oil for butter in this recipe as it also has a solid state. 
  • Honey – honey is an important binding ingredient in this recipe. Together with the brown sugar, the honey is part of the glue that helps stick the bars together. You can substitute for Rice Malt Syrup to make a vegan option.
  • Brown Sugar – as with the honey, this is important to glue the no bake apple oat bars together. 

How to make the Apple Muesli Bars

In a medium sized bowl add in the oats, wheatgerm, sunflower seeds, dried apple and cinnamon and mix together until evenly stirred through. Prepare a slice pan by greasing and lining with baking paper.

Picture of all ingredients except brown sugar honey and coconut oil ready to make Apple Oat Bars

In a saucepan over a medium heat bring the coconut oil, honey and brown sugar to a slow boil. Reduce the heat to  medium low and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring the mixture with a whisk slowly until you get a thickened silky syrup.

bringing the honey, sugar and coconut oil to a slow boil to combine. This is the glue that sticks the bars together.

Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and mix quickly into the apple, sunflower seed and oat mixture ensuring that it is well combined. It’s important to work quickly at this step.

Image of thickened syrup binding the muesli bars

Next, spoon the Apple Muesli Bar mixture into the prepared slice pan. Then quickly spread the mixture evenly through the pan. I find it helpful to use the back of a spatula to firmly press the mixture until it is compact and evenly spread through the slice pan. Next, you will need to chill in the fridge for 4 hours or until completely set before cutting into bars or squares. Keep the Apple Oat Bars stored in the fridge or freezer. 

Image of slice tray with compacted mixture. Use a back of a spatula to make the mixture firm and compact.
Tips for making the Apple Oat Bars

It’s really important to be patient and ensure the coconut oil, honey and brown sugar mixture is well combined. You will see the change in consistency in colour and the mix will become thick and syrupy. This is the glue that will hold the muesli bars together so take your time. I found I have had the best results by stirring throughout the process over a medium lower heat. 

Another tip is to finely dice the dried apple pieces so they are not too big. This is so that the muesli bars hold together once cut.

Looking for more no bake beauties, like these nut free Apple Sunflower Seed Muesli Bars? 

Do you love this recipe? Remember to rate it ★★★★★

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Apple Oat Bars

Nut Free Apple and Sunflower Seed Muesli Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Bernadette - Goodie Goodie Lunchbox
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 16 muesli bars 1x
  • Category: Muesli Bars
  • Method: Stove Top; Refrigeration
  • Cuisine: Western

Description

These nut free Apple Sunflower Muesli Bars are just delicious. They are lower in added sugar than most muesli bars and have a delicious chewy texture. These apple oat bars are a no bake recipe and when you master a few tricks they’re simple and easy to prepare.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cup (140g) quick oats
  • 1/2 cup (50g)wheat germ
  • 1/2 cup (75g) packed dried apple finely diced
  • 1/3 cup (50g) sunflower seeds
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 100g coconut oil in solid state
  • 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) honey

Instructions

  1. Grease and line a 27.5cm x 17.5cm x 3.5cm slice pan
  2. In a medium sized bowl add the oats, wheat germ, dried apple, sunflower seeds and cinnamon and stir well to combine, make a slight well in the centre of the mixture.
  3. In a small saucepan melt coconut oil, honey and brown sugar together over a medium heat until combined, stirring while the sugar dissolves. This will take around two-three minutes.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for a further three-five minutes stirring gently until a thick syrup forms. Be patient with this step.
  5. Add the honey sugar syrup to the well made in the oat mixture and quickly mix through until well combined.
  6. Put the mixture into the prepared slice pan and press firmly with the back of a spatula, ensuring the mix is spread evenly and it is firmly packed.
  7. Chill in the fridge for around four hours or until set then cut into 16 pieces for bars or 32 pieces for bites.

Notes

Store these Apple Muesli Bars in the fridge or freezer. When sending to school make sure they are packed in an insulated lunchbox.

I hope you enjoy these Apple Muesli Bars and if you make them be sure to share your pics with me! You can connect with me on Instagram or Facebook

Happy snacking, 
Bernadette x

Apple Muesli Bars

 

2 Comments

  1. These were a hit Bernadette, thank you! I did have to substitute a few things (ground flax seeds instead of wheatgerm, rice malt syrup instead of honey, and coconut sugar instead of brown sugar) but they still came out really well and the kids love them. Thanks for another fab recipe x






    • Bernadette

      Oh lovely ideas for substitutions – good to know that the rice malt syrup combo worked as then these can easily be made vegan. Thanks so much for making them and letting me know. Bernadette x

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

*