These muesli bites come from a recipe I found here in the Netherlands. Many supermarkets here have stands full of free recipe cards created to encourage customers to buy one ingredient or another. That’s how, while grocery shopping, I came across these very cute muesli bites made with muesli.
I quickly read the card (written in Dutch but when it comes to food I always understand everything!) and decided they were definitely light. Obviously I didn’t even consider buying ready-made muesli since I know how to make it myself, and certainly not the jam, as fruit preserves aren’t a mystery to me anymore!
At home I studied the proportions of the ingredients a bit and decided to make a very simple muesli base. The result was these quick-to-make, vegan no-bake muesli bites. I was very satisfied with the result: sweet just enough, not cloying as I expected, and the Dutchman, who had frowned at the idea, well… 5 minutes later I found him in the kitchen with the third bite in his mouth! In fact, I ate only two of the six I made. Now I’ll show you how I made them.
You can find some other light treats here:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 pieces
- Cooking methods: No-bake
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
You can replace the dates with dried plums (prunes); read the FAQ.
- 8 pieces Medjool dates (type Medjool, about 8 pieces)
- 2.5 tbsp rolled oats (or buckwheat flakes)
- 0.35 oz hazelnut pieces (or whole hazelnuts)
- 2.5 tbsp raisins (or dried cranberries)
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp homemade orange compote (or 1 tablespoon of light jam)
- Total points = 12 WW points
- Points per bite = 2 WW points
Tools
- Bowl
- Hand blender
Steps
First remove the pits from the dates and blend them into a paste with a hand blender or food processor. Then add the rolled oats, hazelnut pieces, raisins and pumpkin seeds and blend at high speed until everything becomes a paste.
During this operation you will need to stop a couple of times to scrape down the sides of the bowl. It will take a couple of minutes in total and the mixture should end up very firm and compact.
Divide the dough into 6 equal portions, then wet your hands and first form balls, flatten them slightly and create a cavity in the center, just like you do for the famous nutellotti cookies or the Piedmontese ovis mollis.
Once you have 6 bites, simply insert a little light jam or Orange Compote into the center of each cavity. Place the bites in the fridge for about half an hour to firm up, but they’re already good immediately!
And here are the no-bake muesli bites ready to enjoy. At my house, as I explained in the introduction, they didn’t last long, but the supermarket card says you can also prepare them in advance.
This is a close-up that shows I may have gone a little overboard with the orange compote! But with the Weight Watchers points I stayed within the allowance and they were so good: the contrast of the bitterness of the orange compote and the sweetness of the base… mmmmm delicious!
These muesli bites are therefore ideal for preparing a last-minute snack, since they don’t require baking, and are also great for those who completely avoid adding fats to desserts.
A couple of bites are fine as a snack, for example, but they’re also a nice little treat for parties. Let me know if you make them and how you filled them…
Enjoy!
by Giovanna Buono
Storage
They don’t last long at my place—I usually make them and we eat them—but you can certainly prepare them 2–3 days in advance, keep them in the fridge and fill them at the last minute. If you try freezing them, let me know how it went!
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
I don’t like dates—how can I replace them?
Medjool dates are not like the candied ones you might have tried (which are more common in Italy), so I recommend trying them—they are not cloying at all. In any case, one of my readers used dried plums (prunes) and the bites came out just as well, but in that case recalculate the Weight Watchers points.
I’m gluten intolerant—what flakes can I use?
You can use certified gluten-free rolled oats or buckwheat flakes.
