Easy Morning Muesli – Detoxinista

Meusli is a delicious homemade cereal, made with simple pantry ingredients. You can assemble it in no time, for a healthy & affordable alternative to the store-bought version!

What is muesli? It’s an uncooked breakfast cereal, commonly made with rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. It was invented in Switzerland by Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who served this special cereal at his health clinic. (That’s why you’ll also hear it sometimes called Bircher Muesli or Swiss Muesli.)

Typically, muesli is served cold, with almond milk or yogurt. But you can also soak it in the fridge for a softer texture, similar to overnight oats.

Why You’ll Love It

• It’s easy to make. You literally just stir ingredients together, so there’s no need to turn on the oven or clean a baking sheet later!
• It’s low in sugar. Unlike granola, muesli is made with no added sugar. The only sweetness added is from dried fruit.
• It’s oil-free. Since there’s no cooking, you don’t need to add any oil to help make it crispy. It’s perfect for those following a whole foods plant based (WFPB) diet.
• It’s high in resistant starch. Did you know that raw oats have more resistant starch than cooked oats? That resistant starch may help to improve insulin sensitivity and help keep you feeling full.
• It’s filling. Whole grains, nuts, and raisins are all a good source of fiber, so this breakfast will leave you feeling satiated for hours.

Plus, it’s easy to eat! Just pour it into a bowl, and add your favorite milk or yogurt, and fresh fruit on top.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What’s in muesli? 

• Rolled oats
• Hemp hearts
• Ground flax seed
• Chopped nuts
• Dried fruit

Traditional muesli is also usually made with wheat bran or wheat germ, but I’ve omitted that in this recipe to keep it gluten-free.

I’ve also kept it purposefully simple, so you won’t be overwhelmed by a long ingredient list, but you can add even more components to your homemade mix, depending on what you have on hand.

Note: If you need a gluten-free recipe, make sure you choose oatmeal is that is labeled “certified gluten free” to avoid any cross-contamination that may occur during processing.

You can also add shredded coconut, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried cherries or apricots, chia seeds, and/or pumpkin seeds (pepitas) for even more texture and nutrition. Feel free to get creative with it!

Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, if you’d like to add some extra flavor, too.

How to Make Muesli

1. Stir the dry ingredients together.
2. Transfer the dry mixture to a storage jar and store in the fridge for the best shelf life.
3. Enjoy!

Since nuts and seeds can go rancid easily, I recommend storing this mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for the best shelf life and flavor. However, if you are going to consume it within a week, it should also be fine stored at room temperature.

I typically make 4 cups at a time, which lasts about 1 week in our home, but you can double or triple the recipe, as needed.

How to Serve It

Add a scoop of muesli to a bowl and serve it with plain yogurt for extra protein, or your favorite milk. I usually consider a 1/2 cup a serving, but you can adjust this based on your appetite.

Serve with oat milk, cashew milk, or almond milk, to keep it dairy-free & vegan.

Top it with freshly chopped apple for some added crunch (highly recommend!) or fresh berries, like raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I toast the oats? Muesli is typically a “raw” cereal, with no cooked components, but if you prefer the flavor of toasted oats, you can spread the oats on a large baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350ºF, or until the oats look golden and smell fragrant.

If you prefer a crunchy cereal, be sure to try my healthy granola recipe as an alternative.

Is this recipe gluten-free? It is when you use gluten-free oats, and avoid adding in other gluten-containing grains like barley or rye. Oats can be exposed to cross-contamination during processing, so be sure to look for a “certified gluten-free” label, if you need to.

Can I make it nut-free? Of course! Omit the almonds and replace them with another crunchy seed, like sunflower seeds, if you’d like. You could also add chia seeds for extra crunch.

If you try this muesli recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it!