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Stir together a batch of this no-bake5-minute Swiss muesli recipe for an easy and healthy breakfast or snack that’s ready when you need it! The muesliis full of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and other filling ingredients that will keep you and your family going without weighing you down.
Table of Contents
- What is Muesli?
- Bircher Muesli
- Ingredients
- How to Make Muesli
- Storage
- How to Eat Muesli
- Homemade Muesli Recipe Variations
- Tips for the Best Muesli Recipe
- 5-Minute Swiss Muesli Recipe Recipe
After eating my way through a few bags of store-bought Muesli, I was suddenly dismayed when, on one of my shopping trips, my grocery store was sold out of the stuff! I stood there for a moment looking at the empty spot on the shelf, and then a light bulb went off. Instead of buying a (not-so-cheap) bag of the stuff, why couldn’t I just make my own? I purchased all of the ingredients that go into my favorite muesli and stirred it together at home for a much more affordable version!
What is Muesli?
Muesli is a breakfast or brunch dish that’s popular in Switzerland and Germany, consisting of raw rolled oats and other ingredients like fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts. It’s often mixed with milk, soy milk, almond milk, yogurt, or even fruit juice for a light and satisfying way to start the day.
Bircher Muesli
Bircher muesli is basically the original “overnight oats.” Invented by a Swiss physician around 1900, the dish was initially developed for hospital patients. It’s now widely enjoyed in Switzerland (and elsewhere) for breakfast, and as a supper called Birchermüesli complet: muesli withCafé complet(milk coffee, accompanied with bread, butter, and jam (Butterbrot)).
Bircher muesli is made by taking a dry muesli recipe (such as the one shown here) and soaking it in cream, milk, lemon juice, or other fruit juice. Once the ingredients soften and come together in the liquid, the Bircher muesli (or “Swiss oatmeal”) is ready to enjoy!
Muesli vs. Granola
While muesli and granola both contain grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, the main difference is that muesli is raw, while granola is baked with a sweetener and an oil. Since muesli does not include the extra sugar and fat that’s required for a batch of granola, it’s a healthier way to incorporate these nutritious ingredients into your diet. Muesli is also easier and faster to prepare, because there’s no baking necessary!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a batch of our favorite muesli cereal. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Oats: a great source of whole grains. Look for rolled oats (also called “old fashioned oats”).
- Wheat germ: a great source of vegetable proteins, along with fiber andhealthyfats.
- Raw sliced almonds: for a nice, nutty crunch, as well as healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E.
- Raw sunflower seeds or roasted, salted pumpkin seeds: adds a good crunch and nutritional benefits like zinc and selenium, which are great for supporting the immune system.
- Dried cranberries or raisins:for sweet flavor and soft, chewy texture.
- Chopped dates: or substitute with other dried fruit like cherries or apricots.
How to Make Muesli
As mentioned above, this is hardly a recipe at all! There’s no baking required, so you’re really just stirring together a handful of delicious ingredients.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
- Package in airtight containers or serve immediately!
Storage
Store the muesli cereal in an airtight container at room temperature (such as in the pantry) for up to 1 month, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
How to Eat Muesli
This Swiss muesli recipe is so versatile! My favorite way to enjoy it is just like a regular bowl of cereal with a pour of milk over top. The oats get a bit soft and chewy, while I still get the crunch of the nuts and the sweetness from the fruit. It’s a great vegan or vegetarian meal when paired with a non-dairy milk.
For even more sweet, healthy flavor, add fresh berries or sliced banana just before serving.
Make Bircher Muesli Overnight
Many folks like to prepare a muesli recipe overnight by combining the muesli with yogurt or milk, covering, and refrigerating until the morning. Soaking the oats and other ingredients allows them to soften, plump up, and absorb the liquid. You can eat the overnight muesli cold, straight from the refrigerator, or you can warm it in a bowl in the microwave.This soaked version of muesli is called Bircher Muesli.
No matter how you choose to enjoy it, muesli is a nourishing bowl of goodness and a healthy breakfast to start your day! The oats and the wheat germ, combined with the nuts, seeds, and fruit, provide dietary fiber, which helps in fighting bad cholesterol and digestion problems, as well as vitamins, protein, omega 3 fatty acids, and minerals!
How do you roast oats for muesli?
As noted above, a traditional muesli is raw — so the oats and other ingredients are not toasted or roasted at all. That said, when you’re preparing your own muesli recipe at home, you can feel free to roast the oats if that’s your preference!
To roast oats for muesli, spread the raw oats on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake in a 350°F oven for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow the oats to cool before combining with the rest of the ingredients.
Homemade Muesli Recipe Variations
- Add warm spices to your muesli, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cardamom, ginger, cloves or allspice. You can take a shortcut and use a seasoning blend like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, too.
- For a gluten-free recipe, check to make sure that you’re using certified gluten-free oats.
- You can use any type of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit that you love. Try swapping out the almonds for pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, or walnuts; use raisins, golden raisins, or dried currants, instead of cranberries; try chopped dried apricot instead of dates; or use sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds instead of the sunflower seeds.
- Coconut flakes are a delicious addition to the basic muesli recipe!
- Add fresh fruit like blueberries, fresh currants, sliced strawberries, or diced apple to your Bircher muesli just before serving.
- When I have leftover cranberry sauce in my refrigerator, I love to combine yogurt, muesli and the cranberry sauce together for a true treat!
Tips for the Best Muesli Recipe
- Use whole grain rolled oats (also called “old fashioned oats”) instead of steel-cut oats or quick-cooking oats. The quick oats have a tendency to turn to mush when soaked, while the steel-cut oats will be too hard and crunchy to eat raw.
- I love a touch of salty crunch in my muesli recipe, so I use roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas)instead of raw sunflower seeds. They add the perfect contrast to the sweet, chewy fruit!
- Prepare a muesli recipe overnight (also called Bircher muesli) by stirring together muesli and milk or yogurt in the evening. Keep the bowl covered and refrigerated while you sleep, and then wake up to a ready-made breakfast! You can warm the muesli in the microwave or enjoy it straight from the fridge.
- For a touch of sweetness, drizzle a bowl of muesli with maple syrup or honey just before serving.
- This muesli is also a great warm breakfast when it’s cold outside. Just cook it with milk exactly like you would a regular bowl of oatmeal. This version is simply more interesting than the plain stuff!
More Recipes with Oats
Homemade Granola
2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins
Baked Oatmeal with Almonds and Berries
55 minutes mins
5-Minute Swiss Muesli Recipe
5 from 8 votes
Prep: 5 minutes minutes
Total: 5 minutes minutes
Servings 18 servings
Calories 95 kcal
A healthy, hearty, delicious breakfast is ready in 5 minutes — no baking required!
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats ("rolled oats")
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup raw sliced almonds
- ½ cup raw sunflower seeds or roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- ½ cup chopped dates
Instructions
In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use whole grain rolled oats (also called “old fashioned oats”) instead of steel-cut oats or quick-cooking oats. The quick oats have a tendency to turn to mush when soaked, while the steel-cut oats will be too hard and crunchy to eat raw.
- I love a touch of salty crunch in my muesli recipe, so I use roasted, salted pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas)instead of raw sunflower seeds. They add the perfect contrast to the sweet, chewy fruit!
- Prepare a muesli recipe overnight (also called Bircher muesli) by stirring together muesli and milk or yogurt in the evening. Keep the bowl covered and refrigerated while you sleep, and then wake up to a ready-made breakfast! You can warm the muesli in the microwave or enjoy it straight from the fridge.
- For a touch of sweetness, drizzle a bowl of muesli with maple syrup or honey just before serving.
- This muesli is also a great warm breakfast when it’s cold outside. Just cook it with milk exactly like you would a regular bowl of oatmeal. This version is simply more interesting than the plain stuff!
- This recipe yields a total of 4 ½ cups of muesli. Nutrition facts are for a serving size of ¼ cup.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 cupCalories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
Keyword: bircher muesli, muesli, muesli recipe, swiss muesli
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: European
Author: Blair Lonergan
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This post was originally published in July, 2014. It was updated in January, 2019.
