Muesli is my summertime go-to – it’s cool, quick, and hearty – so I thought I’d share how to make your own muesli here, plus about 50,000 mix-and-match muesli ideas (give or take).
And let me tell you, there’s not much better than a bowlful of homemade muesli with fruit such as fresh berries, enjoyed outside on the deck (even better if you grow your strawberries yourself!)
Muesli is basically an untoasted granola, made with raw rolled oats and other rolled grains (if you wish) along with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. It’s not doused in any sweeteners or oils to aid in the baking process – because there is no baking process!
So as much as I love my granola, this muesli recipe tends to be a lighter, healthier option than granola.
Like many of us, I grew up on boxed cereal for breakfast. Pour out the the dry deliciousness, douse in milk of choice, and go! But as I’ve moved toward a healthier, whole-foods-based diet, I’ve turned away from most processed foods – and cereal in a box is a casualty. But I still missed the convenience. Not anymore, though. Helloooo, muesli!
You can buy muesli at the store – I find it in the bulk section or among the boxed cereals. But why would you? It is SO easy to make at home! Okay, I admit to buying it now and then when life gets crazy. But I really prefer making muesli because I can customize it exactly how I like it. My version has lots of nuts and seeds for added healthy fats and protein.
I really like to make the ingredients for muesli more of a formula – this is a super, duper flexible recipe.
Here’s the formula broken down with options for each ingredient:
This is pretty straightforward. I buy my rolled oats out of the bulk bin at my local grocery store. If you are gluten-free, you’ll want to look for certified gluten-free oats.
Choose grains such as:
If you’re gluten-free, you’ll likely want to stick with quinoa flakes – or simply add more gluten-free rolled oats.
This is where it gets good! Throw in one or more of the following. Chop up the bigger stuff first!
For an extra healthy punch of goodness, you might also include a small amount of the following:
Choose from these delicious dried fruits:
Mix and match however you want – make your muesli your own!
Then, just stir together a few ingredients – oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit. Then put some in a bowl, add some milk, and eat!
To serve, scoop about 1/2 cup into a bowl, pour on some milk (I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk or oat milk), and enjoy it right away. OR – let it soak for 30 minutes or so to soften. I love to go crazy with fresh fruit on top so that I can feel virtuous about my breakfast (well, and also because it’s tasty).
Some folks like to mix it with yogurt. Others like to go the overnight oats route and let it soak all night – then just grab it out of the fridge in the morning and dig in! (There might also be health benefits to the overnight method, as described here).
A squeeze of lemon, some grated fresh apple, or perhaps a drizzle of pure maple syrup can also be nice (the lemon and apple are actually both pretty traditional in muesli).
However you like it, there’s no question that homemade muesli is an ideal breakfast or snack food for summer. Cool, refreshing, nourishing – and no cereal boxes in sight!