Easy Muesli Recipe (Alpen Copycat)
This easy muesli recipe requires nothing more than mixing a few pantry staples together! It’s so good, you’ll be making it on repeat, and will save a bundle on those expensive bags and boxes of store-bought muesli cereals.
Since I was a little girl in Scotland, I have loved Alpen muesli cereal.
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In fact, when my mother was pregnant, she said she couldn’t wait to get up to eat a bowl of Alpen for breakfast because she loved it so much.
That said, I have to explain, to those of you in North America who may have only tasted the Canadian-made Alpen: it’s NOT the same as the original UK Alpen, it’s absolutely awful! I actually left a review for the only box I ever bought, and said it tasted like horse food! Not that I’ve had horse food, but you get the idea.
So whenever I come back from the UK, I have some Alpen in my suitcase. Last time, I splurged and bought the family size (almost 2.5 lb) bag and lugged it back with me. Well, no more lugging heavy cereal over 5000 miles, because I’ve cracked the Alpen code, and made it myself! It tastes JUST like the original!
Honestly, I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am to have done this. This copycat Alpen tastes just like the real deal, and I have already made four batches in about 10 days! This means my husband is allowed to eat “Alpen” too, now (it was off limits when I lugged it back from the UK)!
Alpen comes in three flavors: original (which is the one I like), no sugar, and dark chocolate. The beauty of this recipe is that you can make all three. Omit the sugar for the no sugar version, and add chocolate for the chocolate Alpen! So easy, and the most work you’ll have to do is to chop some hazelnuts, that’s it. Some of you on Facebook asked about muesli when you saw my photo.
What is Muesli?
Müesli means, “little mush” in German. It was invented by a Swiss doctor, Maximilian Bircher-Benner, in the early 1900s who hoped to cure his sanatorium patients by healthy eating of raw food. His original concoction consisted of rolled oats (soaked in water for 12 hours), sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, grated apple and ground hazelnuts or almonds.
You may have heard of Bircher muesli as there has been a resurgence of this overnight oats breakfast in past years. I eat Alpen, and this copycat muesli, with cold milk poured over it, but you can make it like Bircher muesli, or even pour hot milk onto it.
Did you know I’m a World Porridge Champion? Learn how to make better tasting oatmeal.
What is Alpen?
In the late 1960s, a UK executive from the Weetabix company was on a skiing holiday in Switzerland when his personal chef made him some muesli. (FYI I still buy Weetabix as I don’t think I’ll be recreating this cereal anytime soon!) He loved it so much and was so impressed with how it kept him going on the slopes, he brought the idea back to the UK and Alpen was born in 1971. It has been incredibly popular ever since. -Alpen.com
In fact, you can spot a box of Alpen in this British comedy, The Catherine Tate Show!
One of the things I love most about Alpen is the dry-milk coated raisins! Don’t ask me why, because I haven’t got a clue-it’s such a strange thing, I know!
Now, let’s get to the recipe. Here are all the ingredients you’ll need for the original Alpen muesli recipe (with a pinch of salt–not shown). Try to buy organic if at all possible. I used Shiloh Farms wheat flakes, Trader Joe’s nuts, organic raisins and organic rolled oats. My supplies have dwindled because I’ve made so many batches. Do I even need to tell you how nutritious this breakfast is? I thought not.
Easy Muesli Recipe (Alpen Copycat)
copycat recipe of Alpen muesli makes 10 servings
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW (I recommend using a scale)
Ingredients
- wheat flakes
- rolled oats
- raisins
- sugar
- dry milk powder
- slice almonds
- hazelnuts
- salt
Directions
Put all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Pour into an airtight container.
Keep in a cool cupboard or pantry. Use within 4 weeks.
How to Serve Muesli
Serve with cold milk, or even hot milk on a cold day.
Soak the muesli with water the night before, and add shredded apples if you like, too. It’s rather addictive, just warning you. Although I’m not pregnant, I wake up thinking about having this cereal, too!
And if you have never seen one of these cow milk jugs, they are absolutely hilarious! Well, to me they are, but my mum hates them, ha ha! I have to say, children think they are so funny! Maybe something to encourage them to have milk (or whatever you want to pour)!
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Easy Muesli Recipe (Alpen Copycat)
Special Equipment
- cow milk jug for fun!
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups wheat flakes
- 1 ¾ cups rolled oats (old fashioned, not instant)
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 Tbsp fine sugar (or caster sugar, a little more or less, to your liking- omit for sugar-free)
- 4 Tbsp dry milk powder
- ½ cup sliced almonds (raw or roasted)
- ⅓ cup chopped hazelnuts (raw or roasted)
- ⅛ tsp salt (a generous pinch)
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients into a bowl
- Mix well.
- Pour into airtight container.
Notes
- Original Alpen has twice the amount of sugar, so if you want to make it exactly the same, just add 2 Tbsp of sugar.
- For no sugar Alpen: omit the sugar.
- For dark chocolate Alpen: add ½ cup (57 g) dark chocolate chunks.
Nutrition
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Thank you for this. I was in Sprouts today and I saw a muesli that was coated with white powder and I looked at the ingredients and it was oat flour… Which may be a good substitute for those who don’t want to use dry milk powder.
Absolutely, you could use oat flour instead. Let me know if you try it!
I dont understand the powdered dry milk. Could you make without and just add fresh milk when eating?
You can totally skip the powdered milk, but it won’t taste like the original Alpen. We’re not adding it for the sake of eating cereal with milk, it’s a flavor thing.
This is the only Muesli that my family now eats. it’s easy to make, I always make a double portion at once. The ingredients are easy to obtain. But most of all, it has a better taste than any shop bought Muesli and much less sugar.
So happy to hear it, Mr. Askew! I will be using your review for my newsletter as the “review of the week” – thank you!
Can’t wait to try this. This was my favourite cereal, when i lived in Scotland! You’ve written is makes 10 portions, how many grams is a portion/bowl?
This Muesli recipe is exactly how I remember it from back home! Have just made my second batch. Delicious!
Thank you for sharing. Now do you have a recipe for ReadyBrek??
I just went to England and had Bircher Muslei brought 2 boxes back with me I loved it so much. I eat it cold with coconut yogurt. And banana. My sister shared your recipe with me. And I am absolutely thrilled. I am hoping to find a gluten free version. Do you have any ideas?
It’s so good! Just replace the wheat flakes with a gluten free flake of your choice and make sure the oats are gf, too.