This homemade muesli recipe is a healthy, easy breakfast recipe made with rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. A simple make-ahead cereal perfect with milk or yogurt. And best of all, no sugar and no cooking required, in just 10 minutes. Vegan and Gluten-free.
There is something so comforting about having a jar of homemade muesli in the pantry-simple ingredients, ready whenever I get hungry! This wholesome blend of rolled oats, toasted nuts, seeds, and dried fruit is crunchy, nourishing, and endlessly customizable. It contains no sugar or oil, and takes 10 minutes to make.
I love muesli because it's not really a recipe you have to follow-it's a formula. Use what you have, adjust it to your taste, and create your own perfect breakfast mix.
But First, What is Muesli?
Muesli is a classic European breakfast cereal made with rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Created by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner, the original version became known as "Bircher Muesli."
Unlike granola, traditional muesli is not baked or toasted, and it typically contains no added oil or sweetener. The result is a simple, wholesome breakfast that lets the natural flavors of the ingredients shine.
Think of it as granola's lighter, less sweet cousin. Packed with fiber-rich oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit, muesli is nourishing, satisfying, and easy to customize. The soluble fiber in oats (especially beta-glucan) has also been linked with supporting healthy cholesterol levels-another reason this humble breakfast has stood the test of time.
Homemade MuElsi Ingredients
- Rolled oats or whole grains - The nourishing base of this homemade muesli, providing hearty texture and a satisfying start to the day. Toasting the grains adds a deeper, nuttier flavor if you like.
- Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds - Add crunch, minerals, and a boost of plant-based nutrition. Use one or both depending on what you have on hand.
- Toasted nuts - Slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts bring richness, flavor, and satisfying texture.
- Chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds (optional) - Small additions that add extra fiber, healthy fats, and a nutrient boost.
- Unsweetened coconut (optional) - Adds a subtle sweetness and chewy texture.
- Dried fruit - Brings natural sweetness and little bursts of flavor. Try cranberries, cherries, raisins, goji berries, or dried berries.
How to make Muesli
This Muesli recipe can be made in 10 minutes flat and is a great way to sift and sort through your pantry and use up what you already have. No cooking is required; simply assemble in a bowl, mix and store!
This Muesli recipe makes enough for 8 cups, which will get you through 2 weeks of breakfast. A nice make-ahead breakfast to have on hand when time is short and life is busy.
Storing Muesli
Store muesli in a 2-quart jar for up to 1 month. I will tuck mine in the freezer after a month so nuts and seeds don’t go rancid which can happen!
Serving Homemade Muesli
My favorite way to eat museli is with yogurt ( I really love Cocojune Coconut Yogurt) and fresh berries or pomegranate seeds. You can also pour vanilla almond milk over the top and add berries for a light, filling breakfast.
- Add plant-based milk– warm or cold, dairy milk or nut-based milks, or soy milk. I love vanilla almond milk or soy milk.
- Add Yogurt- again, dairy or plant-based yogurt.
- Add honey or maple syup- optional but tasty.
- Add Applesauce- cold or warm
- Add fresh berries or fruit or even this Rhubarb Compote
- Add almond butter or peanut butter
- Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon
I love this healthy breakfast- it feels so wholesome and filling. Give it a try and see what you think! Please let us know in the comments below!
More favorite Breakfast Ideas
Homemade Muesli Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Breakfast, healthy breakfast, vegan
- Method: mixed
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Description
This homemade muesli recipe is a healthy, easy breakfast made with rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. A simple make-ahead cereal perfect with milk or yogurt.
Ingredients
- 4 cups organic rolled oats or other grain, toasted if you like
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, or a mix
- 1 cup toasted nuts – slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds ( optional)
- 2 tablespoons whole flax seeds ( optional)
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut ( optional)
- 1 cup dried fruit- cranberries, raisins, cherries, goji berries, raspberries, blueberries
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Store in a large 8-cup air-tight jar.
- Serve with plant-based milk ( warm or cold) or yogurt, fresh berries or fruit and a drizzle of honey or maple.
Notes
Keep this GF, by using gluten-free rolled oats or grains. To cut back further on calories, add less nuts and coconut. If you need to add a little honey to your morning muesli at first ( to make it more palatable) just do it- you can gradually wean yourself off of it. Vanilla-flavored nut milks that are unsweetened work best for me.
Store up to one month in a sealed jar, or freeze after a month so nuts/ seeds do not go rancid.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup-includes all optional seeds, nuts, coconut and raisins.
- Calories: 236
- Sugar: 7.1 g
- Sodium: 4.3 mg
- Fat: 12.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I think I actually started fealing healthier as I ate this for breakfast! I make your granola and use it to top yogurt (and right out of the jar!) and have wamted to eat it like a cerial with milk. This is a great, lower fat, less sugary alternative… sorry but I did toast it lightly 🙂 Thanks!
Glad you gave it try Pam! I believe if you tell your body you are healthier it listens.:)
Will you recommend a Goji Berry brand?
Hi Remi- I really like Nativas Brand! They are organic. 🙂
Delicious! And so easy to make. It pays to toast the oats, nuts, and even the sunflower and pumpkin seeds 👍👍👍
Can you guide on toasting the muesli for a little crunchiness without a lot of sugar or oil
Muesli is meant to be raw, not cooked. I haven’t tried toasting it, but the oats may be nice toasted in the oven a bit? You could try our granola recipes for some good crunchy oats!
Question: Do you have an air tight jar you like that actually keeps things fresh? I’ve tried so many with no luck! Thank you!
The swing top glass jars are nice with the gasket (you can get replacements for the gaskets when they wear out). Ball makes them or le parfait and lock-eat etc.
I visited a friend in Switzerland this summer and her husband made the best muesli. He would mix a cup of the dry oats, fruit, and nuts mixture into a cup of yogurt and top with whatever fruit was in season. While I was there it was plums. Letting the muesli sit for a few minutes softened the oats and let the juice from the plums permeate the mix–no need for an added sweetener. Thanks for this recipe!
Sounds yummy Olivia!
I basically followed the recipe and then went thru the pantry and threw in any bits and pieces of dried fruit, nuts and seeds I had just a bit of. I’d fix it like overnight oats, and add a bit of yogurt & honey in the morning. Now I will never not have this in my kitchen. Easiest breakfast ever.
Love it Mary!
Hi Sylvia,
I haven’t actually made this yet but have a couple of questions first. 1) Can you make this as an “overnight” muesli by soaking the mixture overnight in plant milk? 2) How many 1/2 cup servings do you get approximately?
Thanks much!
Cary
Hey Cary, You may want to check out our recipe for Overnight Oats- that is essentially what soaking the muesli would turn into. You can search for it on the blog by using the search bar.
Thanks Tonia; I’ll check that out! 🙂
Great!
Delicious! And so healthy! I will be making many variations of this! Thank you!
Glad you liked this Janice!