Toasted Muesli Recipe

This homemade toasted muesli recipe is easy meal prep for a busy week. Fragrant toasted oats, nuts and seeds come together with dried fruit for a hearty and subtly sweet breakfast. Serve with vegan yogurt or a splash of plant-based milk for a wholesome, healthy and filling breakfast!

I have gotten into the bad habit of waiting until I’m super hangry before eating something for breakfast. By the time I find something to eat, it’s either something processed or not very healthy. So I started buying commercially prepared muesli in an attempt to begin my day with something more wholesome. After eating it every weekday morning for months, I felt better overall and was full for longer in the morning.

Since muesli is just oats, nuts and seeds with dried fruit, it’s easier and cheaper to make it myself than buying it prepared. Plus I can swap dried fruits and other components out to make a muesli with flavors I crave. This version has a blend of blueberries, cherries and goldenberries. They are so sweet and tart together, and perfect served with vegan yogurt.

Key Muesli Ingredients

This recipe starts with a base of thick rolled oats, chopped nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Toasting the oats and nuts brings out their beautiful aroma! I baked the oats and toasted the nuts and seeds in a preheated, dry, cast-iron skillet. Toasting the nuts and seeds in a dry pan was an easier way to keep an eye on them. You want them toasted and fragrant, but not browned.

This muesli is oil-free and gluten-free (just check your oat’s package or bulk bin to ensure they are not produced on shared equipment).

Selecting Your Oats

Thick rolled oats: Also known as old-fashioned oats, these oats begin as whole oat groats, which are the hulled oat grains. These groats then go through a process called “rolling,” where they’re gently flattened with large rollers to create those signature flat and thick flakes. This process retains their natural chewiness and texture, making their texture perfect.

Rolled oats are much different than quick oats, which have been finely chopped to cook faster. Steel-cut oats, on the other hand, are whole oat groats that have been sliced into smaller pieces but remain intact. Neither of these varieties are substitutions for this recipe! Thick rolled oats maintain their shape and size, yet are soft enough to provide a nice texture.

When it comes to health benefits, thick rolled oats are superior to quick oats. They’re loaded with dietary fiber which supports digestive health and keeps you feeling satisfied for longer periods. Plus, it helps stabilize blood sugar levels, making them an excellent choice for sustained energy throughout the day.

These oats are also a great source of complex carbohydrates. These carbs provide a steady release of energy, keeping you fueled and focused throughout your day. Goodbye hangriness! Thick rolled oats are also rich in essential minerals like manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium. They also contain antioxidants that fight inflammation. All good stuff, right?

Choosing Your Nuts

Chopped almonds: Almonds are a superstar ingredient that offer a multitude of health benefits. They an excellent source of plant-based protein, and are packed with essential nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber. Like thick rolled oats, almonds are also rich in antioxidants.

Almond trees are grown in orchards, and when they blossom, beautiful flowers appear. Honeybees play a crucial role in the pollination process, as these flowers need to be pollinated. Once this happens, the flowers transform into green, fuzzy pods that eventually mature and split open to reveal the almond shells. After the shells are cracked, the edible almond kernel is harvested and can be enjoyed in various forms: whole, sliced, roasted, or turned into creamy almond butter. Keep reading below for substitutions for almonds in this muesli recipe.

Sourcing Your Seeds

Pepitas: Not to be confused with pumpkin seeds, pepitas are the hulled and roasted seeds of specific pumpkin varieties, while pumpkin seeds refer to the entire seed, including the hull.

Pepitas are packed with essential nutrients like protein, healthy fats, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, and zinc. They’re a fantastic plant-based source of protein, and add a perfect flavor and crunch to this muesli.

Sunflower seeds: The sunflower seed production process involves harvesting mature sunflower heads and allowing them to dry. Once dry, the seeds are extracted from the flower head. They can be eaten raw or roasted for added flavor.

Sunflower seeds offer an array of health benefits. These tiny seeds are packed with nutrients, including healthy fats, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are particularly rich in vitamin Eand phytosterols, which contribute to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Additionally, they provide an excellent source of magnesium, which plays a vital role in bone health, muscle function, and overall well-being.

Finding Your Fruit

Dried fruit: Dried fruits are created by dehydrating fresh fruits, resulting in a concentrated, chewy, and nutrient-dense snack. Dehydration methods like air drying or the use of specialized dehydrators allow for the removal of most of the fruit’s moisture while preserving its natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. I used a blend of blueberries, cherries and goldenberries here. The blueberries add a perfect pop of flavor, the cherries add some tartness, and the goldenberries add a super tangy and citrus flavor. I like them all together here, but feel free to add these other components in place of them:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Coconut flakes
• Cranberries
• Dates
• Figs
• Mangoes
• Pineapple
• Prunes
• Raisins

How To Prep This Toasted Muesli Recipe

To make this recipe, you’ll need a baking sheet, large cast iron pan and a large prep bowl. Distribute the oats onto a dry baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Give it a stir halfway through to promote even cooking.

Toast your nuts and seeds in a large, dry, cat iron pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them and stir occasionally to prevent burning. You want them fragrant, but not browned.

Add the toasted oats, nuts and seeds to a large prep bowl and stir. Toss in the dried fruit and salt and stir again.

Allow the oats to cool completely, then transfer to sealed jars or other containers and use throughout the week for super healthy breakfasts. No more hangry mornings!

Ingredient Swaps

Go nuts! If you don’t want to use almonds here, try pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pine nuts or pistachios. Just give them a rough chop and toast in a dry pan on the stovetop to keep a close eye on them and prevent burning.

Mix it up! I used sunflower and pepitas together here because I like their flavor and textures, but other options are hemp and sesame seeds.

Feel free to experiment with the ratio of nuts to seeds. This recipe is super non-fussy and you can calibrate the ratios to create a muesli that you love.

How To Serve This Toasted Muesli

Once you’ve toasted and combined your ingredients, it’s ready to be enjoyed! Portion out the amount you’d like, and store the rest in air-tight containers. Feel free to serve or top with any of the suggestions below:

• Serve in a bowl with plant-based milk of your choice
• Use as a topping over vegan yogurt
• Top with fresh fruit like cherries, apples, plums, berries or bananas
• Drizzle pure maple syrup over the top
• Add spices to the oatmeal during the baking time, like cinnamon, cloves or cardamom

Use This Muesli Recipe to Make Overnight Oats

For a cold breakfast (perfect for summer), place 3/4 cup of this muesli into a container or jar, then add enough plant-based milk to cover, then add a few more inches. Cover and place into the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a creamy, dreamy breakfast that’s packed with flavor and is super convenient.

Overnight oats can also be made with untoasted ingredients; however, toasting them does add a nice touch of flavor. Check out these overnight oats for more ideas!

For More Breakfast Ideas, Check These Recipes Out!

These recipes use oats and other ingredients that are commonly found in your grocer’s bulk bins. They are easy to make, nutritious and so delicious.

• This Easy Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal is so simple, and great for colder months. Wake up to a delicious hearty breakfast with very little prep!
• Use chia seeds to make this Creamy Chia Pudding with a Fresh Berry Compote and serve it parfait-style.
• This Homemade Blueberry Granola is packed with nutrition and a perfect amount of sweetness. I love dried blueberries and these are a perfect way to use them!
• Use farro to make this delicious and hearty Apple Pie Breakfast Farro. It has so many interesting flavors and textures!

This post was last updated on July 10, 2024.