Muesli Bar Cookies

November 12, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

I wasn’t going to blog about these cookies, but Pete suggested that since he and Big Boy really liked them, perhaps some of you might as well.

You might recall them from our slice and bake post – I was attempting to make a good dunking biscuit, but instead ended up with these crumbly, not overly sweet cookies. I tried combining Jacques Pepin’s oatmeal cookies with an Alice Medrich recipe, and then added a layer of dark Sao Thomé (70% cacao) origin chocolate for reinforcement. The end result was, in Pete’s words, “a classy muesli bar”.

250g (1 cup) unsalted butter, chopped
110g (½ cup) sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
200g (1 and 1/3 cups) plain (AP) flour
150g (5oz) quick oats
90g (3oz) currants
30g (1oz) cacao nibs
100g (3½oz) roasted blanched hazelnuts, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used homemade)

1. In the large bowl of the food processor, blitz together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture starts to come together in a ball.

2. Tip the dough into a large mixing bowl and add the oats, currants, nibs, vanilla and hazelnuts. With clean hands, knead all the ingredients into the dough until well combined.

3. Shape the dough into two logs and wrap in parchment. Chill in the fridge overnight. (The resting time allows the flavours to infuse.)

4. The following day, preheat the oven to 175C (350F) with fan. Line baking trays with parchment. With a strong thin knife, slice the dough into 1cm/½” thick discs. Place on baking tray, allowing room to spread (more room than I’ve allowed below, I just moved the pieces together for the photo)…

5. Bake for approximately 20 minutes until golden brown, rotating the tray(s) halfway through the baking time. Allow to rest on trays for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool – the cookies will be crumbly, so you’ll need to move them carefully…

6. Optional: temper a little dark chocolate and coat one side of each cookie (there’s a tutorial here). This isn’t necessary, but it helps to keep the crumbliness in check a little, and adds an extra layer of flavour.

Pete thought I should point out that these are quite a “grown up” treat. They don’t have a lot of added sugar, and the cacao nibs and dark chocolate add a hint of bitterness which little people are unlikely to find appealing. As a muesli fan, Pete likes these a lot, and he finds them very satisfying without being overly heavy. If you’re a fan of a less sweet (but not necessarily savoury) cookie, then you might like these too!

Posted in Recipes | 34 Comments

34 Responses

on November 12, 2013 at 12:09 am heidiannie

These do look good! I like using chocolate for a stabilizer on cookies- sometimes I even use white chocolate- and it adds to the mouth feel and flavor so well. Thanks again, Celia, for sharing- and listening to Pete!
on November 12, 2013 at 12:17 am Glenda

Hi Celia, They look very nice indeed!
on November 12, 2013 at 12:30 am thecompletebook

A classy muesli bar indeed. Scrumptious.
:-) Mandy xo
on November 12, 2013 at 1:54 am tableofcolors

Yes, definitely these are to my taste! I even have cocoa nibs in my cupboard. And my kids usually will eat anything called a cookie ;)
on November 12, 2013 at 2:16 am sallybr

I know a guy named Phil who would love these! He is a muesli addict, and a chocolate fanatic.

Glad you posted, Celia… I am debating whether I should post about a recipe I made on Saturday… the photos turned out bad, but the food is soooo good! What to do? what to do?
- on November 12, 2013 at 4:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Post anyway! I have a fish recipe coming up with a single dodgy photo in it, but it was too good to risk losing it by not posting! :)
on November 12, 2013 at 8:48 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

‘A classy muesli bar’ I love it! Looks much better than a muesli bar to me.
on November 12, 2013 at 11:02 am Madge

Thanks for posting this Celia. Two questions. About how many biscuits does this recipe make and do you think the dough would freeze? I would probably sub toasted (as in the frypan) rolled oats for the quick oats.
- on November 14, 2013 at 8:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Madge, I’m guessing, but maybe 30 cookies all up? And I have some dough in the freezer but I haven’t baked it yet, so not sure how it will go. Most cookie doughs are fine frozen though!
on November 12, 2013 at 11:38 am Craig

These look great Celia
on November 12, 2013 at 1:45 pm hotlyspiced

I love the look of these and I would definitely dip them in tempered chocolate. I love how Pete called them ‘classy’.
on November 12, 2013 at 1:58 pm Tandy | Lavender and Lime

When I have the time I’m going to try and make these :)
on November 12, 2013 at 2:13 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

I’m glad you posted them because I think they look great! Any biscuits with cocoa nibs in them would win me over I think. Classy muesli bars is about right :)
on November 12, 2013 at 3:35 pm Lizzy (Good Things)

These cookies look and sound delicious… great for dunking.
on November 12, 2013 at 4:07 pm anne54

I will make these very soon, as they look delicious. I will let you know how I go!
on November 12, 2013 at 4:23 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Hubby would love these for those long bike rides! :D
- on November 14, 2013 at 8:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Too crumbly, hon. He’d be better off with one of our triathlon cookies! :)
on November 12, 2013 at 4:35 pm lambsearsandhoney

I like that they are not so sweet and therefore less appealing to the sugar fiends – means there might be some for me.
on November 12, 2013 at 8:47 pm Jo

They look great – kind of a sophisticated chocolate wheaten! Would this cook ok as a slice do you think?
- on November 14, 2013 at 8:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jo, not sure – it’s quite a dry mix. Could be worth a try though?
on November 13, 2013 at 12:47 am Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

Definitely for me and a cuppa tea..
on November 13, 2013 at 12:58 am Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

I love how you’ve made these. So easy. slice and dunk. :)
on November 13, 2013 at 4:43 am The Life of Clare

These do look absolutely delicious!
on November 13, 2013 at 4:45 am dianeskitchentable

Those really do look good and great for a mid morning snack. It almost sounds like Pete’s hinting around for another batch.
on November 13, 2013 at 8:07 am cecilia

I am, most definitely,a fan of less sweet.. Johns son will be home the end of the month, i will make them then. He has been gone since July at basic training so he will be in need of a good cookie splurge!..c
on November 13, 2013 at 10:50 am Norma Chang

My kind of cookie, not too sweet plus it is a slice and bake. Definitely coating with chocolate.
on November 13, 2013 at 1:09 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

‘slice and bake’ kinda biscuits are always the best kind. Always feels like I’m getting ahead of myself in a good way :-)
on November 13, 2013 at 1:22 pm marilynscottwaters

Gosh, those look nummers! The hub made a batch of oatmeal cookies last night, he chopped up the leftover halloween candy to put in them. They were heaven but yours look more grown up. I’ll take them both. Also you advice of chilling the batter was spot on. Thanks! Maz.
on November 14, 2013 at 7:13 am InTolerant Chef

How did I miss this post Celia? These certainly do look good and the dark chocolate is a perfect match indeed Pete! They would be great with a cup of tea please :) xox
on November 14, 2013 at 4:55 pm Joanne T Ferguson (@mickeydownunder)

G’day! Looks to be a wonderful cookie with one’s coffee Celia or tea!
Who would like to try one of these healthy looking cookies right now? ME!
Cheers! Joanne
on November 14, 2013 at 8:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Thank you all for your lovely comments! I’ve been flat out these last few days and struggling a bit with sore hands, so trying not to type too much, so please excuse me for not replying to each of you personally. xxx
on November 17, 2013 at 1:06 pm Sally

Great for snack boxes. Hope your hands are ok Celia.
on November 21, 2013 at 8:17 am Michele G

Thanks for the recipe! Made them (and included the remains of a bag of shredded coconut). Very good!
- on November 22, 2013 at 5:06 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  That’s fabulous! Thanks for taking the time to let me know! :)