Easy Bircher Muesli Recipe | Cooking with Nana Ling

This traditional Bircher muesli recipe delivers a cafe-style breakfast that’s packed with goodness and flavor.

It’s made the night before – so you can start the day with something fancier than cereal or toast!

You can even make it in a jar for an on-the-go breakfast.

What is Bircher muesli?

Bircher muesli is a twist on overnight oats, combining rolled oats with juice (often apple juice), yogurt (or sometimes milk), fruit (often grated apple), and nuts.

There are many variations, and it’s a popular breakfast option across Europe and many other parts of the world – including here in Australia.

Who invented it?

Bircher muesli was invented by the Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a pioneer of the raw food movement.

He was known in the medical profession as a radical because he promoted exercise, spiritual peace, and diet as a way to well-being, rather than just prescribing medication.

To encourage patients to eat more raw fruit, he invented this roast-based recipe that we still love and enjoy today.

My recipe closely follows the original Swiss recipe but is so adaptable and versatile.

Ingredients for Bircher muesli

To prepare this version of Bircher Muesli you will need:

• traditional oatmeal
• Apple
• slivers of almonds
• greek yogurt
• Apple, orange or other fruit juice
• extra fruit, coconut flakes or slivers of almonds for garnish.

This recipe makes enough for two servings.

You can find the ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post.

If you need additional servings, you can simply multiply the ingredients.

And if it’s after breakfast for one, just halve the amounts.

How to make Bircher muesli

Start by peeling and grating the apple.

Add the grated apple to the oatmeal in a mixing bowl.

Place the almonds, juice and yoghurt in the mixing bowl and stir.

Place covered in the fridge overnight.

Divide between bowls the next morning and garnish with your choice of fruit, coconut flakes, or slivers of almonds.

Here I topped it with coconut flakes, extra slivers of almonds, cherries, peach slices and grapes.

Recipe variations and substitutions

This recipe is the way I enjoy Bircher Muesli.

But there are many ways you can make this recipe your own.

• Oats – You could use pressure cook oats to reduce the rest time and make the kids cereal even easier to eat.

• Juice – I love using apple or orange juice or a combination of both, but you can use any type of juice you like. Add a little more for wetter granola or less for drier granola.

• Apple – This is an ingredient that I think is a must for Bircher muesli. So if you like other fruits, just add them as a topping.

• yogurt – You could use coconut yogurt to make the granola vegan. You could also try sweetened yogurt, but I think the apple and juice add enough sweetness to the granola. And Greek Yoghurt seems to create an extra creamy Bircher muesli.

• slivers of almonds – Swap these out for other nuts or seeds you like!

• toppings – My favorite here is coconut flakes, cherries, peach slices and a few extra slivers of almonds. But you can go crazy here and add whatever seasonal fruit and seeds or nuts you have on hand.

Frequently asked questions about recipes

Q. Do I really have to wait overnight for them to finish?

Bircher muesli tastes best when left overnight. You could leave it for a few hours in a pinch, although in that case using quick-cooked oats would be best.

Q. Can I use oatmeal?

I prefer it with traditional oats, but you can use rolled oats – they only need a few hours in the fridge.

Q. How long does Bircher muesli last?

It should keep for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Q. Bircher muesli vs. overnight oats – what’s the difference?

Overnight oats are similar but generally deviate further from the original Swiss Birchermüesli recipe. They can contain all sorts of things, from peanut butter to chocolate and chia.

Q. What is the difference between Bircher muesli and regular muesli?

Regular granola is served dry rather than soaked, with the liquid—often milk—added just before eating.

Q. Can you freeze Bircher muesli?

You really can! Freeze it for up to a couple of months, then place in the fridge to thaw overnight.

Q. Do you have any more breakfast recipes?

I do! Find them right here.