Gluten-Free Toasted Muesli Recipe (Easy & Customisable)
Looking for a delicious gluten-free toasted muesli recipe that’s easy to make, totally customisable, and far cheaper than store-bought versions? This one’s my go-to!
With just a few pantry staples, you can bake a big batch of crispy, golden, naturally sweetened muesli your family will love – with no hidden additives or expensive specialty blends required.
Why Make Toasted Muesli at Home?
- It’s allergy-friendly – Easy to adapt for oat-free, nut-free, or seed-only preferences.
- It’s much more affordable – Homemade toasted muesli costs significantly less than store-bought, gluten-free versions.
- No hidden additives or refined sugars – You’re in control of what goes in.
- Completely customisable – Use whatever nuts, seeds, or dried fruit you have on hand. There’s always some fruit, seed or nut that one of the kids won’t eat!
- Family-friendly and versatile – Perfect for breakfast, school lunchboxes, yogurt bowls, or as a grab-and-go snack.
What You’ll Need To Make GF Muesli
Just one of the great things about this recipe, is that it uses simple pantry staples in flexible amounts, so you can easily customise it to suit your family’s tastes or dietary needs.
All ingredients are in cup ratios, to make it easy to mix and match:
- 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats (Or see oat-free options below)
- 1 cup seeds of choice (e.g. sunflower, pepitas, chia, flax, sesame)
- 1 cup nuts of choice, chopped (e.g. almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans – or skip for nut-free)
- ¾ cup dried fruit, chopped (Great for baking in: apricots, dates, apples, figs – avoid raisins/cranberries)
- ½ cup shredded or desiccated coconut (I like to use a mixture of both)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/3 cup maple syrup (or honey)
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (or olive oil or butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
🚫 Oat-Free Substitutes (Use 2 cups total)
For those avoiding oats, you can skip to this easy oat-free toasted muesli recipe, or simply swap the oats in this recipe with:
- Brown rice flakes – great texture and mild taste
- Brown rice puffs or puffed rice (make sure they are GF certified)
- Quinoa flakes
- Buckwheat groats
- Or a combo of the above + extra seeds or coconut
How to Make GF Toasted Muesli (No Special Equipment Required!)
- Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F). Line one or two large baking trays with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, combine:
- Oats, or oat-free base
- Seeds, nuts, coconut, cinnamon, salt, and dried fruit.
- Slightly melt coconut oil, then stir in maple syrup and vanilla.
- Pour over dry ingredients and mix until everything is well coated.
- Spread thinly onto baking trays in an even layer.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove, stir gently, and spread again.
- Return to oven for another 5–10 minutes, or until light golden and fragrant.
- Cool completely on the tray – it crisps up as it cools!
- Store in an airtight container or jar.
Tips & Variations
- Want it nut-free? Just use extra seeds or coconut.
- Dried fruit tip: Add firm fruits before baking (like apricot, apple, date). Avoid sultanas or raisins during baking – as they easily burn! Add those in after baking.
- Want extra crunch? Add a few tablespoons of buckwheat groats or toasted millet.
- Want a chocolatey twist? Stir through dark choc chips or cacao nibs after cooling.
Budget Tip:
Buying bulk seeds, nuts and fruit and making your own toasted muesli at home saves a huge amount compared to buying pre-made GF versions. You’re in control of the quality, ingredients and taste—without the markup.
Try It, Tweak It, Make It Yours
Once you’ve made this once, you’ll see how easy it is to adapt. Make it lighter, nuttier, fruitier, or even savoury with some spices like cardamom or ginger.
Did you know?
In some countries, including Australia and New Zealand, oats are not considered gluten-free because they contain a protein called avenin, which can trigger reactions in some people with coeliac disease. Even oats labelled as ‘gluten-free’ overseas may not be safe due to potential cross-contamination or differing standards. If you’re baking for someone with coeliac disease, it’s best to use certified oat-free alternatives like brown rice flakes, quinoa flakes, or puffed rice.
Gluten-Free Toasted Muesli (Easy & Customisable)
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats, or see oat-free options below
- 1 cup seeds of choice (e.g. sunflower, pepitas, chia, flax, sesame)
- 1 cup nuts of choice, chopped (e.g. almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans – or skip for nut-free)
- ¾ cup dried fruit, chopped (e.g. apricots, dates, apples, figs, cranberries)
- ½ cup shredded or desiccated coconut I like to use a mix of both
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (or honey)
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (or olive oil or butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F). Line one or two large baking trays with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oats (or oat free base), seeds, nuts, dried fruit, coconut, cinnamon and salt together.
- Slightly melt the coconut oil, then stir in maple syrup and vanilla.
- Pour over dry ingredients and mix until everything is well coated. The mixture won't be overly sticky together, just make sure its well mixed through.
- Spread thinly onto baking trays in an even layer.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then remove, stir gently, and spread again.
- Return to oven for another 5–10 minutes, or until light golden and fragrant. If you have added particularly high sugar dried fruits, you will need to keep a close eye that they don't burn!
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the tray – it crisps up nicely as it cools.
- Once completely cool, store in an airtight container or jar for up to 2–3 weeks.
Notes
- Brown rice flakes – great texture and mild taste
- Brown rice puffs or puffed rice (GF certified)
- Quinoa flakes
- Buckwheat groats
- Or a combo of the above + extra seeds or coconut
Did you make this recipe?
Mention us @theglutenfreekids or tag us so we can see your creations! You can also leave a comment below!
