Recipe of a Week: Mags Magoo's Magnificent Muesli

Rolled oats, Sugar, Sultans, Raisins, Dried Cranberry Pieces, Dried Apple Pieces, Salt, Natural Flavoring (unspecified), Lecithin Stabilizer, Vegetable Oil...

These are the ingredients of a basic box of store bought muesli. Dried fruit like raisins and cranberries are not the culprit, but sugar as a number 2 ingredient is a complete insult to the natural sweetness of these nature's delights! Muesli is a healthy and happy snack, and a perfect breakfast with some yogurt or milk. That is why learning Mags Magoo's recipe for homemade muesli has kick-started my days in a way the store bought crap never could have dreamed of.

Unless you're just absolutely married to that lecithin stabilizer and the unnamed natural flavoring, start making your own muesli at home as I recently have done, and don't look back!

You'll need:

2 tbsp vegetable oil
125 ml maple syrup*
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
300g rolled oats (about half of a bag)
50g sunflower seeds (out of the shell obviously, and unsalted
4 tbsp sesame seeds
50g pumpkin seeds (also unsalted)
100g flaked almonds
100 g of dried berries**
50 g coconut flakes

*Maggs Magoo makes a change by using the equivalent of 125 ml maple syrup of a honey/warm water mixture. I've now done it both ways, and either or is fantastic!
** Raisins, cranberries, strawberries, dried apricots, etc etc etc. It's all up to you on this one. My favorite: white raisins and dried cranberries.


Heat your oven to 150C (330F). Mix the oil, maples syrup (or honey water), honey, and vanilla in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients except for the dried fruits and coconut.

Mix thoroughly until the mixture is thoroughly coated.

Spread evenly onto one big or two smaller cookie sheets. The trick is to not let it stand too thick on the sheet, so that it can get equal amounts of toasting and crunchiness.

Bake for 15 mins, and then mix in the dried fruits and coconut evenly. Place back to the oven for another 10-15 minutes. Let the muesli stand after baking to cool. As it cools, it will achieve optimal crunchiness!

This recipe fills my entire muesli jar, about twice as much as a normal box from the store will do, and the simple addition of things like coconut, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds, and no artificial sugar, makes it immensely healthier than the store bought junk.

That's it! Enjoy the delicious muesli, and add fresh bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or anything else you'd like to it with some yogurt or milk. Thanks to our guest contributor Maggs Magoo for sharing this gem of a recipe.