Bircher Muesli: What Is It & How Do You Make It?

Here at The Bircher Bar, we know a thing or two about Bircher Muesli.

In fact, the entire premise and origins of The Bircher Bar's creation are based on developing all-natural & health-promoting bircher muesli recipes!

I'd say we've done more research and experimented with more recipes than Mr Bircher himself at this point - so I'm going to go out on a limb and say there are probably none more qualified to take you through everything you need to know about Bircher from start to finish.

P.S. Some of the Bircher recipes we give you in this article have been purchased by countless happy customers and won multiple awards across Australia. They've never been released to the public before - so you're in for a treat!

What Is Bircher Muesli?

Bircher Muesli (also commonly known as swiss oatmeal or overnight oats) has taken the health world by storm in recent years, and for a good reason.

It's a style of muesli characterised by soaked rolled oats mixed with apple, lemon juice, fruits, nuts, and yogurt.

Despite its current resurgence in popularity, Bircher Muesli is actually over 100 years old and was invented in the early 1900s by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner as a way to promote good health for patients recovering in swiss hospitals.

Since then, it's come leaps and bounds and is now a staple breakfast for many people. You'll now find it in many cafes worldwide packed with everything from grated apple, dried fruits and chia seeds to flax, walnuts and cherry.

The combinations are near endless.

The best part is that to have your own supply of Bircher at home - you don't need to buy it from Woolworths, Coles or any other major supermarket. Bircher muesli is incredibly easy to make at home for yourself (and we've got some fantastic recipes for you to try).

How To Make Bircher Muesli?

There is nothing complicated about making Bircher, in fact, as a make-ahead breakfast, I'd say it's one of the simplest and most convenient breakfasts you can make.

It's no more difficult than making a bowl of granola or regular muesli bowl - it just requires a few specific ingredients and some extra time to let everything soak.

Below are a few of The Bircher Bar's award-winning Bircher recipes, released for the first time ever for you to now easily make at home.

We've been asked countless times over the years for these recipes - so, here you go :) Enjoy!

The Bircher Bar - Original Recipes:

1.) Apple, Cinnamon, Kiwi & Roasted Almond Bircher

This is a best-seller that sold out fresh almost every day. If you've never had Bircher before, start here!

Shopping List Ingredients: (Serves 2)

Rolled Oats (1 cup)
Cinnamon Ground (1/2 tsp)
Pepitas / Pumpkin Seeds (1/8 cup)
Almond Milk (1 cup)
Roast Almonds (1/8 cup)
Green Apple (1 large)
Fresh apple juice (juice of 1 large)
Kiwifruit (1/2)
Lemon (1/2 juiced)

Method:

In a small saucepan with the lid on - poach the chopped apple (cut in slices or grated), the 1/2 kiwifruit (sliced) and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon in a very small amount of water until the fruit has caramelised slightly but the apple still retains some firm texture. Low to medium heat.
In a small container - soak the cup of oats in the lemon juice, fresh apple juice and almond milk. You'll be soaking the oats in the almond milk and juice overnight in the fridge.
Once your poached fruit mix has cooled - place it in the fridge overnight as well.
The following morning, combine your soaked oats and poached fruits together and mix well.
Top with your roasted almonds and pepitas to finish

Tips:

A tablespoon of nut butter on top is a great finisher!

Notes:

There is no added sugar here so all of the sweetness comes from the fruit. If you feel you need to sweeten it further, a small drizzle of maple syrup will do the trick.

2.) Banana, Macadamia, Lime & Strawberry Bircher

This is a beautiful zesty & spice-filled blend, packed with fruit and rich in flavour.

Shopping List Ingredients: (Serves 2)

Rolled Oats (1 cup)
Nutmeg Ground (1/2 tsp)
Ginger Ground (1/4 tsp)
Linseed (1/6 cup)
Coconut Milk (1+1/2 cup)
Roasted Macadamias (1/8 cup)
Sunflower Seeds (1/8 cup)
Strawberry (2 level tsp)
Banana (1 Medium)
Lime (1 juiced)
Lemon (1/2 juiced)

Method:

In a small saucepan with the lid on - poach the banana (pureed in a food processor) and strawberry (sliced) with the lime juice, nutmeg and ground ginger. Low to medium heat until you see it beginning to bubble or caramelise slightly.
In a small container - soak the rolled oats with the linseed, lemon juice and coconut milk. You'll be soaking the oats in the almond milk and juice overnight in the fridge.
Once your poached fruit mix has cooled - place it in the fridge overnight as well.
The following morning, combine your soaked oats and poached fruits together and mix well.
Top with your roasted macadamias and sunflower seeds to finish.

Tips:

Add an extra splash of milk when you serve it if you'd like it wetter. Top with greek (or coconut yoghurt) and some extra berries to get decadent!

Optional:

There is no added sugar here so all of the sweetness comes from the fruit. If you feel it needs some extra sweetness, a small drizzle of maple syrup will do the trick.

These are our top 2 recipes - but there is really no limit when it comes to making your own bircher once you get the basics nailed. It's important to make sure you add the right amount of milk when soaking it to make sure you get a nice texture, and you should always add lemon or lime for the acid that complements the sweetness of the fruit and helps to soften the oats.

Beyond that though - experiment with additional ingredients to see what you love!

Such as:

raw fruits (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry etc.)
dried fruits (dried cherries, cranberry, goji berry, Inca berry, raisins etc.)
roasted nuts (hazelnuts, pecans, shredded coconut)
seeds (chia seeds, hemp seeds, black sesame)
different kinds of milk and yoghurts

Where To Buy Bircher Muesli?

You can buy Bircher muesli blends in most health food stores and supermarkets nowadays, however, all you're really buying is a regular muesli blend. It's not Bircher until you combine it with liquids such as milk and fruit juice, and then let it soak.

When you buy a pre-mix pack, you are just buying the rolled oats with a few other added ingredients for your base - usually at a price premium too.

I recommend saving yourself some money and making your own Bircher from scratch using the raw ingredients we've listed above.

Buying a pre-mix pack won't really save you any time, will cost you more and doesn't let you choose exactly what you want to put in it.

Is Bircher Muesli Good For You?

Honestly, it depends.

Some recipes will call for large amounts of sugar, cream and condensed milk which will make it more of a dessert than a healthy breakfast option.

Other recipes (like our original recipes above) are very healthy - delivering a high nutritional content and large amounts of protein, fibre, calcium as well as many essential vitamins, and minerals.

The soaking process in bircher also 'activates' many of the ingredients - helping to break down their cell walls and making the nutrients more accessible.

Furthermore, Bircher is a great way to get other supplement powders into your system as it is packed with flavour and can mask the taste of some you may not like, such as - greens powders (e.g. Athletic Greens) or medicinal mushrooms (e.g. turkey tail, lion’s mane, reishi etc.).

Is Bircher Muesli Good For Weight Loss?

Weight loss is a complex topic and no single food is 'necessarily good', or 'necessarily bad' for weight loss. To generalise, weight loss is largely determined by 'calories in vs. calories out', so if you're looking to lose weight you should be making sure to balance your food intake with your energy output.

With that in mind, a healthy bircher muesli recipe is a great addition to a weight loss diet as it provides numerous macro- and micro-nutrients required for your body to stay healthy and is full of fibre and protein which helps to keep you fuller for longer.

FAQ:

How Long Does Bircher Muesli Last In The Fridge?

Bircher muesli will last stored in the fridge for up to four to five days - after this, the quality begins to diminish. It does depend on the recipe you use though - e.g. extra lemon juice helps it last longer.

Is Bircher Muesli Good For Diabetics?

Generally speaking, yes, bircher muesli can be good for diabetics. It can be made low-calorie and low sugar and is typically a low glycemic index food which means it won't spike your blood sugar levels. Additionally, bircher muesli is a good source of fibre and protein, both of which are important for diabetics.

How Many Calories In Bircher Muesli?

A simple Bircher can probably range from 100 calories to 500 calories per serve depending on how you make it and the ingredients you add.

What Is The Difference Between Bircher Muesli And Regular Muesli?

While regular muesli is typically a dry blend of oats, seeds and nuts that you add milk to and eat immediately, Bircher is a wet mix that is soaked ahead of time - increasing the flavour, smoothing the texture and making the nutrients more available.

What Are Overnight Oats?

‘Overnight oats’ is really just another term for Bircher muesli. A classic Bircher recipe is probably characterised by lemon juice and apple, however, any kind of soaked oats nowadays is often referred to as Bircher, overnight oats or even, Swiss oatmeal.

Is Bircher Muesli Gluten-Free?

It definitely can be - just swap regular rolled oats for gluten-free oats.

Are Overnight Oats Vegan?

They definitely can be - just swap out any animal products for their common vegan alternative (e.g. maple syrup/agave for honey, almond milk for regular milk, coconut yoghurt for greek yoghurt etc.)

Can You Cook Bircher Muesli?

You CAN do anything you want (you're an adult after all), however, classic Bircher is not cooked. You're more venturing into porridge or oatmeal realms here once you start heating it.

That's A Wrap!

There you have it! A comprehensive guide to all things Bircher muesli from none other than The Bircher Bar! (including our OG recipes).

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, and definitely send us a picture of your take on our recipe for a chance to end up on our socials.

Finally - even Gordon loves a good bowl of Bircher - check out his quick take on how to make it below:

Bircher Muesli