You guys know I love my quick and easy morning breakfasts! I surely think this is no secret by now 😉. And because we are heading into the season for pears, I thought it would be wonderful to bring you a pear-inspired recipe 🥰. Meet this Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts.

Two bowls of Bircher Muesli with pears and hazelnuts, surrounded by chopped hazelnuts and pears

What is Bircher Muesli? If we are being fair, it is kind of like overnight oats, but originated in Switzerland. Named after Dr. Bicher-Benner who allegedly received “new strength” from this easy breakfast it is very much still a staple in the German-speaking cuisine. The original version only contained a few simple ingredients: Condensed milk, oats, grated apple, lemon, and nuts. All of these ingredients had to soak overnight in order to not be too heavy on your digestive tract. Whereas our version contains slightly different ingredients, the notion of simplicity and only a few ingredients remains the same.

Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts in a small bowl with spoons, chopped hazelnuts, and pears lying around, photographed from the side

Funny story about the pear tree pictures… We have beautiful pear trees growing wild around the corner from us. I wanted to photograph the pears hanging on the tree in the evening sun so I took my camera and the dog on a walk. We get to the tree and I am concentrating on the shooting and the sun setting. Suddenly, I just hear: “Chew, chew, chew”. My dog was eating the pears off the floor the entire time I was shooting away 🤣. I am pretty sure he ate 5 to 6 pears during my bout of concentration.

Why is this Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts good for you?

Pears

We seldomly (ok, never) talk about Pears, so I thought I would give them their moment to shine in the spotlight. Pears are super delicious and in season from August through to October. Interestingly, they usually do not change their color when ripening. Pears contain decent amounts of fiber, copper, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They are also slightly unique in that they are easily digestible due to their low acidic levels (as opposed to, for example, citrus fruit). Pears are super high in antioxidants, and also have strong anti-inflammatory benefits. Due to this fantastic antioxidant profile, Pears are great at lowering oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Thereby, they also help to combat common Western diseases.

Pear’s level of dietary fiber means that it helps to prevent both type 2-diabetes, as well as heart disease. The unique antioxidant profile is, in addition to the dietary fiber, also improving insulin sensitivity. In fact, studies in women showed that Pears and apples were the fruits with the ability to lower the risk of type 2-diabetes most. I am confident that a similar study with men will bring equal results. Last but not least, the concentration of antioxidants and fiber is about 3-4 times as high as in the flesh. So be sure to consume the entire fruit where possible.

Pears photographed on a pear tree against a blue sky

How can I adjust this Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts to my dietary requirements?

This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. If you want to make it nut-free, swap the hazelnuts for pumpkin seeds. If you would like to make it vegan, swap the honey in for maple syrup. Due to the grains used in the recipe, it is, sadly, not suitable for the paleo lifestyle.

Other Breakfast Recipes on the Blog

One of my favorite meals of the day!! You can never have enough breakfast options… so here it goes:

Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts in a small bowl with spoons, chopped hazelnuts, and pears lying around

And there you have it for this week 🤗. I hope you enjoy the combination of flavor, the speed at which breakfast is ready (😉), and the additional time it gives you in the morning. Full disclosure, for me this recipe does not contain enough protein. We mixed some non-flavored protein powder under but that is completely optional. As always, please let me know how you are liking the recipe, by either commenting below and/or rating the recipe. Happy breakfast time 🤩.

Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts

5 from 2 votes

Recipe by Ann Robejsek Course: BreakfastCuisine: SwissDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Simple, delicious, and easily made. This Bircher Muesli with Pears and Hazelnuts is fall deliciousness at its best. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2/3 cup 2/3 (65 gr.) oats
1 tbsp 1 flax seeds
1 cup 1 (240 ml.) dairy-free milk
2 2 pears
2 tbsp 2 chopped hazelnuts
1/2 tsp 1/2 cinnamon (optional)
2 tbsp 2 honey (or maple syrup if vegan)* (see notes for added details)

How to

Add the flax seeds to a small blender or coffee grinder and blend until smooth. Add to a bowl, along with the oats, cinnamon if using, and dairy-free milk. Mix well. Put into the fridge and let soak overnight
In the morning, wash the pears and grate into the muesli. Chop the hazelnuts and add as well. Last but not least, add the honey and mix everything through. That is it! Enjoy your new breakfast option!

Notes

* 1 tablespoon honey per person may seem much, but I did find that it perfectly balanced the flavor, and created harmony amongst the entirety of the dish.