Chocolate Muesli, plus Candied Orange

Looking for a morning treat that's both healthy and a little indulgent? Chocolate Muesli, plus Candied Orange is an easy hearty cereal made with oats, chocolate, almonds, chia seeds, coconut, and candied orange. Eat it plain with milk, warm like oatmeal, or sprinkle it over yogurt for a good breakfast.

Chocolate muesli in a clear mason jar on a blue surface.

For this tasty recipe, we're partnering with Paradise Fruit Company America's leading brand for candied fruit. Their candied fruit selection is unmatched, and popular around the holidays.

When it comes to candied fruit, we're particularly fond of candied orange, a key ingredient in our panettone pizzelle. For this recipe though, we wanted to use the classic combination of chocolate and orange, while keeping it healthy (ish).

Chocolate Muesli, plus Candied Orange is a simple twist on classic muesli. Unlike granola muesli cereal is not traditionally sweet, however adding candied orange and bittersweet chocolate to the oats gives this classic breakfast cereal a sweet little pop.

Ingredient notes

And now- a few words about our ingredients. See the substitutions and variations section for customizable options.

Ingredients for chocolate muesli on a wood board.

Oats Choose old-fashioned oats, not quick cooking or instant.
Nuts We chose sliced almonds for their mild flavor and crunch.
Seeds we keep chia seeds on hand for crunch and fiber.
Cocoa powder Unsweetened.
Chocolate Use bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa.
Cinnamon Adds warm spice.
Coconut flakes Unsweetened.
Candied orange Look for candied orange peel or chopped candied orange.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Below is a quick visual of how to make Chocolate Muesli, plus Candied Orange. Traditionally, muesli is served raw, but we prefer to toast the ingredients to bring out their flavor and texture.

Preheat the oven to 350℉. Add the oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to a medium bowl. Toss to coat.

Spread the oat mixture out on a large baking sheet. Bake at 350℉ for 5-6 minutes.

Toasted oats, coconut and chocolate on a baking sheet.

Remove the pan, add the almonds, coconut, and chocolate, and return to the oven to bake for another 5-6 minutes. Everything should be lightly toasted and fragrant.

Chocolate muesli in a clear bowl with candied orange on top.

Remove from the oven and pour the oat mixture into a bowl. Toss to coat (the chocolate will start to melt and blend). Let cool for 10 minutes. When cool, add the candied orange and stir.

Pro tip

Adding the candied orange at the end will ensure the fruit won't dry out from the heat.

Substitutions and variations

Grains Add another grain to the oats such as millet, wheat bran, quinoa flakes, or a cereal such as Grape Nuts, or shredded wheat for some variety and texture.
Nuts Use any nut you want! Pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, or cashews are all great choices.
Seeds Swap out chia seeds for flax, pumpkin (pepitas), or sunflower seeds.
Dried fruit Instead of candied orange, try raisins, cranberries, apricots, or dried cherries. These pair incredibly well with chocolate.

Muesli cereal in a bowl with fruit and a spoon to the right.

How to serve chocolate muesli

Cereal Treat chocolate muesli like you would any cold cereal. Add your milk of choice, and any toppings or fruit if desired.
Overnight oats Prepare a ½ cup of the muesli with ½ cup or more of your milk of choice in a closed container and let stand overnight in the fridge. The next morning, give it a stir then add any additional toppings. Serve cold or warmed slightly.
Oatmeal Prepare as you would cooked oatmeal for a creamy hot breakfast.
Yogurt Sprinkle the muesli over yogurt or layer it in your favorite parfait.

Keeping leftovers

This chocolate muesli can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 weeks at room temperature.

Chocolate muesli in a bowl on a blue surface.

Kitchen questions

What is the difference between granola and muesli?

Granola is a sweetened crunchy topping made with oats bound together by oil, and sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or molasses. It sometimes contains nuts and dried fruit. Granola is baked in the oven until it is crunchy and stuck together. Muesli is a raw cereal, traditionally made with oats and other grains, nuts, seeds, and sometimes dried fruit. It is not usually sweet and can be served like cereal or oatmeal.