Jam muesli balls

05 June 2018
When I first started preserving at home I didn't really make much jam. I don't really eat it much, besides on fresh scones with a liberal serve of cream, so I tended to focus on chutneys and relishes. I don't know when the switch occurred but I realised that jam need not be limited to simply spreading on things and that it was actually a great way to preserve my fruit for use in cooking.

Many baking recipes call for jam, my favourite being the traditional jam and coconut slice. However,  I've also successfully adapted many recipes to use jam in place of dried or fresh fruit. These muesli balls are a great example and are so quick and easy to make that they are a staple snack option around here.

Jam Muesli Balls

The original recipe called for dried fruit, sugar and honey so I figured I could sub these out for jam or marmalade. After a little tinkering I found a recipe that was a winner. It's so simple and quick that I can mix it together when the oven is on for the bread and stock up on the snacks. Even if you don't make your own jam It's a great recipe to use up any lingering jars of jam in the fridge.

Jam Muesli Balls

Ingredients
1 cup plain flour
2.5 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup seeds and/or nuts
100g butter
100g jam or marmalade



Method: Melt your butter and jam together. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and roll into balls. Bake in a moderate oven until golden.



It doesn't get much easier than that really.

Do you make your own jam?
Do you have any recipes to share that use up jam or other preserves?

P.S Apologies for lack of post over the weekend. The best laid plans went awry a little so I cut myself some slack and gave myself the weekend off.

13 comments

  1. So simple! I love oatmeal. I made strawberry preserves in the past, from strawberries I picked. Also fig jam from my own figs. But we really aren't a "jam" family. Andrea

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    1. Fresh strawberry jam is so delicious. I never manage to procure enough strawberries around here as they get gobbled up by little girls in the garden the minute they even look like ripening!

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  2. I don't make jam much anymore since reducing my sugar intake but make a couple of batches of strawberry jam without sugar which wasn't too bad but it doesn't last too long without the sugar in it. Easy recipe though. Looks good.

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    1. I suppose it's more stewed fruit like without the sugar Chel. I imagine you could water bath it for longer storage if you could be bothered or freeze if you had the space.

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  3. It's good to have a break once in a while. :) I hope you had a relaxing weekend.

    Sometimes I make strawberry jam. It's just strawberries, sugar and lemon juice and I only make one jar because I don't know how to bottle them properly. Canning is on my list of skills to learn, but that list is getting too long now. :)

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    1. Canning seems scary and complex from the outside but once you get started it's pretty easy - just boiling jars in water really. I reckon you could nail it Nil :)
      In Australia many jam makers simply 'hot pack' jams into sterilised jars rather than using a canning process - could be a first step into the land of preserves?

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  4. I'm book-marking this to use ASAP Laura. As you know, I'm a chronic jam maker, and love to use the jams in many various ways, including savory dishes and sweets of course. There are always a few old jars of jam lurking at the back of the shelves, which need using up. Muesli balls will be next!

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    1. I hope you enjoy them Sally. I'm a bit of a notorious non-measurer so hopefully my amounts work out ok at your end - nothing an extra spoon of jam wont fix. enjoy.

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  5. A great idea, do you think they would work as a bar?

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    1. I've never tried. They may be a bit crumbly if you tried to cut them - you could shape them in a bar perhaps? Or maybe add a bit extra jam to keep them a little softer and then score before cooking - let me know how it goes if you give it a try. At least if it doesn't work out you can just call it granola and crumble it up in a jar!!

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  6. I must confess, Laura. I'm more of a marmalade person. I love my homemade, lemon, lime and ginger, marmalade. Also Kumquat! Have you ever tasted pineapple jam? That's quite original, as well. It all came undone, when I had to give up bread though. I still make small batches for my family to enjoy.

    This recipe looks so simple to make, and easy to grab a snack on the run. So I'll give it a try, for my family. :)

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    1. I've never had pineapple jam Chris, we don't get much in the way of 'excess' pineapples down here in the colder climes.
      The muesli balls are delicious with marmalade, in fact I think it's my favourite variation. Do you still eat oats? You could give it a try and replace the flour with ground up oats or a flour that is suitable for you.
      Hope the family enjoys them .
      Cheers,
      Laura

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  7. I think I may be addicted to making jam and chutney :-/ I know it's not the healthiest way to preserve fruit but I give a lot as gifts. I use it in cooking too- I often use it instead of honey or syrup in granola.

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