Bircher Muesli, Aussie Café Style

About This Recipe

Bircher muesli, originally a Swiss invention, became one of the most ubiquitous breakfast items on Australian café menus over the past two decades, served chilled and creamy rather than as a hot porridge. Rolled oats are soaked overnight in apple juice, milk and yogurt, softening without any cooking, while grated apple stirred in fresh the next morning keeps a bit of crunch and natural sweetness against the creamy oats. A scatter of toasted nuts and seeds — almonds, sunflower seeds, sometimes shredded coconut — adds textural contrast, toasted specifically because raw nuts taste flat next to the tangy, soft oats. Cinnamon or a touch of nutmeg gives it warmth, but the dish relies mostly on the natural sweetness of apple and honey rather than added sugar, which is part of why it became an Australian café staple during the country's health-food-driven brunch boom. It's the ultimate make-ahead breakfast: prepared the night before, ready to eat cold straight from the fridge, and endlessly adaptable to whatever fruit is in season.

Ingredients

Serves 2

• 1 cuprolled oats
• 0.75 cupapple juice
• 0.5 cupmilk
• 0.5 cupplain yogurt
• 1apple(grated, plus extra for topping)
• 0.25 tspground cinnamon
• 2 tbsphoney
• 0.25 cupalmonds(toasted and chopped)
• 2 tbspsunflower seeds(toasted)
• 1 tbsplemon juice

Instructions

1. 1

   Toast the nuts

   Toast almonds and sunflower seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and golden. Set aside to cool.

2. 2

   Combine the base

   In a bowl, mix oats, apple juice, milk, yogurt, grated apple, cinnamon and honey.

3. 3

   Refrigerate overnight

   Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight, until the oats have softened and absorbed the liquid.

   Toss the grated apple with lemon juice first to stop it browning in the fridge.

4. 4

   Finish and serve

   Stir well before serving. Top with toasted nuts, seeds and extra grated apple, and drizzle with more honey if you like it sweeter.

Variations

• •

  Use grated pear or stewed rhubarb instead of apple for a seasonal twist.

• •

  Swap yogurt for coconut yogurt and milk for oat milk for a dairy-free version.

• •

  Add a spoonful of chia seeds for extra thickness and fiber.

Storage

Keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; stir in fresh fruit and nuts just before serving each time rather than storing them mixed in.

Frequently Asked Questions