Step up your oatmeal game with Bircher Muesli, the original overnight oats! Made with whole oats, milk, yogurt, grated apple, and nuts, this traditional Swiss breakfast is a delicious and nutritious lifesaver in the morning! The perfect big batch overnight oats recipe for the whole family or easy meal prep.
I was first introduced to the beauty of bircher muesli at a brunch-themed recipe swap. My friend, Alison, brought “Swiss Oats n’ Fruit” from the Lickety-Split Meals cookbook by Zonya Foco, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
You simply throw everything together the night before, and the oats are ready when you wake up, which is super convenient for us busy folks! Keep reading to learn all about this healthy and hearty classic Swiss breakfast!
What is Bircher Muesli?
Bircher muesli (pronounced “MEWZ- LEE”) is a Swiss twist on breakfast cereal. It’s named after Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a Swiss physician who created it in the late 19th century.
In a nutshell, this Swiss oatmeal starts with uncooked oats soaked overnight in milk or yogurt. But here’s the fun part: grated apples are often added for succulent sweetness, while nuts and seeds get thrown in for craveable crunch! The variation in texture makes the perfect overnight oats!
Bircher muesli vs regular muesli
Bircher muesli and regular muesli are considered healthy and filling breakfast options, as they’re made with the same core ingredients (rolled oats, fruit, nuts, and seeds). However, only Bircher muesli fully embraces the overnight soaking step.
As a result, Bircher muesli is creamier with a softer texture. Plus, the grated apple adds a burst of sweet-tart fruity flavor that you won't typically find in regular muesli. I use ground flaxseed instead of whole seeds for better digestion. That said, if you want a more indulgent and luxurious breakfast, Bircher muesli is your best bet!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy to make with wholesome ingredients. Preparing the oats the night before is a breeze, and waking up to a ready-to-eat breakfast packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats is a great way to start the day.
- Large batch overnight oats. It's the perfect big-batch overnight oats recipe the whole family can enjoy.
- Delicious enjoyed warm or cold. Cold Swiss oatmeal is excellent on a hot summer day when fruits are in season, but you can also heat it if you like.
- Highly customizable. As with any overnight oatmeal recipe, you can customize overnight muesli with your favorite fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices.
Ingredients you'll need
- Whole oats – The base of traditional Bircher muesli is rolled oats (or “old-fashioned oats), but you can also use quick-cooking oats if that’s what you have.
- Unsweetened almond milk – I typically make overnight oats with almond milk, as it has fewer calories and is a more macro-friendly option, but you can use any type of non-dairy milk. However, stick with regular whole milk or cream for true Bircher-style muesli.
- Greek yogurt – Compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt results in a thicker, creamier consistency packed with significantly more protein.
- Grated apple – It adds natural sweetness and a pleasant fruity flavor while making the muesli softer and more moist.
- Maple syrup – The flavor and sweetness of maple syrup complement the other ingredients, but you can also use agave nectar, date syrup, honey, or Stevia.
- Golden flaxseed – Flaxseed becomes slightly gelatinous when soaked, contributing to the oatmeal’s thickness and creaminess. It also boosts the fiber content.
- Chopped nuts – You can use walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, or any nut you like. Seeds, such as sunflower or pepitas, also work.
- Cinnamon – It adds a touch of cozy, warming flavor.
- Salt – It enhances the natural sweetness of the ingredients for a more well-rounded final flavor.
- Fruit (for serving) – Use any fresh fruit or berries. Dried fruit is also an option, but you only need about ½ cup total.
How to make bircher muesli
Step 1: Combine ingredients. Stir the oats, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, grated apple, nuts, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt in a large non-reactive bowl.
Step 2: Soak the oats overnight. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge overnight.
Step 3: Add fruit and serve. In the morning, grab the bowl from the fridge, gently stir in fresh or dried fruit, and enjoy!
Recipe tips
- Modifying the serving size. This recipe makes 4 large servings, but you can always downsize it to a single serving.
- Minimum muesli soaking time. Soaking the oats in milk/yogurt for at least 4 hours or overnight is ideal so the oats have enough time to absorb the moisture and tenderize, resulting in maximum creaminess.
- Adjusting the thickness. If your muesli is too thick in the morning, gradually stir in more milk until your preferred consistency is reached.
- Adjusting the sweetness. Consider waiting until the morning to add the maple syrup (or your choice of sweetener), as you may find the grated apple provides plenty of sweet flavor, and you won’t need to add much more, if any.
Variations
- Switch up the fresh fruit. Grated apples are a classic choice for Bircher muesli, but feel free to incorporate other grated or chopped fresh fruits, such as bananas, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, kiwi, pears, peaches, or raspberries.
- Boost the protein content. Add a scoop of protein powder, or try adding egg whites. Check out these easy protein overnight oats to learn more about adding protein powder, and these protein oats for more info on adding egg whites.
- Have fun with flavor. There’s plenty of room to personalize by adding a dash of vanilla extract, a spoonful of your favorite nut butter for added richness and healthy fats, or other warming spices, such as apple or pumpkin pie spice.
- Get creative with toppings. Try shredded coconut, chopped dates, golden raisins, dried mango, macadamia nuts, pistachios, mini dark chocolate chips, a dollop of whipped coconut cream, and so on -there are no rules!
Storing
Muesli soaked overnight is best enjoyed first thing in the morning. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, and add fresh toppings right before eating. Do not freeze.
FAQs
For the most part, bircher muesli and overnight oats are the same culinary concept, except Bircher muesli refers to soaked oats with grated apples rooted explicitly in Swiss heritage. In contrast, overnight oats refer to the general method of soaking oats in liquid overnight.
While muesli is inherently gluten-free, cross-contamination can occur during processing. So to ensure a safe dining experience, you must use certified gluten-free oats and ensure the rest of the ingredients are also gluten-free.
Sure! If you prefer a hot breakfast, grab your muesli from the fridge in the morning and heat it in the microwave for 45-60 seconds, stirring halfway through. Or, heat the oats in a saucepan over medium heat.
More must-try overnight oats flavors
- Biscoff Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
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Bircher Muesli {Swiss Oats with Fruit}
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats you can also use quick cook oats
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk you can also use regular milk, or non-dairy milk alternative of choice
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt for added creaminess and a protein boost
- 1 apple grated
- 2 T real maple syrup other delicious options are honey, or 1 -2 packets of granulated stevia
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, or slivered almonds are also great here
- 1 tablespoon ground golden flaxseed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups fresh blueberries or any variety of fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, apples, cherries, kiwi, raspberries, etc. Dried fruit is great here,too, but you would use much less (about ½ cup dried fruit)
Instructions
- Using a box grater, finely grate the apple.
- The night before (or at least 4 hours in advance): Stir oats, milk, yogurt, grated apple, maple syrup, nuts, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl and allow to soak in the refrigerator overnight, covered.
- In the morning: Add fresh fruit and gently stir.
Notes
- Adjusting the thickness. If your muesli is too thick in the morning, gradually stir in more milk until your preferred consistency is reached.
- Adjusting the sweetness. Consider waiting until the morning to add the maple syrup (or your choice of sweetener), as you may find the grated apple provides plenty of sweet flavor, and you won’t need to add much more, if any.
Nutrition
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Angie A
Yum Amee! This looks fabulous!