Bircher Muesli Recipe (2024)

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Mary Ritchie

In Switzerland, my mother-in-law always served birchermuesli for Sunday night dinner. A tradition. No maple syrup, please. Just grated apples, bananas, berries in season and yogurt. Full-fat yogurt.

G B

As a Swiss, I like the traditional, delicious, healthy version: sliced hazelnuts or sliced almonds, dash of lemon juice before serving or a little whipped cream. Oats or mix of unsweetened cereals like millet (or Bio Familia). Milk, yogurth. Sweetness should come from fruits - try it first without honey or syrup. Mix in apples quickly before they change color. Raspberries. Blueberries. Ribes. Bircher's official grater is a great souvenir from Switzerland. No need for a blender, just let sit.

Claire Duncan

I’ve never heard of this dish and I’m so glad I made it. So easy and adaptable. Perfect for warm weather climates as well. I skipped the dried fruit to avoid the sugars and added fresh blueberries instead. Nuts are clearly added for texture (this dish has nothing to do with crunchy granola). I’m going to add unsweetened coconut next time (since I have to skip the nuts due to allergies). I added Vanilla and a touch of cinnamon as well (just like making hot oatmeal). Scoop and eat!

Samantha

I make something similar and like to mix a large quantity of the dry ingredients and keep them on hand in the fridge. The night before, I put some in a bowl, add kefir and frozen fruit, and let it sit in the fridge overnight.

Sue

This IS an endlessly adaptable recipe, which is great. To that effect, don't be dissuaded by the note that full-fat yogurt is preferable here. All kinds of yogurt work well here, including low- and non-fat yogurts.

Mlynn M

I learned this recipe over 40 years ago when training with a Swiss pastry chef. The original recipe had 3 ingredients-equal parts rolled oats, grated apples (with the juice) and milk. A spoonful or two of yogurt is all you need to add active cultures, and frankly, more than that gives it a sour taste I find unappealing. I like to add a few scrapes of orange zest and top with halved seedless grapes. This is great post-surgery food, but be careful not to eat too much-very filling!

sundevilpeg

Add the nuts AFTER the soaking period. Also, pecans are a novelty nut in Europe, not commonly used for much of anything, and terribly expensive if you can even find them. Hazelnuts are traditional in , and the alternatives are either walnuts or almonds. PS If you opt for the almonds, sub almond butter for the tahini. Fabulous!

Katherine Waser

I'm 1/2 Swiss and grew up eating Birchermüesli. There are as many versions as there are people making it. For myself, I typically use: a handful of rolled oats, ~1/2 cup regular (not Greek) plain yogurt, ~1/2 grated apple, small handful of raisins, small handful of walnuts (~1/4 cup each), a good squeeze of lemon juice (this is ESSENTIAL, otherwise it's too bland.)My mom used blender; my stepmom usually added bananas and grapes. Hazelnuts are traditional. It's really up to you!

beth

Oh, this is making me dream of breakfasts in European hotels, along with the best coffee and cheeses, when the day of adventure and surprise and delights lies ahead. Curse you COVID.

CB

Tahini?? Where did that crazy idea come from????

Fritzi

"Grüessech" directly from the Swiss capital Berne: Cream instead of the milk (makes all the difference!) and do not skip the raisins, they are a MUST!

Matthew Van Houten

Mrs. Van Houten made this for her boys throughout the 60's and 70's. While the other children were enjoying Eggo's with Aunt Jemima syrup we were grinding through birchermuesli with Grade A Dark Amber Vermont maple syrup. You can also eat this hot. No dried cherries for us. Dates and raisins.

stephanie

i've made overnight oats on many occasions - my favorite is to mix bob's red mill extra thick rolled oats with mango or peach kefir. recently, i learned of bircher via "nadiya's family favorites" on tastemade channel. she makes a mango lassi bircher that looks amazing. here is the recipe in case anyone wants to further expand their bircher repertoire! https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mango_lime_lassi_bircher_13324

eleni

We’ve been making this ever since we lived in Munich and use plain “regular” yogurt, not Greek-style, so we don’t need to add milk. Either way, it’s great and when we serve it to overnight guests they always love it.

joshprzy

Very good for an easy weekday breakfast or snack. I followed the recipe pretty close with a few changes based on my diet/pantry/hatred of milk: ~3/4 cup nonfat yogurt, ~1/4 cup water, and dried cranberries instead of cherries. Had frozen berries in the freezer so thawed and topped with those. Maple syrup was very tasty as well.

Coriander

This is excellent! For times when I don’t have an apple on hand, could I use unsweetened applesauce instead?

JML

Will this work with vegan yogurt?

Celia

My recipe is oats, ground almonds (I use the food processor), dried coconut flakes, sunflower seeds and raisins. I use whatever fruit I have (often bananas and blueberries or diced apples), and use milk instead of yogurt

Jan from Toronto

I discovered Bircher Muesli on a recent Norwegian Cruise trip. They used unpeeled Granny Smith apples and green Bartlett pears cut into thin matchsticks. Lots of nearby extra nut, fruit, cottage cheese, cinnamon toppings if you wanted. I found their mixture too sweet but so good! When I got home I just adapted my diabetic overnight oats/chia & hemp seed, nuts, yogurt & milk mixture by adding grated apple & a shot of lemon juice. Tastes fantastic. Endless possibilities.

Heidi from Scotch Plains

As my Swiss mother taught me, the beauty of Birchermüesli is it's tasty, healthy, and easy to make. Coarsely grate or julienne a 1/4 apple (Granny Smith browns less quickly). Stir in ⅛ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup or less plain or vanilla yogurt, and a splash of orange juice or lemon. No need to wait an hour. Just add fruit. Keep it simple or make it colorful. Think blueberries, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and oranges. Add raisins and chopped nuts for chewiness and crunch. En Guete! Bon Appétit!

CP

Seemed like a of grated apple, but turned out great! Love having breakfast all prepped in advance for a few days!

Allie

A bit of low-sugar orange juice with the yogurt... phenomenal!

thomas

and before a day with an extra long bike ride, use whipped heavy cream mixed with the greek joghurt instead of milk. and more raisins.

amf

Bircher Muesli! Yes please! My version (serves 1): thaw frozen raspberries, mash with a dollop of peanut butter and one banana; stir in yoghurt to taste; stir in Familia muesli to taste; top with fresh blueberries.

Macro Jane in New Mexico

I make this in a dry version that stores very well for several months. I finely chop the dried fruit and nuts. When ready to serve I add some plant based milk and maybe yogurt. Grated apple is nice here also,especially if using just a bit of apple in another recipe. Sweet enough without adding anything extra.

Amy S

Amazing delicious recipe. Never made before and always wanted to. Better than sum of its parts. Used Bulgarian yogurt, dried fruit, TJs candied pecans. For serving used fresh blueberries and strawberries, toasted almonds, homemade granola (BAs Better Granola), cardamom, cinnamon, hot honey. Yum. Works great as a make your own muesli bar for friends. Have always wanted to try recipes by Yossy Arefi and this will get me to sample more of hers.

Esme

Is it necessary to grate the apples?

Julie

Sometimes I'm lazy and simply fine dice apple so try whatever works best for you.

Esme

Is it necessary to peel the apple?

Diane

No, a well-scrubbed apple will be fine. As to grating, the grated apple will add more moisture than finely chopped so the mixture may be a little drier but that's easy to adjust with more milk.

Cesaera

I NEVER peel the apples. But be sure they aren’t old as the peel can be thick and leathery. -as for grating them - it makes for a nice texture- not smooth - but uniform

Karen de Brum

Can I use steel cut oats instead of rolled oats?

Diane

I don't think so. Steel cut won't hydrate in such a short time at refrigerator temperature. You need the thin flake and surface area of rolled oats for this to work.

Hope

Made over Christmas week 2023 for Brett and Galen. Good! Added syrup (Galen and Brett) bananas and nuts

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Bircher Muesli Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between bircher muesli and overnight oats? ›

While the preparation is essentially the same, Bircher muesli contains a lot more apples than oats. Overnight oats contain mostly oats with some additional ingredients. What is Bircher muesli made of? The original Bircher muesli recipe contains apples, oats, milk, chopped nuts, and some lemon juice.

Is Bircher muesli good for gut health? ›

Combined with apple and banana, both high in prebiotics, feeding the gut's healthy bacteria, and heart & gut-supporting dietary fibre makes this an excellent breakfast or post-training recovery option for boosting gut-health and immune function.

How many days can you keep bircher muesli? ›

This is where Bircher muesli comes into its own as it is prepared the night (or several nights) before. It has the bonus of being delicious and nutritious, easily transported, eaten on the go, and (if you have not added fresh fruit other than the apple) can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Why is Bircher muesli called Bircher? ›

In America you can find a version call “overnight oats” that is similar, but it's not quite the same as a true Bircher Muesli. Bircher-Benner Muesli was named after Dr. Maximillian Bircher-Benner, a Swiss physician. He “found” it while on a hike with his wife in the southern Swiss Alps in the 1900s.

Which is healthier oatmeal or overnight oats? ›

Overnight oats are the more nutritious option, but that doesn't mean that this meal is for everyone.

Which rolled oats are best for overnight oats? ›

Old-fashioned rolled oats.

Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best choice for overnight oats. They soak up the liquid overnight, leaving you with a creamy (but not mushy) texture. Save steel-cut and quick-cooking oats for another time. Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy.

Does Bircher muesli lower cholesterol? ›

Bircher muesli is a traditional Swiss recipe developed around 1900 by Dr Max Bircher-Benner. It is a moist muesli based on rolled oats soaked usually overnight with fruit and nuts added. Oats contain 'soluble' fibre which helps lower the blood cholesterol level.

Can you eat Bircher muesli raw? ›

Bircher muesli is an uncooked mixture of oats, nuts, seeds, grains, fruit which is soaked in either milk, fruit juice or yogurt and eaten raw.

How do the Swiss eat muesli? ›

In Switzerland, it is also consumed for supper as Birchermüesli complet – muesli with Café complet (milk coffee, accompanied by Butterbrot (bread, butter and jam)). In addition to being prepared raw, muesli can be toasted.

Is Birchermüesli high in sugar? ›

Carman's Natural Bircher Muesli has 16.1g sugar per 100g. Alternative: Try buying a brand that is fruit free and unsweetened, and add in some fresh fruit yourself.

Can you eat Birchermüesli without soaking? ›

Both. It's just a matter of taste and convenience what you prefer. The long-soak gives an overall softer, mellower result and requires a minimum of planning. The overnight-soaked version may be more digestible, but this largely personal, not necessarily a general rule.

Why is everyone obsessed with overnight oats? ›

Overnight oats is a true power breakfast that provides plenty of strength and energy. This is because of its high natural protein and fiber content that stimulate metabolism. They're complex carbohydrates break down slowly and keep you full for longer.

Are overnight oats better than muesli? ›

Both options offer unique health benefits and can be part of a balanced and joyful breakfast routine. Oats provide an excellent source of fiber and energy, while muesli adds variety with a mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits that offer both nutritional values.

Which is better oats or muesli? ›

Oats is rich in key nutrients, protein and fibre, but muesli has comparatively higher protein and nutrient due to presence of additional ingredients in it. But unlike oats, muesli also has added sugar which somehow eliminates all the good properties.

What are the benefits of Bircher muesli? ›

Why is Bircher so good for me?
  • Slow-digesting oats which are low GI. ...
  • Vitamin C from the addition of seasonal fruits.
  • Dietary fibre from the oats and the addition of nuts and fruit (especially if skins are left on the fruit)
  • Calcium from the addition of milk or yoghurt.

What is bircher muesli made of? ›

Essentially oats soaked in fruit juice, or milk, with nuts and fruit, Bircher muesli has a long history, and enough versions floating around to prove it. The original was created in the early 1900s by Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a Swiss doctor.

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