John's Recipe of the Month

Fruity Muesli Bars

This is a great recipe to use up the muesli that you bought, and didn’t like!

• 230 g butter
• 150 g light brown sugar
• 90 ml golden syrup
• 400 g muesli
• 100 g dried figs
• 40 g dried bananas
• 40 g dried apricots
• ½ tsp ground mixed spice
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• Pinch of fleur de sel

Makes about 10 good sized pieces.

1Set the oven to 160°c/Gas Mark 3.

2Chop all the fruit into smallish pieces, don’t be too fussy.

3In a saucepan put the butter, sugar and golden syrup, put over a gentle heat to melt then slowly blend the ingredients to form a brown syrup.

4Remove the pan from the stove and add all the remaining ingredients. Mix really well.

5Put the mixture in to the baking tray, level the top by pressing down lightly with the back of a tablespoon or palette knife.

6Bake for 20 – 30 minutes or until the top is turning golden brown. Take care not to burn.

7Allow to cool a little then mark the pieces into fingers. Allow to set, remove the bars from the baking tray and cool on a wire rack. When cold break or cut into fingers.

Chef's Tip : You can substitute almost any dried fruit combination – dates are great in this recipe.