Healthy Bircher Muesli. Here's an easy to make version of the classic traditional overnight oats recipe. A perfect relaxing and nutritious start to the day!
This is my version of the classic Swiss recipe, Bircher Muesli.
Bircher Muesli has been around since 1900 when it was devloped by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Brenner for his patients.
He believed it could cure their ailments and encouraged the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables.
His original recipe was inspired by a “strange dish” that he and his wife themselves had while hiking in the Swiss alps.
This dish contained lots of fresh apple, with a small amount of oats, lemon juice, nuts, cream and honey.
Bircher-Brenner's creation has since become a beloved breakfast staple worldwide.
This healthy muesli is basically overnight oats with all the goodness of sultanas, apple, apple juice, almonds and honey, but without the cream!
These nutritious ingredients are soaked in milk and Greek yogurt, making preparation really easy.
When you wake up in the morning this delicious and wholesome breakfast is already waiting for you in the fridge.
All that’s needed before you dig in is to add some freshly chopped fruit.
This combination creates a refreshing and energizing start to your day.
There's just so much to say that is good about this Bircher muesli.
Its extremely filling and keeps you going until lunchtime.
It provides nearly one quarter of your daily recommended dietary fibre and 30% of the protein you need.
Once you've topped your bowl with fruits and berries you're well on the way towards your recommended 5 a day portions of fruits and veggies!
So you can enjoy a healthy, ready-to-eat breakfast that’s both healthy and convenient!
Your Bircher Mueli is easily transportable too.
It’s ideal as a pre-made breakfast to enjoy right after your gym workout.
You can also take it to work if you’re not an early breakfast person.
This makes it perfect for those busy mornings when you’re on the go.
Plus, it doesn’t need a stove or a microwave to heat it up, making it even more convenient. Enjoy a nutritious and hassle-free meal wherever you are!
Jump to:
👪 Why You Should Make Healthy Bircher Muesli
- Rich in Essential Nutrients: Healthy Bircher Muesli provides you with a balanced combination of low GI carbs, protein, fibre and healthy fats.
- Packed with Goodness: The ingredients contained in bircher like oats, apple, sultanas and almonds are good for heart health, provide slow energy release, control blood sugar levels and contain iron.
- Aid Digestion: Soaking the oats overnight makes them easier to digest.
- Convenient and Easy: No cooking is required to prepare bircher muesli. It's a perfect grab and go breakfast.
- Easily customisable: Add your own preferred choice of extra fruits, nuts and sweetener.
🥘 Ingredients
- Porridge Oats - use rolled oats or basic porridge oats. Other types of oats may mean your bircher muesli will be gloopy.
- Apple - you can pretty much use any type of apple you wish. I use golden delicious as I like the natural sweetness it adds to the recipe.
- Sultanas - as per the apple I like to use these to add a little more sweetness.
- Skimmed Milk - I use skimmed milk for a healthier option but you can use whole milk or dairy-free.
- No Fat Greek Yogurt - plain fat free yogurt is also fine to use.
- Apple Juice - I use unsweetened, sugar free and not from concentrate. Again this helps add sweetness and flavour to the recipe.
- Flaked Almonds - I like these for their added crunch. You could use sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds too.
- Runny Honey - honey is great for a natural sweetness or use maple syrup instead.
- Cinnamon - you can omit this if you want to but I love the aroma it gives the recipe.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Step By Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this easy healthy bircher muesli recipe:
- Mix everything together well in a medium sized bowl / casserole dish; cover and put in the fridge overnight.
- In the morning, when ready to serve, divide the muesli between two cereal bowls or portable containers and top with your own desired chosen toppings.
🍽 Equipment
For This Healthy Bircher Muesli Recipe You May Need….
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through, then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
This is the measuring jug I use for all my recipes.
Great value for money it's high quality and easy to use.
A perfect measuring jug, easy to clean and suitable for oven and microwave use too!
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💭 FAQ's
How Many Calories Does Bircher Muesli Have?
There are only 394 calories per serving in this healthy version.
Can Bircher Muesli Help Me Loose Weight?
As part of a calorie controlled diet and with a regular exercise regime, eating this bircher muesli could be part of a healthy diet to aid weight loss.
Is Bircher Muesli Healthy?
Making your own bircher muesli is the only way to be sure its healthy. Otherwise you might find your bircher has added sugar and / or cream.
Can I Make My Bircher Gluten Free?
Yes. Substitute the porridge oats for gluten-free oats instead.
Can I Make This Bircher Muesli Vegan?
Yes. Substitute the milk and yogurt with dairy-free options instead and use maple syrup instead of honey.
What Toppings Can I Add?
You can use just about any fruits and nuts you like. For example banana, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, hazelnuts, pumpkins seeds and coconut.
What If My Bircher Isn't Thick Enough?
Try mixing in a tablespoon of chia seeds before you place in the fridge overnight. This should help to thicken up your muesli overnight.
How To Store Bircher Muesli?
You can keep your healthy bircher muesli in the fridge for 2-3 days.
🥣 Other Healthy Bircher Muesli Recipes You Might Also Like
So put quite simply Bircher Mueli is one great quick, healthy, versatile and filling meal.
And I mean MEAL because you really might (after tasting this amazing recipe) want to eat this for every meal!
📋 Healthy Bircher Muesli Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Ingredients
- 50 g porridge Oats
- 2 apples (I use Golden Delicious), medium sized. 1 thinly sliced and 1 finely grated
- 30 g sultanas
- 100 ml skimmed milk
- 150 ml no fat Greek yogurt
- 75 ml apple juice , unsweetened, sugar free and not from concentrate
- 20 g flaked almonds
- 1 teaspoon runny honey
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix everything together well in a medium sized bowl / casserole dish; cover and put in the fridge overnight.
- In the morning, when ready to serve, divide the muesli between two cereal bowls and top with your favourite fresh berries and slices of banana.
Nutrition
🧾 Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
⭐ Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this healthy bircher muesli recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
jmacleod
Another great recipe - almost exactly how I make it after trying it for the first time in Australia - I can vouch for its deliciousness! I use soy yoghurt and soy milk and it works just as well. Our 12-month-old also loves it too 🙂
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Thanks! I'm going to have to give soy milk a try sometime. You've inspired me! 🙂