Bircher Muesli Recipe (2024)

In Switzerland, my mother-in-law always served birchermuesli for Sunday night dinner. A tradition. No maple syrup, please. Just grated apples, bananas, berries in season and yogurt. Full-fat yogurt.

As a Swiss, I like the traditional, delicious, healthy version: sliced hazelnuts or sliced almonds, dash of lemon juice before serving or a little whipped cream. Oats or mix of unsweetened cereals like millet (or Bio Familia). Milk, yogurth. Sweetness should come from fruits - try it first without honey or syrup. Mix in apples quickly before they change color. Raspberries. Blueberries. Ribes. Bircher's official grater is a great souvenir from Switzerland. No need for a blender, just let sit.

I’ve never heard of this dish and I’m so glad I made it. So easy and adaptable. Perfect for warm weather climates as well. I skipped the dried fruit to avoid the sugars and added fresh blueberries instead. Nuts are clearly added for texture (this dish has nothing to do with crunchy granola). I’m going to add unsweetened coconut next time (since I have to skip the nuts due to allergies). I added Vanilla and a touch of cinnamon as well (just like making hot oatmeal). Scoop and eat!

I make something similar and like to mix a large quantity of the dry ingredients and keep them on hand in the fridge. The night before, I put some in a bowl, add kefir and frozen fruit, and let it sit in the fridge overnight.

This IS an endlessly adaptable recipe, which is great. To that effect, don't be dissuaded by the note that full-fat yogurt is preferable here. All kinds of yogurt work well here, including low- and non-fat yogurts.

I learned this recipe over 40 years ago when training with a Swiss pastry chef. The original recipe had 3 ingredients-equal parts rolled oats, grated apples (with the juice) and milk. A spoonful or two of yogurt is all you need to add active cultures, and frankly, more than that gives it a sour taste I find unappealing. I like to add a few scrapes of orange zest and top with halved seedless grapes. This is great post-surgery food, but be careful not to eat too much-very filling!

Add the nuts AFTER the soaking period. Also, pecans are a novelty nut in Europe, not commonly used for much of anything, and terribly expensive if you can even find them. Hazelnuts are traditional in , and the alternatives are either walnuts or almonds. PS If you opt for the almonds, sub almond butter for the tahini. Fabulous!

I'm 1/2 Swiss and grew up eating Birchermüesli. There are as many versions as there are people making it. For myself, I typically use: a handful of rolled oats, ~1/2 cup regular (not Greek) plain yogurt, ~1/2 grated apple, small handful of raisins, small handful of walnuts (~1/4 cup each), a good squeeze of lemon juice (this is ESSENTIAL, otherwise it's too bland.)My mom used blender; my stepmom usually added bananas and grapes. Hazelnuts are traditional. It's really up to you!

Oh, this is making me dream of breakfasts in European hotels, along with the best coffee and cheeses, when the day of adventure and surprise and delights lies ahead. Curse you COVID.

Tahini?? Where did that crazy idea come from????

"Grüessech" directly from the Swiss capital Berne: Cream instead of the milk (makes all the difference!) and do not skip the raisins, they are a MUST!

Mrs. Van Houten made this for her boys throughout the 60's and 70's. While the other children were enjoying Eggo's with Aunt Jemima syrup we were grinding through birchermuesli with Grade A Dark Amber Vermont maple syrup. You can also eat this hot. No dried cherries for us. Dates and raisins.

i've made overnight oats on many occasions - my favorite is to mix bob's red mill extra thick rolled oats with mango or peach kefir. recently, i learned of bircher via "nadiya's family favorites" on tastemade channel. she makes a mango lassi bircher that looks amazing. here is the recipe in case anyone wants to further expand their bircher repertoire! https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mango_lime_lassi_bircher_13324

We’ve been making this ever since we lived in Munich and use plain “regular” yogurt, not Greek-style, so we don’t need to add milk. Either way, it’s great and when we serve it to overnight guests they always love it.

Very good for an easy weekday breakfast or snack. I followed the recipe pretty close with a few changes based on my diet/pantry/hatred of milk: ~3/4 cup nonfat yogurt, ~1/4 cup water, and dried cranberries instead of cherries. Had frozen berries in the freezer so thawed and topped with those. Maple syrup was very tasty as well.

Will this work with vegan yogurt?

My recipe is oats, ground almonds (I use the food processor), dried coconut flakes, sunflower seeds and raisins. I use whatever fruit I have (often bananas and blueberries or diced apples), and use milk instead of yogurt

I discovered Bircher Muesli on a recent Norwegian Cruise trip. They used unpeeled Granny Smith apples and green Bartlett pears cut into thin matchsticks. Lots of nearby extra nut, fruit, cottage cheese, cinnamon toppings if you wanted. I found their mixture too sweet but so good! When I got home I just adapted my diabetic overnight oats/chia & hemp seed, nuts, yogurt & milk mixture by adding grated apple & a shot of lemon juice. Tastes fantastic. Endless possibilities.

As my Swiss mother taught me, the beauty of Birchermüesli is it's tasty, healthy, and easy to make. Coarsely grate or julienne a 1/4 apple (Granny Smith browns less quickly). Stir in ⅛ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup or less plain or vanilla yogurt, and a splash of orange juice or lemon. No need to wait an hour. Just add fruit. Keep it simple or make it colorful. Think blueberries, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and oranges. Add raisins and chopped nuts for chewiness and crunch. En Guete! Bon Appétit!

Seemed like a of grated apple, but turned out great! Love having breakfast all prepped in advance for a few days!

A bit of low-sugar orange juice with the yogurt... phenomenal!

and before a day with an extra long bike ride, use whipped heavy cream mixed with the greek joghurt instead of milk. and more raisins.

Bircher Muesli! Yes please! My version (serves 1): thaw frozen raspberries, mash with a dollop of peanut butter and one banana; stir in yoghurt to taste; stir in Familia muesli to taste; top with fresh blueberries.

I make this in a dry version that stores very well for several months. I finely chop the dried fruit and nuts. When ready to serve I add some plant based milk and maybe yogurt. Grated apple is nice here also,especially if using just a bit of apple in another recipe. Sweet enough without adding anything extra.

Amazing delicious recipe. Never made before and always wanted to. Better than sum of its parts. Used Bulgarian yogurt, dried fruit, TJs candied pecans. For serving used fresh blueberries and strawberries, toasted almonds, homemade granola (BAs Better Granola), cardamom, cinnamon, hot honey. Yum. Works great as a make your own muesli bar for friends. Have always wanted to try recipes by Yossy Arefi and this will get me to sample more of hers.

Is it necessary to grate the apples?

Is it necessary to peel the apple?

Can I use steel cut oats instead of rolled oats?

Made over Christmas week 2023 for Brett and Galen. Good! Added syrup (Galen and Brett) bananas and nuts

A Yummy non-dairy variation-Cover 2 cups rolled oats with OJ( Trader Joe’s tangerine juice) squeeze one lemon over the top and let it sit overnight in the fridge. In the am add a squirt of honey, if you would like, then grate two apples and two bananas and mix in. supreme two oranges and mix those in. top with toasted walnuts at serving time. Any fruit works. This is just my go to. I’ve never had it with dairy. It is what I crave when my tummy isn’t great. Learned from a friend