
This healthy choc chip muesli bar recipe is a quick and easy homemade snack that will become a go-to for kids lunchboxes or an afternoon energy boost. Made with wholesome ingredients, they’re a healthier alternative to store-bought bars, plus they’re super simple to whip up at home. Perfect for batch baking and customising to suit your family’s taste!
I’ve been asked for a healthy choc chip muesli bar recipe that is refined sugar-free and bakes similar to commercial bars, so this is my attempt at that. Commercial, processed muesli bars I’m told are cooked under high pressure and contain large amounts of sugar which is why they have that crispy texture. But I think this recipe is as good as it gets and it certainly has my kids tick of approval.
You can swap the coconut oil for butter if you like, but coconut oil tightens and toughens as it cools so it really contributes to the crispness and firmness of these bars.
If you prefer the texture of a chewy muesli bar, try this No-Bake Muesli Bar.
Health benefits
By skipping the processed sugars, oils and preservatives found in most commercial bars, you’re opting for a cleaner, more nourishing treat. Packed with fibre from oats and healthy fats from coconut oil or butter, these choc chip muesli bars offer a balanced snack to keep you feeling full and energised. The dark chocolate chips are antioxidant rich and low in sugar. You can also boost nutrition by adding mixed nuts or seeds for extra protein and minerals.
Ingredients
This recipe uses pantry staples like oats, coconut oil, vanilla extract and honey (or your preferred sweetener like brown rice syrup), making it easy to customise based on what you have on hand. You can swap in your favourite nuts or seeds, and even add dried fruits or zest for an extra twist of flavour (see variations for ideas).
How to make choc chip muesli bar
To make chocolate chip granola bars, melt the coconut oil with your choice of sweetener, then mix it into the oats and nuts to evenly coat them. After the mixture cools, stir in the choc chips (and any extra mix-ins), press the mix firmly into a slice pan lined with baking paper (parchment paper), and bake until golden. Refrigerating before slicing ensures firm, crumb-free bars. It’s a simple, fuss-free process that delivers delicious results!
If you own a Thermomix, we’ve also included Thermomix instructions for this recipe.
Serving suggestions and how to store
These homemade granola bars are great for lunchboxes or as a grab-and-go snack. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge (for a week) or freezer for up to a month, and enjoy straight from the fridge for the best texture.
Vary this choc chip muesli bar to suit your dietary needs
For a vegan version, use vegan chocolate chips and your preferred plant-based sweetener. To make them gluten-free, swap the oats for quinoa flakes or rolled rice flakes. To make them nut-free, add seeds like pepitas instead of nuts. You can also add a fruity twist with dried apricots or currants, or go for a chocolate-orange flavour by adding orange zest.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit any specific dietary requirements.
For more delicious, family friendly healthy muesli bar recipes, click HERE.
Ingredients
- 60 g coconut oil (¼ cup), or butter
- 85 g rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup (¼ cup)
- 50 g coconut sugar or rapadura (¼ cup), or leave out if you don’t have a sweet tooth
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 230 g rolled oats – or quick oats if you’re after a less textured bar (2 cups)
- 1 cup/s mixed nuts or seeds – of choice
- 85 g chocolate chips (½ cup)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/338°F (fan-forced).
- In a small pot melt the coconut oil (or butter) over a low heat and mix in the sweetener, optional coconut sugar or rapadura and vanilla to combine well.
- Mix in the oats and nuts or seeds of your choice well (so the dry is very well coated by the wet). I do this with wet hands, almost massaging it together until the mixture is super sticky. If you can, pulse this in a food processor, you'll get a firmer, more commercial like bar (see the consistency in the video below).
- Allow the mixture too cool. Stir through the choc chips.
- Line a 18 x 28 cm slice tin and press in the mixture with wet hands so it's nice and firm (make sure it’s really compact).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Cool, refrigerate and chill well before cutting. This helps to get nice crumb free slices. If you cut it without first chilling, it will crumble.
Thermomix
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/338°F (fan-forced).
- Melt coconut oil in bowl. 2 minutes, 90, speed 1. Time will vary according to temperature of your oil; adjust time as needed.
- Add in the sweetener, rapadura and vanilla. Mix to combine. 30 seconds, speed 3.
- Weigh in the oats and nuts and combine. 20 seconds, speed 3, reverse.
- Add the choc chips and stir in. 20 seconds, speed 2, reverse (or you can use the spatula to mix by hand.)
- Line a 18 x 28 cm slice tin and press in the mixture with wet hands nice and firm (make sure it’s really compact).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Cool, refrigerate and chill well before cutting. This helps to get nice crumb free slices. If you cut it without first chilling, it will crumble.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.



Sherenne Foale says
Such a great treat and so easy to make.
Definitely a repeat for us.
Well Nourished Team says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Sherenne 😀
Kelly Lashbrook says
These are just fabulous, thumbs up from all 4 children and great for them to take as morning snack at school!
Well Nourished Team says
Thanks Kelly, so glad you enjoyed.
Zanthe Bohan says
Made several batches of these. Delicious and hold together really well. Always like to add some coconut for flavour and texture.
Well Nourished Team says
Sounds so good Zanthe, so glad you enjoy the recipe 😊
[email protected] says
Hi there
Do you think these are better with coconut oil or butter ?
What’s the healthiest option ?
Do you recommend any nuts in particular ?
Thanks 😀
Well Nourished Team says
Hi, my preference is with coconut oil (which makes a crunchier muesli bar), and just use a good range of nuts as variety is where you will extend the amount of nutrition from what you are eating. Enjoy 😀
Leanne says
Making these today, I always have problems with these kinds of slices crumbling even after 24 hours in the fridge, crossing fingers this works, will let you know 😉
[email protected] says
My kids love this in their lunchboxes! Thank you for a healthy lunchbox snack😀
Well Nourished Team says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe 😊
Elle says
If I’ve only got time to bake one thing for lunchboxes it’s almost always this! Super adaptable for different nuts/seeds/dried fruit… whatever needs to be used. Often made with currants instead of choc (*gasp*) and always with coconut oil for the extra hold together factor.
Well Nourished Team says
Prefect tip Elle! ☺️
Lisa says
Thank you so much for the recipe. Just wanted to double check on the liquid measurements. My slice is not binding together.
Well Nourished Team says
Hi Lisa, We are not sure what is going on 🤔 as the recipe has been tested so many times with those measurements. Perhaps if you can pulse this in a food processor, you’ll get a firmer, more commercial like bar (and you can see the consistency in the video below). Let us know how you go.
Kim says
My didn’t either – completely crumbled when we tried to cut it.
Melinda says
Made these for the first time for school lunchboxes and they were a hit with the kids. Really easy and they taste delicious! I used seeds only and half the amount of rappadura.
Thank you for sharing!
Melinda
Well Nourished Team says
So happy to hear you loved this recipe Melinda!
Kylie Phillips says
Hi Georgia, can you get away with no sweetner in these? I have SIBO so can’t do sugars/sweetners. I just wondered if they’d hold together without it. Could I substitute with a nut butter maybe?? Love your thoughts. Thanks, Kylie
Well Nourished Team says
Hi Kylie, yes a nut butter such as almond butter… total 1/2 cup to replace the liquid and solid sweeteners.
[email protected] says
Made this! The kids loved it and definitely helped to refrigerate before cutting!!! Great recipe I used chia and roughly chopped macadamia nuts! Thanks
Well Nourished Team says
Sounds like some great additions to the recipe Tasha, so happy to hear you loved this recipe.
Emma says
Love this recipe. It holds together well (use a smaller tin if needed) and I cut it into more than 8 serves. We have done the traditional flavour or dried apricots (diced up). I have also used sunflower seeds and pepitas but LOVE it with sesame seeds mixed in. Also my 6yo spotted the green pepitas and avoided it (even though he eats pepitas on their own haha). It crumbles a little but not too much – as much as any other biscuit etc if in a lunchbox 🙂
Well Nourished Team says
So happy to hear the family loves this recipe Emma, certainly love your flavour combo!
[email protected] says
It got my 5 year old kid who doesn’t like oats or nuts to eat them and enjoy it (after swimming when it was the only thing available) so for me this is a success!
Well Nourished Team says
That is great your 5yo loved this recipe, we love a winner!