Muesli is an oat-based breakfast dish that contains nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. It is considered a very healthy option as the seeds and nuts provide a great source of healthy fats as well as fibre and minerals. Many fans eat it as a cereal, mixed with cold or hot milk. Alternatively, it is left to soak in milk or juice overnight.
Is Muesli The Same As Granola?
You may have heard the terms ‘muesli’ and ‘granola’ used interchangeably, and you’ve probably noticed both of them in the same breakfast aisle at your grocery store.
While both food items are very similar and have a lot of the same ingredients, there are a few differences. Muesli, as mentioned, is oat-based, and the ingredients are raw and loose, usually soaked overnight in milk or juice, similar to overnight oats.
Granola, on the other hand, is made by mixing pretty much the same ingredients as muesli, in addition to oil and sweeteners, such as honey, and then baked. This makes it form into little clusters, which is why you can make granola bars.
Granola is usually eaten cold and can be had as a snack from the packet or with milk as you would with cereal. It even makes a great crunchy topping for some yoghurt.
Those who are intolerant to gluten, or are coeliac (celiac) must adopt a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a family of proteins that are found in food items such as barley, rye, wheat, and triticale.
Gluten helps to bind things together so that they have a shape. With this in mind, regular bread, crackers, cereals, and pasta all normally contain gluten.
Those who are intolerant to gluten will normally experience a lot of stomach pain and disrupted bowel movements if they eat foods containing gluten. In fact, this is probably how they found out they were intolerant to gluten in the first place.
While gluten is in a lot of food, fortunately there are many gluten-free alternatives available nowadays.
Both muesli and granola may contain oats, but oats are normally gluten-free. However, during the farming and production process, cross-contamination with items that contain gluten can happen. As a result, those who are allergic to it are advised to purchase items that are certified gluten-free.
10 Vegan & Gluten-Free Muesli Recipes
As the two breakfast foods are so similar, this article will be providing you with 10 vegan and gluten-free recipes for both muesli and granola. As you will see in these recipes, you can add anything you like, making your own customised healthy breakfast.
We’re opening our look at vegan & gluten-free muesli recipes with one that is both quick to make and delicious to eat.
This recipe only takes 10 minutes to put together before placing it in the oven. What’s more, its packed with nutrients and healthy proteins that will leave you feeling full and energised in the morning.
All you need to do is mix together some gluten-free oats, along with your favourite nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, and dried fruit. Then, mix in the olive oil (or coconut oil), maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Once this is all mixed together, spread it out on some baking paper on a tray, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Allow some time for it to cool, so the clusters can form, and dig in.
Bircher muesli differs from regular muesli as it is soaked overnight. This is usually done in milk or cream, but as this recipe is vegan, the muesli is soaked in vegan yoghurt or a plant-based milk. Cacao nibs are also added for a vegan version of chocolate chips and they add a nice bitter crunch to this breakfast option.
This recipe involves toasting the muesli, unlike regular muesli recipes. This is so you get more flavour out of all the ingredients. In order to make this, you mix gluten-free oats, coconut, cinnamon, and maple syrup together (if you are not toasting your muesli you can leave this last ingredient out). After mixing together, bake for around 15 minutes and then leave it to cool.
Once cooled, stir in the rest of the ingredients. This recipe uses raisins, pumpkin seeds, cacao nibs, and poppy seeds. Then, soak in some plant-based milk or yoghurt overnight and enjoy.
If you aren’t using the toasting method, then just mix all the ingredients together without the maple syrup, and soak overnight as above.
This homemade muesli is super easy to make, and quick to whip up. It recommends you use 1 cup of dried nuts/seeds, and 1 cup of dried fruit per every 3 cups of oats.
The ingredients used are almonds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots, dried cherries, raisins, and cinnamon. Adding cinnamon will give your muesli an extra hit of flavour.
This recipe does not bake the oats like the previous one, so all you need to do is stir all the ingredients together and store them in an airtight container.
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When you’re ready to try some, pour a serving into a bowl and cover with vegan milk or yoghurt. Then let it sit for around 15 minutes to soak up the liquid. You can also let it soak overnight.
Place the mixture into a baking tray and bake for around 20 minutes. The result should be a lovely warm and golden baked good that you can cut into bars.
Making your own little muesli cookies is perfect if you’re low on time. They are the ideal breakfast or snack when you’re running out of the house.
All you need to do is combine the ingredients – oats, gluten-free oat flour (blitz your gluten-free oats to make this), cinnamon, baking powder, pumpkin seeds, salt, dried cranberries, and raisins. Then, in another bowl, mix together some applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and mix well. Once mixed, make them into little balls, and bake for around 9 minutes.
In just 55 minutes from start to finish, you can make these delicious muesli banana bars.
All you need to do is mix together 3 bananas, cinnamon, baking soda, and powder, some gluten-free muesli, applesauce, hemp hearts, and sea salt. Bake this mixture for around 35 minutes until golden brown, and allow to cool for around 15 minutes before cutting into bars.
Anything with peanut butter is a great idea first thing in the morning. It not only tastes delicious but it’s filled with healthy fats that’ll give you a ton of energy.
This recipe starts off by melting honey and peanut butter together (yes, imagine the glorious smell) until the mixture is smooth and combined.
Then, you add vanilla extract and the dry ingredients (oats – and nuts, fruits, seeds if you like) and stir until combined. Then, bake until golden brown and enjoy over some of your favourite yoghurt and topped with some nutritious fruit.
This recipe will provide you with some delicious clusters that are bursting with flavour from the cinnamon and peanut butter combination.
As is the case with the previous recipes on this list, all you need to do is mix all the dry ingredients together, and in a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients together.
Then, combine them both until mixed together, and bake until golden brown. This is another of our easy vegan & gluten-free muesli recipes that will provide you with several week’s worths of healthy breakfasts and snacks!
Just because we’re making vegan recipes, does not mean we need to miss out on all things chocolate. This recipe combines cocoa powder and vegan dark chocolate for the ultimate chocolaty breakfast.
All ingredients are combined together before being baked to golden, crunchy goodness. You can use any of your favourite nuts and dried fruit – raisins, in particular, go very well with chocolate. Make your mornings better with this delicious treat, which is also incredibly healthy.
This one is for all those white chocolate lovers out there. This recipe use gluten-free oats, but you could swap these for quinoa flakes. You’ll also find some macadamia nuts, dried cranberries, cacao butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
If you’d like more of a white chocolate hit, you can add some vegan white chocolate chunks too. For even more flavour, add some cinnamon for a hint of spice!
As you’ve probably noticed from this list, making your own granola or muesli is super straightforward, and you are able to add any of your favourite nuts, dried fruits, or seeds.
Once you have your base recipes, you can experiment and play around with making all kinds of varieties. And as long as you are storing it in an airtight container, you muesli or granola can last you a number of weeks.
Granola and muesli are both very healthy and nutritious options. So making your own with your favourite ingredients is a great way to make sure you are eating healthier.
