Recipes for 3 different chia seed pudding flavors: Apple Pie, Coffee Bean, & Mexican Chocolate. Full of healthy ingredients, they’re great to enjoy anytime.
I’m a homeschool mom, so the kids and I are at home most days. Being home gives them easy access to the kitchen. If there’s one thing my kids like to do, it is to eat all. day. long. No joke. I used to wonder about this mysterious ability of theirs to eat large quantities of food without gaining weight or getting full. It turns out, it’s called childhood and their appetite only seems to grow with age.
Since they do like to snack, I try to keep my kitchen stocked with plenty of healthy snacks that they can easily grab throughout the day. Chia pudding is one of those healthy snacks that’s versatile and very easy to make. It’s simple, yet packed with nutrition—My favorite type of food!
Chia seeds are a superfood loaded with beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, including omega-3’s, fiber, iron, and zinc, among many others. Its crunchy, nutty flavor makes it a great addition to cereal, oatmeal, fruit, and salads. One of the features of chia seeds is that when allowed to soak in liquid for a bit, they absorb up to 10 times their weight in water, causing them to become thick and gel-like. The texture reminds me of tapioca, which some people may find unappealing. However, don’t let textural issues deter you. You can blend the gelled pudding in a high power blender to make it a smooth.
To make chia pudding, my preferred chia to liquid ratio is 1-4, 1 part chia seeds to 4 parts liquid. You can use any liquid but I typically use both plain & chocolate almond milk or coconut milk. Depending on the thickness of your milk, you may need to add more liquid to your pudding if it’s too thick for your liking. Here’s my basic chia pudding recipe.
Chia Pudding
1 cup almond milk or other liquid
1/4 cup chia seeds
1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or other sweetener, to taste
a splash of vanilla, optional
In a sealable container, mix together the milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, and vanilla, stirring well to coat the chia seeds. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or 2 to allow the chia seeds to soak up the liquid. Stir well before serving to break up any clumps and add more milk, if needed. Top with any garnishes just before serving.
I’ve recently made different chia pudding variations, using this basic recipe. There are so many delicious combinations that I’d like to share with you, but here are 3 for now!
Apple Pie Chia Pudding
1 cup almond milk, or other milk of choice
1/4 cup chia seeds
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
–Mix together milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Before serving, mix in:
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup diced apples
2-4 tablespoons chopped pecans
sprinkle of cinnamon
Coffee Bean Chia Pudding
3/4 strong coffee + 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons almond milk, favorite creamer, or coffee liqueur (Whatever you like in your coffee)
1/4 cup chia seeds
coconut sugar, sweetener of choice, to taste
–You can change the ratio of coffee to creamer. All together liquid should equal 1 cup. Mix together coffee, creamer, chia seeds, and sweetener. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Before serving, mix in:
1/4 cup dark chocolate covered espresso beans/regular coffee/espresso beans, chopped
or dark chocolate chips
Mexican Chocolate Chia Pudding
1 cup chocolate almond milk (or 1 cup plain almond milk, 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or other sweetener)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
couple dashes of cayenne pepper, optional
–Mix together chocolate milk, chia seeds, cinnamon, and pepper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Before serving, mix in:
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup chopped cacao nibs or chocolate chips
You can also sprinkle extra cinnamon or cayenne pepper on top, optional
I keep these little containers of chia pudding in my fridge for quick, pre-portioned snacks. They’d be perfect for lunch boxes too, much healthier than the pudding snacks at the grocery store. I got the containers at Target, (one of my favorite stores!) they’re BPA free, come with 8 to a pack, and only cost me little over $1 with a coupon!
I hope you enjoy these flavors! If you make any of the recipes from this site, please use the hashtag #wifemamafoodie on Instagram so I can see your creations and possibly share your photo!
Wow I am totally inspired after reading this! I love chia seed pudding and my go-to is usually the base + cinnamon and some shredded sweetened coconut. Sometimes I add some cacao nibs if I am in the mood for chocolate chips, but apple pie?! Takes this treat to a whole new level! I love your blog and I can’t wait to follow. xoxo
Lisa
http://www.strumsimmersip.com
Aw, thank you, Lisa! I love coconut chia pudding too! I like to use coconut milk as the base milk and top it with toasted coconut and a few cacao nibs or chocolate chips.. it reminds me of a mounds candy bar! Mmm, so good:)
Thanks again for your sweet comment! I’m heading over now to check out your blog! 🙂
I just made my first batch of chia pudding last week. So yummy. Can’t wait to try your apple version! How long does yours keep in the fridge?
Don’t you just love chia pudding?! I had mine mixed in the fridge for about 3 days. It doesn’t last longer than that in our house with my hungry family, so I’ve never tested it longer than a few days:) If you keep the apples, apple sauce, and nuts separate and added them just before serving, the chia pudding alone would probably be fine for several days, at least. Hope you like the apple pie version, Nicole! Let me know how yours turns out!!
Yum!! Love chia seed pudding and these are awesome new flavor ideas. PS I love the new logo 🙂
Thanks Minna! I FINALLY had the opportunity to sit down and work on it! I really appreciate the feedback! 🙂
Love, love, love this! This is a great, flavorful snack to enjoy all throughout the day!
Thank you very much, Raj! Chia pudding is one of our favorite snacks too! Hope you enjoy the flavors:)