Homemade Muesli, a mix of toasted oats, nuts, and coconut, is tossed with dried fruits and can be enjoyed as a breakfast or a snack. You can serve Muesli over yogurt, use it as a cereal replacement with milk, or include it in overnight oats.

Bowl of muesli with milk and a topping of fresh berries, ready for a healthy breakfast.

What Is Muesli?

Muesli is a mixture of rolled oats and nuts with other additions like spices, seeds, cereal grains, wheat germ, dried fruit, and chocolate chips. I discovered Muesli when I moved to Australia with my husband for his job. Initially, I tried it at our hotel’s breakfast and wasn’t a fan, expecting something like granola. But as I added a bit of sweetener, I grew to like it.

Now back in the US, I often make it at home since it’s not easily found in stores. My version includes rolled oats, nuts, and various add-ins like dried fruits. I also add a bit of pure maple syrup for a touch of sweetness, differentiating it from the less sweet, traditional Muesli.

Preparation of homemade muesli recipe, with ingredients mixed in a large bowl, spread on a baking sheet for baking, and served with added fruit.

Ingredients In Muesli

  • Old-fashioned oats form the base, providing a chewy texture and whole grains.
  • Sliced almonds, pecans, and pepitas add crunch and a rich, nutty flavor, along with healthy fats.
  • Coconut flakes contribute a subtle sweetness and tropical taste.
  • Salt and cinnamon enhance the overall flavor, with the cinnamon adding a warm spice.
  • Pure maple syrup sweetens the mix naturally.
  • Coconut oil helps in toasting the mixture, adding a slight coconut flavor.
  • Vanilla extract adds a sweet, aromatic flavor.
  • Dried tart cherries and dried mango (or alternatives) provide a chewy texture and a burst of sweet-tart flavor.

Quick Tip

Customize your Muesli by choosing your preferred fruits and nuts, and substituting dairy milk with plant-based alternatives. Maintaining the general proportions ensures delicious results.

How To Make Muesli

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix Ingredients: Combine old-fashioned oats, sliced almonds, chopped pecans, pepitas, unsweetened coconut flakes, fine sea salt, ground cinnamon, pure maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and pure vanilla extract in a large bowl.
  3. Bake: Spread the mix on the baking sheet and bake until lightly golden, stirring halfway through.
  4. Cool: After cooling, add coarsely chopped dried tart cherries and dried mango (or other dried fruits).
  5. Serve: Enjoy over yogurt or with milk, optionally with fresh berries and honey.

Milk being poured over freshly prepared breakfast, completing the wholesome breakfast dish.

FAQs

How Do You Eat Muesli?

I prefer eating Muesli with milk or over yogurt, letting the oats soften. Traditionally, Bircher Muesl is soaked overnight in milk, like overnight oats, which softens the oats and plumps the dried fruits, giving a porridge-like texture. Muesli can be enjoyed hot or cold.

What Is The Difference Between Muesli And granola?

While both are made up of grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, there are a few main differences between granola and Muesli.
  • The main differences between Muesli and granola are in texture and sweetness. Granola is baked longer for a crispy texture, while Muesli is either raw or lightly baked to toast the ingredients without making it crunchy. Muesli is softer and less sweet, often with little to no added sweetener or oil, unlike granola which usually contains more sweetener and oil.

Why Is Muesli Called Muesli?

Muesli, created by Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a physician who advocated for food as medicine, was a mixture of oats and fruit intended to promote whole food consumption among his patients. It gained popularity in Switzerland as a health food after showing notable health benefits. The commercial version, Birchermüesli, was first manufactured by the Swiss company Somalon, contributing to its widespread popularity. Read more on the history here.

Homemade muesli cereal in a bowl with milk and berries, ready for a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Variations

Switch Things Up

  • Replace nuts with alternatives like walnuts, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts, or macadamia nuts.
  • Substitute pepitas with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts.
  • Swap some rolled oats for wheat germ.
  • Use different dried fruits like apricots, raisins, or blueberries.
  • Change the spices, using for a seasonal flavor pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for a seasonal flavor

More Breakfast Recipes

5 from 3 votes

Muesli

Homemade Muesli -- a mix of toasted oats, nuts, and coconut is tossed with dried fruits and enjoyed for breakfast or a snack. Serve Muesli over yogurt, as a cereal replacement with milk, or in overnight oats.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Servings: 6 -8 servings

Ingredients 
 

  • 4 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup pepitas (Note 1)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped dried tart cherries (or dried cranberries)
  • 1/3 cup coarsely chopped dried mango (or dried apricots)
  • Optional: serve with milk of choice or yogurt of choice and, if desired, fresh berries

Instructions 

  • PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large (15x21 inch) sheet pan (or 2 smaller pans) with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • MIX INGREDIENTS: In a very large bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the dried fruit. Toss until well combined.
  • BAKE: Spread the mixture into an even layer on the prepared pan(s). Bake for 12-14 minutes, stirring ingredients after 7 minutes. Everything should be lightly golden and fragrant.
  • COOL: Remove Muesli and let it cool completely. Coarsely chop the tart cherries and dried mango. Once the Muesli is cooled, stir in the dried fruit.
  • SERVE: Serve Muesli over yogurt or with milk of choice (we love almond milk!). If adding milk, let it stand with the cereal for a few minutes to soften the oats. We also love adding fresh berries and a drizzle of honey.
  • STORAGE: Let Muesli cool completely and then transfer to an airtight bag or container. Store in a dry, cool area or freeze it. No need to defrost; you can use it straight from the freezer, which helps keep it from getting stale.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Pepitas: Pepitas are shelled pumpkin seeds. They are available roasted or raw, where you find nuts.
Note 2: Recipe adapted from the Kitchn.

Nutrition

Serving: 8servings | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.4g | Protein: 8.8g | Fat: 14.8g | Sodium: 2.9mg | Fiber: 6.4g | Sugar: 8.5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hello, and welcome to Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron! Iโ€™m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. Iโ€™m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

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5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Sara Welch says:

    I know how I will be starting my day tomorrow! This looks hands down delicious; too good to pass up, indeed!

  2. Anna says:

    5 stars
    My oldest daughter loves muesli! She just made a batch from your recipe and it’s fantastic!

  3. Lily says:

    5 stars
    Oh this was so good, I made a ton and I am keeping it in an air tight container. I served it over Greek yogurt, it was such a delicious addition of texture.
    I was curious could I replace the maple syrup with honey?