Traditional Bircher Muesli

This traditional Bircher muesli with grated apples and raisins is healthy, delicious and waiting for you in the fridge when you wake up. It's the ultimate breakfast for anyone who wants to eat healthy while not spend hours in the kitchen every day.

What Is Bircher Muesli?

Bircher muesli was “invented” in the early 20th century by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who served it to his patients to get them to eat more fresh fruit. He believed that the treatment against human degeneration was based on eating whole foods, and that raw fruits and vegetables held the most nutritional value.

Eventually he even gave up meat entirely. See where I’m going with this? Turns out this isn’t a new food trend at all, but more of a rediscovery of an over a hundred year old principle of healthy eating.

How to Make Bircher Muesli

The original Bircher muesli recipe calls for much more fruit than grain. However, this version was inspired by my Basic Peanut Butter Overnight Oats. It calls for five basic ingredients:

• Rolled oats
• Apple
• Almond milk
• Honey
• Raisins

If you’re an overnight oats veteran, you’re probably familiar with most recipes warning you that you shouldn’t worry about there being too much liquid.

I need to warn you that in this case, you shouldn’t worry about your oats being too dry. They may seem a bit thick, especially when you consider that the oats will soak all of that up over the course of at least eight hours. But the grated apple releases a ton of juice and makes the whole thing just mushy enough.

Should I Use Rolled Oats or Quick Oats?

This really depends on your personal preference. Do you like your morning oats slightly chewy or on the softer side?

One of the upsides of using quick oats is that they require no more than 30 to 60 minutes of soaking, unlike old-fashioned oats that are best when left soaking overnight. In this instance, I opted for rolled oats to add a bit more texture.

Will the Apple Turn Brown?

I know what you’re thinking; leaving grated apples in the fridge for hours is bound to turn them brown and yucky. Don’t worry, this doesn’t happen.

Apples and most other fruits turn brown when the cut surface is exposed to oxygen, a chemical reaction called oxidation. If you follow the recipe and make sure to fully submerge the apples in the liquid, then seal the lid tightly, the grated apple will remain protected from oxygen and will not turn brown.

Should I Eat It Hot or Cold?

While Bircher muesli is traditionally served chilled (a wonderful idea in hot weather), you can easily heat it up as well. If you prefer, just heat it in the microwave before topping with fresh apple.

How Long Do Bircher Muesli Keep?

Because of the grated apple, Bircher muesli don't keep in the fridge for quite as long ordinary overnight oats. They're best the next morning, but remain edible for another day or two.

More Overnight Oats

• Banana Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
• Blueberry Overnight Oats
• Chocolate Overnight Oats
• Overnight Steel Cut Oats
• Yogurt Overnight Oats

Click here for a complete listing of overnight oats.