Muesli is an easy source of wholegrain and dried fruit; adding some to a bread like this sourdough gives a delicious and wholesome loaf, just waiting for some tasty jam.
I’m always looking for ways to add interest to my bread. I really prefer a hearty, rustic loaf; many years ago now we were inspired by a cereal-focused blogging challenge to add some muesli to a sourdough loaf, and I’ve now revisited my recipe for muesli sourdough bread. It’s as good now as it was then, and is definitely one to make again soon.
The great thing about muesli is that it’s an easy source of wholegrain flakes, nuts, seeds and dried fruit – all good stuff to add to a loaf of bread. I do check beforehand that I’m not buying a brand that includes added sugar, as that rather defeats the object for both this bread and my breakfast. For my morning bowl, I find that with most commercial mueslis, the ratio of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit etc to wholegrain flakes is too rich. I usually add some plain oat flakes to bulk it out and to reduce the amount of sugar in each portion.
However, for this recipe I added the muesli straight from the packet to the dough. I used 20% of my weight of flour in muesli; I was concerned that any more would overwhelm the bread, but this ratio seems about right. Like all sourdough baking, it does take time for the dough to prove with the two raises, but this is largely a hands-off time. The actual time spent with my hands on the dough has to be only about fifteen minutes for each loaf.
The dried fruit in particular gives the final loaf a hint of sweetness; the bread is filling and hearty, but to be fair could not be considered a feather-light and airy bread. It is a great base for one of our small batch jams, such as blackberry and apple, or one of our other preserve recipes. There’s nothing like spreading home-made jam onto home-made bread to really make you feel really pretty good about life.
More Easy Bread Recipes
If you love this try some more bread recipes
And to go on your bread!
- Homemade butter
- Plum Jam
- Mixed Berry Jam
- Blackberry jam
- other easy jam recipes
Muesli Sourdough Loaf
Ingredients
- 150 ml water (lukewarm)
- 150 ml milk (lukewarm)
- 1 tsp salt
- 80 g sourdough leaven (ripe - refreshed 12 hours before you start making the loaf)
- 200 g strong white bread flour
- 200 g strong brown bread flour
- 80 g Muesli
Instructions
- 12 hours before you start breadmaking, refresh your sourdough starter to your preferred ratios. I use equal quantities of old starter, rye flour and water.
- Keep aside a few ml of the water and milk mixture, and add the salt. Whisk the ripe leaven into the remaining leaven, then add the rest of the ingredients: flour and muesli.
- When risen turn out onto a floured worktop, fold in the muesli (reserving a little to sprinkle the loaf with) then place in to an oiled 1lb loaf tin, sprinkle with the reserved muesli. Leave to rise again for an hour.
- Bake at GM6 / 200C / 400F for about 40 mins, until starting to brown. When cooked the loaf will sound hollow when tapped. Turn out and cool on a wire rack.
Notes
- Use up leftover leaven in our leftover sourdough leaven loaf
This was the our first time round with muesli sourdough bread; it was just as tasty then, but I prefer the round form, proofed in a banneton. Delicious either way, though!
Originally written July 2011. Updated October 2017.
the caked crusader
I don’t know what I love more – the look of this loaf, or that your starter is called Bob. It’s a close call!
Lauren
Looks delicious!
Tori (@eat-tori)
You just combined two of my favourite things in this world. Brilliant!
Dominic
My sourdough Lucretia died recently so I’m
always gutted to see a lovely sourdough recipe like this. I had just perfected the method and she went and died. I live the addition of muesli too. I think I may make a non sourdough cereal loaf xx
Made With Pink
I’ve never made sourdough before, but I’d love to. It’s something I adore, but for some reason rarely purchase or eat. You’ve got me wanting to be adventurous and make this! Thanks!
Helen
Go for it! Sourdough is very easy once you have an active and strong sarter!
Rachel
The idea of adding Muesli is just brilliant Helen and it looks so tasty! I have never ever made my own bread, quite shameful I know, but this sounds so good x
Helen
Now we are i the bread habit I’d never go back to buying. Love our homemade bread so much.
Stephanie Merry
Wow I’ve never even thought of making this myself but it looks amazing! x
Helen
Such an easy way to make homemade bread more interesting
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
The muesli is a fabulous addition to the bread, lovely for breakfast :)
Helen
It makes a nice twist!
Patrick
Your bread looked awesome back in 2011 and even better in 2017! A bread like sourdough only needs either butter or maybe a little olive oil to dip in in….so good!!
Helen
Thanks Patrick! This is delicious with butter and maybe a smear of jam.
Brian Jones
I really don’t bake bread often enough, it is just far too moorish when warm and I have no self control wahtsoever so the two of us devour a loaf far too quickly ;) This looks amazing, love the idea of the muesli in there a fab way to add some interest and texture.
Helen
This is so true. You really cannot beat fresh bread with lots of butter.
David @ Cooking Chat
This looks like my kind of bread! Looks like it would have a lot of flavor.
Helen
it is delicious!
Calleigh Keibler
This rustic loaf bread looks so tempting. I can see myself eating the whole bread in one sitting. lol…
Helen
All too easy!
Colleen
What a gorgeous bread…I’ll have a big warm piece with lots of buttah!
Helen
lots and lots of butter!
Jacque
Nothing beats a good homemade recipe!
Helen
We love homemade bread here.
Edyta at Innocent Delight
This bread looks absolutely delicious. I did not make my own sourdough bread yet but it is on my to do list. I cannot wait to try this recipe.
Helen
you can make this into a regular loaf – but I really recommend learning how to make sourdough!
Anosa
This sounds delicious. Great twist on a standard loaf!
Helen
We try – always enjoy making new types of bread.
Mel
I adore sourdough but have never even considered combining it with muesli! I think I’ve just discovered my new favourite thing although I imagine I will fail so hard at trying to make this myself.
Helen
Its a really nice twist on sourdough.
Fritha
Yum I love the sound of this! And your photography is stunning! Xx
Helen
Thank you so much!
Kaz | Ickle Pickles Life and Travels
Oh this looks delicious. I am hoping to bake my own bread very soon! Kaz
Helen
One you start bread baking you will never go back to buying it.