Maple Pecan Homemade Muesli

This post was created in partnership with the American Pecan Council. All opinions are our own. As a child, my family called me “cereal monster” for the massive quantities of breakfast cereal I ate. My daily routine was a few bowls for breakfast, a bowl for an after-school snack, and what about a bedtime snack? Cereal. Moving on to college, I developed an addiction to a certain cinnamon-flavored breakfast cereal as a study snack. Eating it straight out of the box gave me a cinnamon-sugar film under my fingernails, a sure sign of a late night cramming session. This was around the time Alex and I met, and to this day he teases me about my cereal obsession. So it’s with this history of cereal mania that I bring you this homemade muesli recipe!

How to make homemade muesli

Homemade muesli is essentially a recipe for homemade breakfast cereal! Growing up, I had no interest in thinking about my food and what went into it, and least of all cooking. Since then, Alex and I have come to appreciate the joy and pleasure of making simple, natural foods in our kitchen. Not only is this toasted muesli delicious, it’s actually pretty simple to make. In contrast to the cereal of my youth, this homemade muesli recipe is:

Non-processed, with no additives or chemicalsNaturally gluten-free, made of oats and nutsNaturally sweet, with only a touch of maple syrupOil-free, in contrast to granola, which is doused with loads of sugar and oilNutrient-dense; pecans contain a combination of protein, heart-healthy* unsaturated fats and fiber that can help you stay fuller longerVegan, if you use a non-dairy milk when servingSimple to whip up: it takes about 10 minutes of active time and 30 minutes totalDelicious in a way that I never dreamed cereal could be; natural and pure, with a sweetness from tart dried cherries and bit of cinnamon and nutmeg.

How to store pecans

We’ve chosen to use pecans in this homemade muesli for their naturally sweet taste and buttery texture. Also, we like that most of the world’s supply of pecans come from the US; they’re grown on farms in over a dozen Southern states. Pro tip: we recently learned that for best quality, shelled pecans should be stored in the refrigerator! You also can keep them refrigerated for up to 9 months, or up to 2 years in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer. And, pecans don’t need to be thawed before using them in recipes (unless you’re grinding them to make pecan meal). If you’re wondering, pecans in the shell can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to a year. This was actually great news for us, since our refrigerator has a bit more room than our stuffed pantry! For more information and recipes with pecans, head over to the American Pecan Council website.

How to eat muesli

In contrast to granola, which is covered in sugar and oil and baked, homemade muesli uses raw oats and nuts. Our version here is a toasted muesli: it toasts the oats and nuts very lightly for a little texture, but without oil, which keeps them raw. We hope it will be a welcome new treat for the “cereal monsters” in your life! How to eat muesli? Our favorite way is with milk, just like a normal cereal: use your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk. You can also sprinkle it over yogurt like a granola. Or, I sometimes eat handfuls right out of the bag! *American Pecans American Pecans are certified as a heart-healthy food by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Certification Program. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Looking for breakfast recipes?

This toasted pecan homemade muesli recipe is one of our favorite breakfast recipes to date! Here are a few more breakfast recipes.

Chocolate Brownie Spelt Vegan PancakesAcai Bowl RecipeTurmeric Vegan Blueberry MuffinsVegan Banana French ToastChai Tart Cherry Jam or Cranberry JamHealthy Banana Bread Muffins Sweet Potato Hash BrownsLemon Poppy Seed Oatmeal PancakesEggs with Chive BlossomsTart Cherry Post Workout Protein Bowl The BEST Coffee: Chemex, Aeropress, & Cold Brew Vegetarian Spinach Quiche

Looking for pecan recipes?

The pecan is one of our favorite nuts and we love working it into recipes. Here are a few of our favorite pecan recipes:

Candied PecansGlazed Pecans Maple Pecan Granola Pecan Butter Millionaire Bars Pecan, Grape & Onion PizzaPumpkin Pecan Baked Steel Cut OatmealRoasted Brussels Sprouts with PecansCarrot Cake Breakfast Cookies