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Blood orange bircher muesli made with rolled oats, almond milk, dairy-free yogurt and fresh squeezed Sunkist® Blood oranges. This healthy vegan overnight oats recipe makes for an easy and flavorful make-ahead breakfast.

Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds.

Bircher muesli (aka the original overnight oats) may be the ultimate healthy make-ahead breakfast. It can be made the night before a busy morning or make a big batch and enjoy throughout the week. The best part? They’re endless flavor possibilities. However, I’m pretty partial to this blood orange version and think you will be too!

This blood orange bircher muesli is equally as nourishing as it is flavorful. It ticks all the boxes of a nourishing breakfast: healthy fats, protein, fiber-rich carbs and flavor! The fiber-rich rolled oats get mixed with nutrient-dense pumpkin, hemp and chia seeds. This blend of seeds adds protein, fiber, healthy fats and nutrients like zinc, calcium, iron and omega-3s. Almond milk and vegan yogurt add a creaminess that’s balanced out by a punch of bright citrus flavor from fresh squeezed Sunkist Blood oranges. After a soak in the fridge, the result is an exceptionally thick and flavorful no-cook breakfast that’s ready to enjoy as is or with your toppings of choice.

Speaking of toppings, while they’re completely optional, I like the additional layer for flavor, texture, and an extra boost of nutrients. I highly recommend fresh sliced Sunkist blood orange, raw cacao nib (although dark chocolate would be a delicious, slightly more indulgent addition), and toasted coconut flakes. Plus, the sliced blood oranges are stunning and make it feel a little fancy.

INGREDIENTS In Blood Orange Bircher Muesli

Rolled oats — these give the bircher muesli/overnight oats the best texture. They hold their shape but soften nicely after a few hours in the fridge. I don’t recommend steel cut or quick cooking. Use gluten-free oats if necessary. 

Pumpkin + Hemp seeds — this combo gives you more bang for your buck when it comes to nutrients. Both are good sources of plant protein. Pumpkin seeds are one of the best sources of zinc and plant-based iron. Hemp seeds pack in the omega-3 fatty acids. 

Chia seeds — adding chia seeds helps thicken the overnight oats while also adding fiber and omega-3s. No chia seeds? Ground flax will work!

Almond milk — choose any unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice. If you’re looking for a protein boost, opt of organic soy milk, pea milk, hemp milk. I made this blood orange bircher muesli with almond milk.

Blood oranges — Fresh squeezed Sunkist Blood oranges add a bright, citrus flavor, a touch of sweetness and vitamin C, fiber, folate and thiamin.

Dairy-free yogurt — adds a thickness and an added layer of creaminess. Plus, yogurt adds probiotics for a healthy gut!  Thick dairy-free yogurt works best in this recipe. Feel free to use another thick yogurt like full-fat coconut milk yogurt or dairy Greek yogurt.

Vanilla + Ginger — a touch of sweetness from the vanilla and spiciness from the fresh ginger. These subtle flavors compliment the zesty blood orange juice.

Maple syrup — adding sweetener is completely optional! I kept this baby friendly and left it out. Maple syrup tends to dilute in taste/sweetness level when soaking overnight so I recommend adding any sweetener just before serving.

Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds. Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds.

What is Bircher Muesli?

Think of bircher muesli as the original “overnight oats”. This traditional Swiss oatmeal is made by soaking a cereal mix made up of oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit in a liquid, typically yogurt, milk, cream, or juice. Soaking the oats allows them to soften without the need to cook them over heat. This also helps reduce any phytates or other anti-nutrients in the oats and seeds, making the nutrients more available for your body to use.

This no-cook breakfast was originally developed by a Swiss physician in the 1900s who used it as a prescription for his patients. How cool is that?! It’s a popular breakfast item in Europe, and even more so in Switzerland and Germany. The bircher muesli trend has made its way to the states, but under the name “overnight oats”. Regardless of what you call it, bircher muesli allows you to back in a nutrient-dense blend of ingredients that give you energy and keep you satisfied throughout the morning.

Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds. Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds.

Blood Orange Nutrition

Slice into a blood orange and you’ll immediately see the vibrant maroon color which can vary in intensity. This beautiful color isn’t just for show! This unique color comes from anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant. These pigments give blood oranges their dark red color and contribute to their known health benefits. Anthocyanins can help your body reduce damage from free radicals.

In addition to the antioxidant profile, blood oranges also can provide many health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C and are a good source of folate, fiber and thiamin. One Sunkist® blood orange contains 80% of your daily vitamin C. Vitamin C has many important roles in the body, including supporting immune function, wound healing, and helping improve your iron absorption.

The blood oranges offer a distinct, rich orange taste with a hint of fresh raspberry. This lends to both sweet and savory dishes ranging from cakes and cocktails to flavorful salads. The juice can be used as a natural food dye, giving a beautiful hue to icings. If you want to elevate the appearance of a dish, sliced blood oranges make for a show-stopping presentation. Add slices to a cheese board, use them to garnish a cocktail or yogurt bowl. The possibilities are endless! Grab blood oranges while you can. They’re available from December through June!

Blood Orange Bircher Muesli. Vegan overnight oats made with dairy-free yogurt, almond milk, blood orange juice, rolled oats and chia seeds.

MORE Healthy CITRUS RECIPES:

If you make this blood orange bircher muesli be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe below. I’d love to hear from you, and it encourages others to make the recipe too.

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Blood Orange Bircher Muesli (Overnight Oats)

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Blood orange bircher muesli made with rolled oats, almond milk, dairy-free yogurt and fresh squeezed Sunkist® Blood oranges. This healthy vegan overnight oats recipe makes for an easy and flavorful make-ahead breakfast.

  • Author: Jessica Bippen
  • Prep Time: 5 min
  • Soaking Time: at least 4 hrs
  • Total Time: 5 min + 4 hrs to soak
  • Yield: 2-3 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons hemp seeds
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup almond milk or plant milk, plus more to thin
  • 1/2 cup Sunkist® Blood orange juice (2-3 Sunkist® Blood oranges)
  • Zest of one Sunkist® Blood orange
  • 1/3 cup dairy-free yogurt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey, (optional)

For Topping (optional):

  • Sliced Sunkist® Blood orange
  • Cacao nibs or grated dark chocolate
  • Coconut flakes
  • Fresh Sunkist® Blood orange zest

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds and salt. Add in the milk, fresh squeezed blood orange juice, yogurt and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Transfer to an airtight container or simply cover the bowl. Place in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

When ready to enjoy, give the oats a stir. Add more almond milk if desired. Place in a bowl and top with blood orange slices, cacao nibs, coconut flakes and fresh orange zest, or any toppings of choice.

Notes

* I originally used use Kite Hill Greek-style almond yogurt. However, I do not love the new formula. I now use Kite Hill regular almond milk yogurt. You can sub 2% Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt.

 

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #nourishedbynutriton and #MySunkistTable. You can also find this recipe on Sunkist.com/recipes/blood-orange-overnight-oats/

This post was created in partnership with Sunkist®. As always, I only partner with brands I love and use. I share them because I want you to love them as much as I do. Thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that keep Nourished by Nutrition going!