This delicious bircher muesli with cranberries and greek yogurt is the perfect on the go and nutritious breakfast. Prepare in under 5 minutes, let refrigerate overnight, and enjoy the next morning!
This easy muesli recipe is packed with healthy fat, protein, and fiber which is a great way to start your day. Serve with cranberries, fresh fruit, and more of your favorite toppings!
This easy overnight muesli recipe with cranberries and chestnuts makes a great easy breakfast for busy weekdays. With wholesome ingredients in under 10 minutes, you’re guaranteed to love this healthy make-ahead breakfast.
When making swiss bircher muesli, I normally prep 3-4 jars and store them in the fridge until I’m ready to eat them. This way, I can prep breakfast for the week and save so much time.
Recipes with old fashioned oats or muesli are some of my favorite because they’re healthy, affordable, and taste great! My chocolate orange cake recipe and oat flour pancake recipe are two more delicious breakfast recipes made with raw oats.
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I also love granola but there really is a difference between the two. Check out muesli vs granola. And if you need to know more ways for how to eat muesli, or the difference between muesli vs oatmeal, we’ve got you covered.
Why you’ll love muesli
- It’s seriously so easy to make
- With healthy carbs and healthy fats, it’s the perfect way to start your day
- It’s a super versatile recipe so you can add your favorite toppings
- It’s one of the best healthy recipes that tastes amazing
Are muesli and oats the same thing?
Although muesli and oatmeal are similar, they are not the same thing…
Quick oats are a gluten-free grain that’s ground into flakes while muesli contains seeds, dried fruit, nuts, AND oatmeal! Some muesli contains flax seeds, chia seeds, and even sunflower seeds. Muesli and oatmeal are different but they both make for a delicious and healthy breakfast!
These overnight muesli with cranberries and chestnuts cups seriously could not be easier. Just mix all the ingredients together, pop them in mason jars and put them in the fridge overnight. Then simply stir and enjoy the next morning.
I didn’t know much about the nourishing benefits of muesli before living in Ukraine. There, they eat it all the time and it’s filled with nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
My host mama used to make muesli and would buy muesli granola for me all the time. I loved it so much! Almost as much as her this Ukrainian borscht and garlic stuffed chicken. Overnight muesli is similar to overnight oats but has more nourishing ingredients.
Ingredients for bircher muesli
This recipe is super similar to the original overnight oats recipe. It’s customizable and forgiving so feel free to add your favorite toppings, sweeteners, and other ingredients!
- Muesli mixture – My favorite Muesli mixture is the Bakery on Main Organic Happy Muesli. It’s organic and gluten-free which is safer for those who live a gluten-free life. Classic quick-cooking oats are not always guaranteed to be gluten-free.
- Greek Yogurt – I like using vanilla greek yogurt in this recipe but you can use your favorite yogurt. Dairy-free yogurt works great as well as different flavors of yogurt.
- Milk – Any type of milk will work for this recipe. I like to use whole milk but feel free to use oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or your milk of choice.
- Cranberries – Cranberries are a great touch to this overnight muesli recipe but feel free to swap them out with any fruit or additional topping. Fresh berries, a whole apple, peanut butter, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, or even a drizzle of honey are great ways to top off your overnights oats.
- Brown sugar – like my original bircher muesli on the sweeter side but you can omit the added sugar if you’d like yours less sweet. Also, feel free to swap the brown sugar for a drizzle of maple syrup or simple syrup.
How to make overnight muesli
This easy muesli recipe is made in a few simple steps and then stored overnight in the fridge. Could not be easier!
Step 1: Mix it up
Combine all ingredients and split evenly among two mason jars.
Step 2: Chill
Refrigerate overnight.
Step 3: Final touches
Top with more fresh cranberries and enjoy.
Pro Tip: Wait to add toppings like granola, peanut butter, or maple syrup until before serving. This way, they don’t get soggy.
What toppings to have on oats?
There are almost an unlimited amount of toppings you can add to this simple bircher muesli recipe. Some of my favorites are dried fruits, raw fruit, pumpkin seeds, a little maple syrup, or a fresh apple. But again, you can add whatever you’d like!
Expert tips and FAQs
How long does muesli need to soak?
Letting your bircher muesli sit overnight yields the best results but your oat mixture only needs a few hours to become soft. If you’re in a time crunch, you can let them soak for 1-3 hours.
Is it okay to eat dry muesli?
Yes! Dry muesli is basically uncooked oats with nuts and seeds, so eating dry is fine. Serving muesli with your favorite yogurt or milk is a popular breakfast recipe!
What is the best time to eat muesli?
Although you can eat muesli any time of the day, it does make a delicious breakfast. The whole grains, a drizzle of maple syrup, and other healthy toppings make for an uber-nutritious breakfast.
Storage
Storing – Store this Swiss muesli in a mason jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat, give it a good stir and add some more toppings.
Freezing – I would not recommend freezing homemade muesli as the texture of the oats will change.
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Bircher Muesli
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Muesli
- 1 cup vanilla greek yogurt or dairy-free alternative
- 2 tablespoon milk or dairy-free alternative
- 1/4 cup whole fresh cranberries
- 1/4 cup roasted chestnuts chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and split evenly among two glass jars
- Refrigerate overnight
- Top with more fresh cranberries and enjoy
Notes
Nutrition
*This post was originally published January 2018 but was updated April 2023
Rachel says
This recipe has really helped me with eating breakfast in the morning. I’m usually too lazy to make breakfast, but making it ahead of time has really helped. And it’s so yummy that I look forward to eating it in the morning!
Chandice says
So glad to hear it Rachel!