Ever wondered where the concept of overnight oats came from? Well, let me introduce you to Bircher Muesli, arguably the original overnight oats! This creamy, nutty breakfast is a highly nutritious and low-effort breakfast packed with nutrients, protein and healthy fats - perfect for fuelling your day.  

Having grown up in Switzerland, Bircher Muesli has been my go-to breakfast ever since I can remember. It’s quick to make, satisfying and healthy - what more could you want! I would usually prepare it the night before, so it was nice and chilled in the morning. If I didn’t have the time - I would make it in the morning and enjoy it later that morning. Whether topped with fresh fruit, chopped nuts or a drizzle of honey, it was always the perfect start to my day, and is still one of my favorite breakfasts.

What is Bircher Muesli?

Bircher Muesli is an oat dish created over a century ago by a Swiss doctor named Maximilian Bircher-Benner who was an advocate for the whole foods and raw foods diet. He would serve it as an easily digestible dinner and use it to treat patients with stomach problems, and even treat his own jaundice! 

The original recipe calls for soaking a tablespoon of oats in water overnight, and then mixing it with sweetened condensed milk, grated apples, lemon juice and finally topped with chopped nuts. The oats during that time would take time to soften, but with the variety of oats we have today the recipe has evolved. Since then, many Swiss families enjoy it as a breakfast, or even an evening meal. 

Nowadays, many people around the world enjoy Bircher muesli in all forms. Many use yoghurt or cream as an alternative to condensed milk - and will add other toppings such as coconut flakes, seeds and other fresh fruit. My recipe uses a combination of milk and yoghurt to get a creamy texture but also to make it more digestible - I find using cream a little heavy for me, but of course using cream makes for a creamier and more indulgent option.   

Why you’ll love this Bircher Muesli

If this is your first time trying Bircher Muesli, there’s so many reasons why you’ll love it: 

• Easy to meal prep: This is one of the easiest dishes to meal-prep for several days. Just prep this recipe into containers and store in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week.  
• Wholesome and Nutritious: It is so satisfying and will keep you going all morning. Plus it's packed with protein, fibre and healthy fats. 
• Customizable: You can swap in any of your favorite toppings and even make it completely vegan or gluten free!
• Ready in 10 minutes: There’s absolutely no cooking involved - and just requires one bowl to mix everything together.
• Take it anywhere: This is a highly portable and convenient dish to take with you for a breakfast, snack or even lunch.

Ingredients you’ll need

To make Bircher Muesli, you’ll need the following ingredients: 

• Rolled oats: The main ingredient. You can use any rolled oats available at your local store.  
• Apples: Grated. Red apples are best for their sweetness, I like Braeburn but you can use any available to you. If you don’t want to grate them, you can also chop them and add them in. 
• Chopped Nuts: I like to use roasted almonds, but you can also add in hazelnuts or even seeds like pumpkin seeds or chia seeds - the choices are endless! 
• Milk: Any milk works, I usually use fresh dairy milk. But non dairy milks work just as well. 
• Yoghurt: For a creamier and thicker texture, I prefer to use greek yoghurt. But you can use regular yoghurt or even a dairy free one like coconut or soy yoghurt. 
• Honey: To add a hint of sweetness.  
• Apple Juice: This is optional, but adds a nice hint of fresh sweetness to the dish. You can also use orange juice if you prefer. 
• Cinnamon: For some added flavor, but is also optional. 
• Toppings: I like to add Banana and Blueberries on top, but choose whatever you like.

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s make Bircher Muesli!

How to make Bircher Muesli

Here’s a step-by-step guide to walk you through the recipe, for the full recipe card, please scroll to the bottom of this post.

In a mixing bowl add the dry ingredients - oats, nuts, cinammon powder.

Then add the honey, apples and apple juice and yoghurt.

Then finally, slowly pour the milk while stirring with a large spoon. Don’t pour it all at once but observe the consistency of your mixture. Keep pouring all the milk, and stir until well combined. The mixture should be getting thicker as you stir. Once all the ingredients are well combined, your mixture should be thick but not dry. It should also not look like soup. 

If you feel it’s too dry - add a dash more milk. 

If the mixture is too wet - add a spoon of oats.

Cover or store in a container and chill in the fridge overnight, or serve the same day. Once you're ready to eat it, you can eat it straight out of the fridge or let it sit outside for 30 minutes before enjoying. Serve in a bowl with a drizzle of extra honey, fresh berries and banana or other toppings of your choice and enjoy!  

Extra Tips to make the best Bircher Muesli

Here are a few tips to make the best possible Bircher Muesli: 

• Add the milk bit by bit. This is key while stirring the mixture so you can control the consistency of the mixture more easily. It’s important not to add too much milk or it will become soupy - however note that milk gets absorbed quite quickly so try to follow the measurements given below. You can do the same for the yoghurt if you prefer. 
• While stirring, check the consistency of the mixture. It should start to become thick quite quickly. Once the milk has absorbed and the consistency looks uniform, the mixture is ready to eat. 
• Use rolled or fine oats. Not steel cut oats as they won’t soften as easily.  
• For a nice creamy texture. I would recommend using a thicker yoghurt like greek style or Skyr.  
• Adjust the amount of honey. Based on your sweetness preferences.
• Make it on the day. If you don’t soak the oats the night before, you can also follow the same process in the morning and it is equally as enjoyable!
• Leave it out for a short while. It is usually enjoyable to eat the Bircher Muesli once it has been taken out of the fridge for about 30 minutes. When the mixture has been in the fridge, it hardens slightly. Taking it out of the fridge will soften the mixture and bring it down closer to room temperature. However, it is also very enjoyable straight out of the fridge if you're in a hurry.

Variations and substitutes

• Vegan Yoghurt: You can use any vegan yoghurts to make this dish vegan!
• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free oats to make this dish gluten-free.
• Sweeten with alternatives: If you don't want to use honey, you can swap it for maple syrup or even dates.
• Flavored Yoghurt: Use flavored yoghurts like vanilla, or raspberry to add more flavor. You can even use cream.  
• Proportions: If you prefer to use less or more oats, feel free to modify the measurements, but please remember to adjust the ratios of yoghurt and milk accordingly. 
• Heat it up: If you don’t like the oats too chilled, you can leave it out of the fridge for an hour before eating, or place it in the microwave to heat up and enjoy warm as well.  
• Play around with toppings: Bircher muesli can also be enjoyed with many different toppings. I also like to use:
  • Nut butters
  • Fresh berries
  • Bananas 
  • Hemp seeds
  • Cacao nibs 
  • Dried fruits

How to serve?

• Serve it as a breakfast, a light lunch, dinner or even a tasty snack.
• If you are eating it at home, you can serve it in a bowl and add your toppings.
• If you want to take it with you - it is easily portable in a mason jar or air-tight container! 

FAQs

Hope you enjoy!

This is a simple but delicious recipe packed with nutrients. If you try out this recipe or have any questions, please let me know or leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your feedback and know what you’d change.  

Don’t forget to share this recipe with family and friends.

SWISS BIRCHER MUESLI (THE ORIGINAL OVERNIGHT OATS)

Ever wondered where the concept of overnight oats came from? Bircher Muesli is arguably the original overnight oats! This creamy, nutty breakfast is a highly nutritious and low-effort breakfast packed with nutrients, protein and healthy fats - perfect for fuelling your day.  

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Chilling (Overnight) 8 hours hrs

Cuisine Swiss

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

• 1 mixing bowl

Ingredients

 

• 1 cup - rolled or quick oats
• 30 g - almonds, chopped
• ½ teaspoon - cinnamon optional
• 1 tablespoon - honey
• 1 cup - apples, grated
• ¼ cup - apple juice optional
• 1 cup - yoghurt I used greek yoghurt
• 1 cup - fresh milk
• Toppings: any nuts dried fruit, seeds, fruit of your choice. I like blueberries and banana.

Instructions

 

• In a mixing bowl add the oats, nuts, cinnamon powder, honey, apples, apple juice and yoghurt.
• Then, slowly add the milk while stirring the mixture with a large spoon. Don’t pour it all at once, and observe the consistency of your mixture. Keep pouring until all the milk has been added, and stir until well combined. The mixture should get thicker as you stir.
• The mixture should be thicker than a warm porridge but not too dry. If you feel it’s too dry - add a dash more milk. If the mixture is too wet - add a spoon of oats.
• Cover or store in a container and chill overnight, or serve the same day.
• Serve in a bowl with a drizzle of extra honey, fresh berries and banana or other toppings of your choice and enjoy!

Notes

• For best results, you can first soak the oats and apple mixture with milk and yoghurt and chill - store the toppings separately to add them on the day you want to eat it. 
• While this is usually an overnight dish - you can also make it on the day.
• For meal prepping, you can either mix everything, or keep the dried ingredients (oats, nuts, seeds, etc) in containers and add the apples, milk and yoghurt on the day you want to eat it. 
• Bircher Muesli will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• You can add any portion of fruits and nuts that you like. 
• Adjust the amount of honey according to your sweetness preferences. 
• If you want it to be creamier, add more yoghurt and less milk. Or if you feel the mixture is too dry, add a dash more milk in. 

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