Try stirring together a batch of this no-bake 5-Minute Swiss Muesli Recipe for an easy and healthy breakfast or snack that's ready when you need it! The muesli is full of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, and other filling ingredients that will keep you and your family going without weighing you down.
After eating my way through a few bags of store-bought Muesli, I was suddenly dismayed when, on one of my shopping trips, my grocery store was sold out of the stuff! I stood there for a moment looking at the empty spot on the shelf, and then a light bulb went off. Instead of buying a (not-so-cheap) bag of the stuff, why couldn't I just make my own? I purchased all of the ingredients that go into my favorite muesli and stirred it together at home for a much more affordable version!
What is Muesli?
Muesli is a breakfast or brunch dish that's popular in Switzerland and Germany, consisting of raw rolled oats and other ingredients like fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts. It's often mixed with milk, soy milk, almond milk, yogurt or even fruit juice for a light and satisfying way to start the day.
Muesli vs. Granola:
While muesli and granola both contain grains, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, the main difference is that muesli is raw, while granola is baked with a sweetener and an oil. Since muesli does not include the extra sugar and fat that's required for a batch of granola, it's a healthier way to incorporate these nutritious ingredients into your diet. Muesli is also easier and faster to prepare, because there's no baking necessary!
How do you make your own muesli recipe at home?
As mentioned above, this is hardly a recipe at all! There's no baking required, so you're really just stirring together a handful of delicious ingredients.
You'll need: rolled oats, wheat germ, dried cranberries (or raisins), chopped dates, sliced almonds, and raw sunflower seeds or toasted pumpkin seeds.
Combine everything in a large bowl, and your job is done!
I like to store my muesli in an airtight container in the pantry for at least a few weeks (or longer, if it lasts)! Then I have a quick, simple and hearty breakfast waiting for me on busy mornings.
What is muesli good for?
This Swiss muesli recipe is so versatile! My favorite way to enjoy it is just like a regular bowl of cereal with milk. The oats get a bit soft and chewy, while I still get the crunch of the nuts and the sweetness from the fruit.
Many folks like to prepare a muesli recipe overnight by combining the muesli with yogurt or milk, covering, and refrigerating until the morning. Soaking the oats and other ingredients allows them to soften, plump up, and absorb the liquid. You can eat the overnight muesli cold, straight from the refrigerator, or you can warm it in a bowl in the microwave.
No matter how you choose to enjoy it, muesli is a nourishing bowl of goodness and a healthy breakfast to start your day! The oats and the wheat germ, combined with the nuts, seeds, and fruit, provide dietary fiber, which helps in fighting bad cholesterol and digestion problems, as well as vitamins, protein, omega 3 and minerals!
How do you roast oats for muesli?
As noted above, a traditional muesli is raw -- so the oats and other ingredients are not toasted or roasted at all. That said, when you're preparing your own muesli recipe at home, you can feel free to roast the oats if that's your preference!
To roast oats for muesli, spread the raw oats on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow the oats to cool before combining with the rest of the ingredients.
COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS -- BASIC MUESLI RECIPE:
- You can use any type of nuts/seeds/fruit that you love. Try swapping out the almonds for pecans or walnuts; use raisins instead of cranberries; try chopped dried apricot instead of dates; or use sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds instead of the sunflower seeds.
- I love a touch of salty crunch in my muesli recipe, so I use roasted, salted pumpkin seeds instead of raw sunflower seeds. It adds the perfect contrast to the sweet, chewy fruit!
- Prepare a muesli recipe overnight by stirring together muesli and milk or yogurt in the evening. Keep the bowl covered and refrigerated while you sleep, and then wake up to a ready made breakfast! You can warm the muesli in the microwave or enjoy it straight from the fridge!
- Try adding some diced fresh fruit to your muesli just before serving. For instance, I like to top a bowl of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with muesli and diced apple. Stir it all together and you've got a lovely combination of flavors and textures!
- This muesli is also a great warm breakfast when it's cold outside. Just cook it exactly like you would a regular bowl of oatmeal. This version is simply more interesting than the plain stuff!
- When I have leftover cranberry sauce in my refrigerator, I love to combine yogurt, muesli and the cranberry sauce together for a true treat!
Other healthy breakfast recipes that you might enjoy:
- The Best Nut-Free Granola Recipe
- Pumpkin Spice Slow Cooker Oatmeal
- Cranberry Baked Oatmeal
- Healthy Apple Crisp Yogurt Parfait
5-Minute Swiss Muesli Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Old-Fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup raw sliced almonds
- ½ cup raw sunflower seeds or roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- ½ cup chopped dates
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- You can use any type of nuts/seeds/fruit that you love. Try swapping out the almonds for pecans or walnuts; use raisins instead of cranberries; try chopped dried apricot instead of dates; or use sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds instead of the sunflower seeds.
- I love a touch of salty crunch in my muesli recipe, so I use roasted, salted pumpkin seeds instead of raw sunflower seeds. It adds the perfect contrast to the sweet, chewy fruit!
- Prepare a muesli recipe overnight by stirring together muesli and milk or yogurt in the evening. Keep the bowl covered and refrigerated while you sleep, and then wake up to a ready made breakfast! You can warm the muesli in the microwave or enjoy it straight from the fridge!
- Try adding some diced fresh fruit to your muesli just before serving. For instance, I like to top a bowl of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with muesli and diced apple. Stir it all together and you've got a lovely combination of flavors and textures!
- This muesli is also a great warm breakfast when it's cold outside. Just cook it exactly like you would a regular bowl of oatmeal. This version is simply more interesting than the plain stuff!
- When I have leftover cranberry sauce in my refrigerator, I love to combine yogurt, muesli and the cranberry sauce together for a true treat!
Nutrition
This post was originally published in July, 2014. It was updated in January, 2019.
This sounds fantastic and I have everything already on hand. I'm going to try to squeeze in some time to whip a batch up this afternoon. Thanks for sharing!
That's great, Karen! I think that we have very similar kitchens (and tastes), since you already have the ingredients on hand!
This recipe sounds delicious!
I would be honored to have you hop over and share with us at Inspire Us Tuesday.
https://twolittlecavaliers.com/2014/07/inspire-us-tuesdays-diy-recipes-crafts.html
Thanks so much, Felissa! And thanks for the invite. 🙂
Looks delicious! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Blair, I cannot believe how delicious this is. We are making a determined effort to eat healthier in the new year, so when I saw this post I wanted to try it. Although honestly I had to admit I had serious doubts that any of us would like it. So I got all the ingredients on my grocery shopping trip, and made a batch. I just had to try it right then, so I made myself a very small bowl with a little milk like cereal. I was so very pleasantly surprised!! It’s delicious! And no additional sugar is needed. And very economical. The ingredients will make many batches. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes, Blair, and now we are muesli eaters! ????
Oh, yay! Isn't it great, Jean?! I love muesli too, and I think it's totally underrated! 🙂 So glad that you enjoyed it!
Can you freeze muesli?
Hi! I've never thought about it, but yes -- I would imagine that you could. You can freeze granola, so this should be very similar. 🙂
Easy and delicious. I've been buying muesli for years. No longer!
So glad you found this recipe, Laura! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
This is a wonderful muesli recipe, thanks for posting! I wonder which wheat product you generally use in your recipe - bran, as listed in the recipe itself, or wheat germ, as you mentioned at the beginning of the article? Maybe you use both?
Hi, Mag! Thanks for catching that typo! I've used both, but prefer wheat germ if I have it in my pantry. I'll update the recipe to reflect that. 🙂