How to make bircher muesli breakfast pots with cranberry compote

Make your own grab and go pots which give you the flexibility to mix up the ingredients so you won't get bored within a week

We all know it's the meal that should never be skipped, but it's all too easy to do so. Unless, you prep the night before, that is (Photography by Julia Platt Leonard)

Skipping breakfast is easy to understand. It’s either ho-hum (think cereal) or requires too much effort.

Bircher muesli is an easy fix. You make it the night before so it’s ready and waiting in the fridge.

Yes, it’s also good for you with slow burn oats and lots of seeds and nuts, but it’s taste and ease that are the real selling points.

It’s flexible too so you can change the nuts and seeds to suit your fancy.

Add a splash of juice – in this case cranberry and some grated fruit and you’re done.

I’ve used traditional apple but pear would be lovely too. Pop it into jars, glasses or bowls and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.

Top it with fresh fruit, honey or a fruit compote like this one made with fresh cranberries. Breakfast sorted.

(Julia Platt Leonard)

Bircher muesli breakfast pots with cranberry compote

Serves 2

Bircher muesli

50g jumbo oats
15g milled flax seed
5g sesame seeds
5g poppy seeds
25g hazelnuts, roughly chopped
100g Greek yoghurt
75ml cranberry juice
1 small apple, coarsely grated
1 Tbsp dried barberries or small currants

Cranberry compote

200g fresh cranberries
1 orange, peel and juice
1 star anise
2 Tbsp caster sugar

Place all of the ingredients for the Bircher muesli in a bowl and mix thoroughly. The consistency should be a creamy paste. If it’s too dry, add a dash more cranberry juice. Split into two containers, cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least several hours.

To make the compote, rinse the cranberries and place in a saucepan with the orange peel, juice, star anise and the sugar. Cook over medium heat until the cranberries ‘pop’ – about 5-10 minutes.

Taste and add more sugar if you like. Remove from the heat, place in a clean jar and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Top the Bircher muesli with some of the compote and an extra sprinkling of nuts and seeds.

Follow Julia @juliapleonard