Choc chip muesli slice

I've spent some time recently looking at muesli bar recipes.  In my travels around the web, I have come across some interesting applesauce granola.  Finally I had a chance to try it (though I can't help but call it muesli as I have done all my life). I meddled with the recipe and found it wasn't such a great idea to leave out the brown sugar.  Fortunately I also had a decadent muesli slice recipe to try that could do with some virtuous muesli.

It was a few weeks ago that I made the muesli on a lazy weekend morning.  I don't make muesli often enough.  If I made it more, I would understand how much sweetness I need to make it palatable, I would go through more of the nuts and seeds that hang around in the pantry, but I suspect that Sylvia would not thank me for using up the berry mix that she loves so much.  This applesauce muesli had a lovely toasted texture so I may try it again with a tad more sweetener.

But a barely sweet muesli makes sense in a muesli bar recipe that is chock full of condensed milk and choc chips.  I don't claim that this is health food.  All I will say is that it is a delicious way to eat oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit.

We all loved the muesli slice.  I was pleased it held together well, even though the middle pieces were quite sticky.  Sylvia made an excellent job of proving that the slice crumbled easily when eaten - in her case that was all over the loungeroom rug!  She did love it when she had a piece, even if not much of it ended up in her mouth.  E said it was much nicer than my usual muesli slices.  I think he particularly loved the choc chips.

For myself, I am pleased that we still have some muesli slice in the house.  It has been a busy month and I love having some to take to work for a satisfying mid morning snack.  The slice is particularly welcome after riding my bike to work, as I found this morning.  I still have a little muesli leftover.  Perhaps I could have it for breakfast tomorrow with some fruit yoghurt!

Previously on Green Gourmet Giraffe:
This time last year: Autumn Apple Cake
This time two years ago: PPN Mee Goreng
This time three years ago: Tupperware, Arran and Tomato Soup
This time four years ago: My Daring Darling Dosa

Choc chip muesli slice
Adapted from taste.com.au
Makes about 57 small squares

580g (4 cups) toasted muesli (see below recipe)
1 x 395ml can sweetened condensed milk
230g (1generous cup or 1 pkt) dark choc bits
40g (1/2 cup) dessicated coconut
35g (1/2 cup) Allbran cereal

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.  Tip into a greased and lined lamington tin (9 x 13 inch).  Bake at 180 C for about 30 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown on top.  Mine were still a bit sticky in the middle, and looked a little undercooked on the bottom but I prefer this rather than too crisp around the edges.  Cool in tray and then cut into squares (or bars if you wish) on a large chopping board.  Keeps at least a week in an airtight container.

Applesauce muesli
Adapted from Fake Ginger

3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup nuts (I used pecans, walnuts, almonds)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp linseeds (flax seeds)
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tbsp honey (or other sweetener)
1 tbsp malt syrup (or other sweetener)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup dried fruit (I used dried berries, apricots and apples)

Mix all ingredients (except dried fruit) in a large roasting tin.  Bake at 160 C (300 F) for about45-50 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown.  Stir in dried fruit.  Cool in the tin and store in an airtight container.

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