Homemade Bircher Muesli
This bircher muesli recipe is so delicious! It's a healthy way to start the day. You'll need old-fashioned oats, almond butter, applesauce, apples and nuts.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
Bircher muesli is a healthy make-ahead breakfast that tastes like a treat. Itโs basically overnight oats with fresh apple and applesauce, oats, raisins, nuts, and nut butter. Or, think of it as a special muesli with a wonderful apple flavor.
Start your day with a hearty bowl of Bircher muesli for stable energy levels! Iโve been perfecting this recipe since I figured out how to make overnight oats tasty, and Iโm confident youโll love it.
Bircher Muesli History
Bircher muesli was created in the early 1900s by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner. He claimed to have cured his own jaundice by eating raw apples, and encouraged his patients to eat raw fruit and vegetables to cure their ailments.
Bircher-Bennerโs original recipe was inspired by a โstrange dishโ that he and his wife were served while hiking in the Swiss alps. His recipe called for lots of fresh apple with a small amount of oats, lemon juice, nuts, cream and honey.ย He served it to his patients as a healthy appetizer before most meals.
His concept reminds me of my momโs advice when I was little. When I complained that I was hungry before dinner, she always told me to eat an apple!
The Best Bircher Muesli
My version resembles my overnight oats recipe more than Bircherโs original. My recipe calls for more oats, plus it uses almond milk instead of cream. I add a spoonful of almond butter to achieve a rich, creamy texture. Iโd like to think that Bircher would approve.
I also added a couple of tablespoons of homemade applesauce for extra apple flavor. Store-bought applesauce will work well, but homemade takes this recipe to the next level. Itโs a nice snack to have around, too.
My Bircher muesli is thick and satisfying. Itโs a breakfast I look forward to in the mornings, and it keeps me going until lunchtime.
Watch How to Make Bircher Muesli
Please let me know how you like it in the comments! And if youโre craving an equally wholesome but warm apple breakfast, donโt miss my apple steel-cut oatmeal.
Homemade Bircher Muesli
This bircher muesli recipe is so delicious! Itโs a healthy way to start the day. Recipe yields 1 serving; I recommend making these oats in multiples of 2 in order to use up 1 apple while making and then 1 more apple for serving.
Ingredients
- โ cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 tablespoon raisins or dried cranberries or cherries
- ยผ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons homemade applesauce or store-bought applesauce
- โ cup milk of choice (I used almond milk), plus extra for serving (optional)
- 1 medium Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apple, preferably organic
- Chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds
- Drizzle of honey or maple syrup, if desired
Instructions
- In a jar or bowl (a 14-ounce working jar or 1-pint mason jar is perfect), combine the oats, raisins, cinnamon, nut butter and applesauce. Stir to combine. Then add the milk and stir to combine.
- Grate half of the apple, then stir the grated apple into the oatmeal (if youโre making multiple jars, just use 1 grated apple for 2 jars, and so on).
- Place the lid on the jar and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 5 days. When youโre ready to serve, chop the remaining ยฝ apple into matchsticks. Top the oatmeal with the fresh apple, a splash of milk and/or a drizzle of honey (both optional). Enjoy chilled.
Notes
Make it gluten free: Use certified gluten-free oats.
Make it vegan: Choose one of the dairy-free milk options listed above. If adding additional sweetener, use maple syrup instead of honey.
Make it nut free: Omit the nut butter or replace it with sunbutter. Omit the nuts on top, or use sunflower seeds or pepitas instead.
Warm it up: Overnight oats are typically served chilled. However, if you prefer warm oats, you can heat them in the microwave before topping with fresh apple. Just use a microwave-safe jar and stir frequently while youโre warming them up. Since the oats are so thick, Iโm not sure this would work well on the stovetop, but you could give it a try.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionistโs advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
This turned out super tasty! I used soy milk and added some pepitas for extra protein. The granny smith apples add a nice sweet tartness to brighten up the oats. Iโve tried a few of the recipes from this website and they always turn out great!