Strawberry Vegan Bircher Muesli (Swiss Muesli)

A simple, nutritious breakfast, these gluten-free and vegan bircher muesli bowls are naturally sweet, dairy-free and topped with a fresh strawberry compote and a hint of cinnamon. Ready in 30 minutes, or make it the night before for a satisfying breakfast with almost no effort. Serves 2.

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe Works
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• Step by Step Guide
• Helpful Tips
• Storage & Make Ahead
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Recipes
• Strawberry Vegan Bircher Muesli (Swiss Muesli)

Why This Recipe Works

Essentially, Bircher muesli or Swiss oatmeal is the original overnight oats. It's a cold, uncooked breakfast made from a base of rolled oats mixed with dried or fresh fruit, nuts and seeds and then soaked in milk. Here, the traditional recipe remains unchanged, however, to make it dairy-free, almond milk replaces the dairy. Moreover, I find lightly blending the oats before mixing makes for a softer, creamier and better textured bircher oatmeal.

Alongside a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, strawberry compote brings sweetness and a perfect fruity texture without relying on dried fruit. The strawberry compote can be made at the same time as the museli and refrigerated until you're ready to have it for breakfast.

Like all bircher muesli, this recipe requires some advanced preparation, but most of it is hand off time. This ready can be enjoyed after 30 minutes, however, it's much better when left to soak overnight in the fridge. This recipe is creamy, indulgent and satisfying fuel for your day. Also, be sure to double check all your ingredients to ensure they are certified gluten free if there is a gluten sensitivity, intolerance or allergy.

Ingredients & Substitutions

For the full detailed list of ingredients and the quantities of each, you will need to visit the recipe card further down this post. To make my vegan Bircher muesli with strawberry compote you will need the following:

Rolled Oats: You can also use quick oats or a blend of the two in a pinch. However, it must be noted that while oats are naturally gluten-free, they are often processed alongside other gluten containing foods like wheat. If you're concerned about gluten, be sure to source certified gluten-free oats for this recipe.

Plant-based milk: I prefer the taste of unsweetened almond milk, however, I have also used lite coconut milk, cashew milk, and soy milk for this recipe. You can use whichever dairy-free milk or plant-based milk you prefer, however, avoid full-fat coconut milk which will be too thick for this recipe.

Vanilla bean paste: you can use vanilla extract if you prefer.

Maple syrup: use honey in equal measure if you prefer.

Fresh strawberries: these are cooked into a simple compote which is a nice match for the soft museli. Alternatively, you can use any chopped fresh fruit you like; apples, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, apricots or plums.

Orange Juice: adds natural sweetness to the strawberry compote. You can use fresh or storebought orange juice.

Step by Step Guide

This is a brief overview of the steps involved in making this recipe. For the full instructions, please see the recipe card.

1. Place the rolled oats in a small food processor and process until the oats resemble a coarse sandy texture.
2. Place the oats, almond milk, vanilla bean paste and maple syrup into a large bowl. Stir to combine then cover and place in the fridge for minimum 30 minutes but preferably overnight.
3. Coarsely chop the strawberries and place into a small saucepan with the orange juice.
4. Cook the strawberries until soft and the juices start to run. Let cool.
5. Portion the Bircher oats into two bowls and top with the strawberries, yogurt and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

Helpful Tips

• Prepare the night before: process and mix your oats with the milk and prep the strawberries for a total of 8 minutes of work. I prefer the texture of muesli that has been allowed to soak for minimum 8 hours.
• Use Certified Gluten Free Oats: If you're concerned about gluten, be sure to source certified gluten-free oats for this recipe.
• Use Fresh Strawberries: They should have a deep red colour throughout and smell sweet and strawberry-like. Of course, not all strawberries are red; some are orange-y, white or pinkish. As such, use their aroma to best predict ripeness. Don't purchase or use any strawberries if you smell or see any hint of mold.

Storage & Make Ahead

Storage: vegan Bircher muesli should be kept covered in the fridge and will last up to 3 days.

Make Ahead: Again, this recipe is better if left overnight (8-12 hours) to soften. You can also make the strawberry compote the night before and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to use in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes

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Fluffy Vegan Spelt Pancakes

Vegan Apple Spice Baked Oatmeal

If you made my Strawberry Vegan Bircher Muesli recipe, leave me a comment below with a star rating; it really helps others who want to make the recipe. For more from The Simple Green, follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. Consider becoming a subscriber to receive emails of new recipes and posts.