What's the Difference Between Granola and Muesli? (2024)

FAQs

What's the Difference Between Granola and Muesli? ›

The primary distinction lies in their preparation: muesli is typically a raw mix, while granola is baked, usually with added sweeteners and oils.

Muesli is made with uncooked rolled oats, which retain their natural texture and taste. Granola is made with baked rolled oats, which gives it a crunchy texture and a toasted flavor. Muesli typically contains fresh or dried fruits like apples, bananas, berries, and raisins, which add natural sweetness and flavor.

Muesli and granola are considered by some people, especially Americans, to be the same thing…but they are not! Granola is made with similar ingredients as muesli, specifically oats, nuts, seeds and fruit, but granola typically has a lot more sugar and oil than muesli does.

Both muesli and granola are oat-based although muesli didn't begin that way and both are late 19th century inventions. Both contain, usually, nuts and/or seeds. Muesli contains dried fruit (originally apples), granola may or may not. Muesli contains raw oats and granola has cooked / toasted oats.

Granola and muesli have many similarities, including most of their ingredients and health benefits. The main difference is how they're made. Granola is baked and usually contains added sweeteners — such as honey or syrup — along with dried fruits, while muesli is enjoyed raw and sweetened with dried fruits only.

Muesli is a mixture of rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and fresh or dried fruit that have been soaked in milk, yogurt, or juice. This dish is attributed to a Swiss doctor, Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who fed this refreshing and filling breakfast to the patients in his hospital.

The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.

In Switzerland, it is also consumed for supper as Birchermüesli complet – muesli with Café complet (milk coffee, accompanied by Butterbrot (bread, butter and jam)). In addition to being prepared raw, muesli can be toasted.

Oats is rich in key nutrients, protein and fibre, but muesli has comparatively higher protein and nutrient due to presence of additional ingredients in it. But unlike oats, muesli also has added sugar which somehow eliminates all the good properties.

Untoasted, raw or natural muesli usually starts with a base of rolled oats, loaded with nuts, seeds and/or dried fruit. Untoasted muesli is usually lower in saturated fat and added sugars than the toasted varieties, making it a healthy choice.

Can you eat muesli like granola? ›

Granola and muesli can both be eaten for breakfast, like granola oats, but they can also be eaten as a snack or dessert. Muesli can be eaten after soaking it in milk or yoghurt, which fills each oat and makes a creamier meal, much like overnight oats.

It's safe to eat muesli straight from the bag, and you can also use raw muesli as a topping on things like yogurt parfaits or smoothie bowls. Muesli does, however, have a bit of a tougher texture, so many people prefer to soak it in liquid to soften it up and make it easier to digest.

The easiest way to enjoy muesli is just like cereal: pour it in a bowl, add your favorite milk (whether cow, nut, oat, soy milk or another type.) and then dig right in. The longer you let it soak, the richer the flavor will be, plus the oats will soften and become similar to oatmeal.

Zucchini. If you want some summer squash during a U.K. visit, keep an eye out for “courgette” instead of zucchini. The name also lends itself well to British “courgetti”—courgette spaghettie—or as Americans say, “zoodles.” Here's why Americans and Brits don't have the same accent.

While both muesli and granola can be part of a balanced diet, muesli often emerges as the healthier choice due to its lower sugar content and minimal processing. Its versatility and ease of preparation make it an excellent option for a nutritious breakfast or snack.

Oats is rich in key nutrients, protein and fibre, but muesli has comparatively higher protein and nutrient due to presence of additional ingredients in it.

Untoasted, raw or natural muesli usually starts with a base of rolled oats, loaded with nuts, seeds and/or dried fruit. Untoasted muesli is usually lower in saturated fat and added sugars than the toasted varieties, making it a healthy choice.

Granola is higher in calories and sugar

Granola is closer to conventional sugary cereals than it is to muesli. While a serving of granola has about 250+ calories, muesli has about 150 to 250 calories, depending on the kind (types with more nuts and seeds will have more calories due to their supply of healthy fats).

The easiest way to enjoy muesli is just like cereal: pour it in a bowl, add your favorite milk (whether cow, nut, oat, soy milk or another type.) and then dig right in. The longer you let it soak, the richer the flavor will be, plus the oats will soften and become similar to oatmeal.