Easy Bircher Muesli Recipe: The Original Overnight Oats

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Bircher muesli is the original overnight oats. Kick start your day with this quick, easy, yet healthy and wholesome bircher muesli recipe. Prepare it the night before, put it together in the morning and eat on the run. It is so simple and adaptable!

Bircher muesli is essentially rolled oats soaked in 100% fruit juice (or milk) overnight, then mixed with yoghurt, fruit and nuts. Some extras like vanilla, maple syrup, honey, coconut or cacao, can be added if you’re feeling fancy.

This recipe brings me back to my childhood. When my mum discovered a bircher muesli recipe it felt like we ate it every second morning for breakfast. If we had visitors this is what she served for breakfast. With four children I’m sure bircher muesli was just a quick way to feed us a healthy, wholesome breakfast that kept our bellies full for longer.

What ingredients go into bircher muesli?

Bircher muesli is so versatile. I could almost guarantee you will have some ingredients in the fridge and pantry to make a variation of it. The essentials are:

• Rolled Oats – To prevent the bircher muesli being too soggy use rolled oats instead of quick oats.
• Fruit Juice – I prefer orange juice or apple juice. But I have made it with other juices, such as cranberry juice. Some people even use milk.
• Yoghurt – Plain yoghurt is best!
• Fruit – Grated apple is a must, but any fruit can be used. Mix in your favourites, fresh or dried. I personally love adding cranberries or sultanas, along with the fresh fruit, to provide a variety of textures.
• Nuts – Add your favourites. Flaked almonds, hazelnuts, crushed walnuts. You can also add seeds like pepitas, chia, or linseed.
• Extras – If your feeling fancy add some other toppings like honey, maple syrup, shredded coconut, chocolate chips or cinnamon. The list is endless!

One bonus about this bircher muesli recipe is it can be altered to accomodate literally every food intolerance. Needing gluten free, buy gluten free oats. For vegans or dairy-free switch out the yoghurt for dairy-free coconut yoghurt. Omit the nuts for those with nut allergies.

How to make bircher muesli?

Making bircher muesli is simple and can be made the night before. I sometimes like to split it up into mason jars to make transport easy.

Soak the rolled oats in the fruit juice overnight. In the morning add plain yogurt. Grate apple and drizzle a little lemon juice over it to help prevent it browning. Add the apple to the bircher muesli mix. Dice other fruit, such as banana and orange, and mix it through. Don’t forget to include some nuts for added crunch factor!

Then add any extras such as honey, vanilla, dried fruit (eg. sultanas, cranberries, etc), coconut, or cinnamon.

Enjoy cold or at room temperature. It can be kept covered in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days.

FAQ

Do you have to soak the oats overnight? No. But soaking the oats for at least 30 minutes will help soften them. Overnight is best though. You can use quick oats if wanting to soak for a short time.

What is the difference between normal muesli and bircher muesli? Normal muesli is like granola. It is not soaked overnight and instead added to yoghurt or with some milk and eaten straight away.

Can you eat bircher muesli warm? Yes. Typically it is enjoyed cold, however if preferred it can be warmed in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

What is the difference between Bircher Muesli and Overnight Oats? Overnight Oats are made predominately with oats and sometimes have toppings such as nut butter, cocoa, etc. While the Original Bircher Muesli has less oats and more fruit (such as apple, blueberries, etc). Overnight Oats are usually more dense, while Bircher Muesli is supposed to be fresh and light.

Is bircher muesli good for you? Yes. Bircher muesli is packed full of fruit. We all know that whole-foods and particularly fresh fruit and vegetables are good for us. Oats are full of fibre and other vitamins and minerals. Whole oats are also low-GI, which helps regulate blood-sugar levels and keeps us fuller for longer. The addition of yoghurt and nuts, also provides this meal with some protein content.

What is the origin of bircher muesli? Bircher muesli came about in the early 1900’s by a Swiss doctor, Maximilian Bircher-Benner. He had the opinion that a good diet and exercise played an integral role in healing his ill patients.

Hope you enjoy creating and eating this easy, wholesome breakfast. Share your amazing variations of this recipe with us!