If you are longing for something different from instant oatmeal packets, try this Basic Muesli Recipe with your pantry ingredients. Breakfast can be a tricky meal because you often need something quick, but during the cold weather months, no one wants to wake up early to cook breakfast from scratch.
Quick, processed breakfast options often have lots of salt and sugar. We noticed that after a few years of cutting out sugar from our diet (from breakfast cereals, coffee, instant oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, etc.) the sweetened instant oatmeal was too sweet for us. Even the “low sugar” versions were too sweet. But who wants to eat plain oatmeal in the morning when you need a quick warm microwaved meal? That’s where this Basic Muesli Recipe comes in.
Muesli inspiration
Muesli is one of those foods in the cereal aisle of big chain grocery stores that many Hawaii folks are probably unfamiliar with. The first time I tried muesli was from Downtown Coffee Honolulu (website) on a cold day when I was in desperate need of coffee and a snack. It was cold so I got Muesli with steamed milk, the only warm food option at the time I was there. It was so warm and comforting and had tons of natural sweetness from the dried fruit. From there I was hooked!
My version is based on the recipe by Gimme Love Oven. So many recipes have specific measurements for specific ingredients. But what if you don’t like a certain nut or dried fruit? Using the basic guidelines in this Basic Muesli Recipe will make it easier to mix and match with whatever you have around your pantry. If you are not a cinnamon fan (I know you are out there), just leave it out.
Why we enjoy this muesli during the colder months
Meal prep easy microwave breakfasts
Instead of separately steaming milk, I just pour the cold milk on the muesli and microwave the whole thing together for 1 to 3 minutes depending on how soft you want your oats and how cold the weather is. It’s like your own homemade instant oatmeal!
Meal prep easy microwave breakfasts
If you want to warm up several servings, then you can do it on the stove in a pot over medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure you watch the milk, so it doesn’t boil over.
Reduce Food Waste
I get to use up all the dried fruit and nuts I bought from the warehouse stores with intentions to make trail mix and snack mix that sat in the pantry. When you buy in bulk, you spend less money by weight, but you spend more on the whole package. Thus, if you don’t use up the package, you end up wasting money on dried fruit and nuts that go bad.
Cheaper than store bought
Making your own muesli can be very inexpensive if you add ingredients that you eat all the time that are already in your pantry. Buying special ingredients meant only for muesli means you will buy a small package, and it will be much more expensive. In addition, if you make it with ingredients you love to eat often, you will eat muesli more often. It’s a win-win.
Never get bored of breakfast with these easy to make recipes!
Basic Muesli Recipe
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 large cutting board
- 1 chef's knife
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup dried fruit (apricots, blueberries, cranberries, dates, figs, mangoes, pineapple, raisins, etc.)
- ¾ cup nuts chopped (almonds, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, etc., toasted preferred)
- ½ cup seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, etc.)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Put the oats in a large bowl.
- Roughly chop any large, dried fruits and nuts into bite-size pieces. Add them to the oats.
- Add the seeds and cinnamon (if using).
- Mix until everything is combined. Store in an air-tight container for up to four weeks.
- To serve: put muesli in a bowl. Top with cold or steamed milk. Optional: top with milk and microwave for 2 minutes.
