Naturally Sweetened Vanilla Chia Pudding

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Creamy and healthy vanilla chia pudding that’s naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup! This delicious breakfast pudding is loaded with nutrients and is dairy free, gluten free, and vegan!

A glass of vanilla chia pudding topped with sliced strawberries and sliced almonds. A wooden spoon is sticking out.

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I’m convinced that this Vanilla Chia Seed pudding has been put on Earth to make me smile. It’s everything I love in a breakfast: creamy, delicious, and sweet.

The bonus is that it’s crazy good for you and packs a ton of nutrients in a little serving. This means a bowlful of this for breakfast immediately gets me off to a good start.

I also feel like I can eat a ton of it because there is literally nothing bad in it. Seriously. Every ingredient is working for you and your body.

And well…it’s pudding for breakfast!

I think we all deserve a little pudding in the morning now and then, or heck why not every day?

How To Make Naturally Sweetened Vanilla Chia Pudding

How To Make Vanilla Chia Pudding

Makes 2 Servings

Ingredients for the vanilla chia pudding

  • 2 cups of plain or vanilla unsweetened oat, almond, or coconut milk (not canned)
  • 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup, NOT pancake syrup
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a large measuring cup or a medium sized bowl. 

Stir the mixture and let sit for 5 minutes to thicken slightly. 

Give the mix a quick stir again and divide among your serving glasses or jars.

Let chill, covered, for 4 hours or overnight until set.

Serve with your favorite fruit, toasted nuts, and a little coconut…and maybe some chocolate chips

SO WHAT IS CHIA SEED PUDDING?

It’s simply chia seeds mixed with the liquid of your choosing and left to soak for a couple of hours–or overnight.

While soaking, the chia seeds swell and thicken up or “gel” the liquid around them, creating a pudding like consistency.

The texture is very similar to a tapioca pudding, except with smaller seeds.

HOW DO CHIA SEEDS WORK?

Naturally Sweetened Vanilla Chia Pudding

Chia seeds are so neat!

This is because they “gel” when added to liquids. Therefore turning whatever they’re sitting in, into pudding!

But how do they do it?

Well, their outer shell has the ability to absorb a ton of water! Like 10x their weight in water.

And since they’re packed with so much fiber, absorbing all that water causes their soluble fiber to turn into a gel like substance once they are soaked.

As a result, the seeds absorb and thicken the liquid around them into a pudding-like consistency.

I found all this info from Bon Appetit and from wellnessmama.com. These guys have a lot of good info and some tasty looking recipes too!

Is Chia Seed Pudding HEALTHY?

Are chia seeds healthy? A close look at the chia seed.

YES! Chia seeds on their own are a powerhouse of nutrition! Not only can you add chia seeds to just about anything–from smoothies to baked goods–but these guys pack a lot of good stuff in their tiny little bodies.

Here are some of the biggest benefits chia will give you:

  • They are a rich source of antioxidants. Like a super, duper amount of antioxidants. Antioxidants are good for things like hair, skin, and generally protecting your cells from the harsh effects of free radicals.
  • They are packed with fiber. Most of the carbs in chia seeds are fiber, which helps you to feel fuller longer and erhmm…keep you regular.
  • These guys are packed with protein. Along with the fiber (which helps you feel fuller longer), chia seeds help to lower appetite and keep you from grabbing a not so great snack before lunchtime. Also, the high protein in chia makes this a great option for vegetarians and vegans!
  • Chia seeds are full of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3’s are great for heart health, and improving things like your mood and sleep! I love all those things!
  • Chia seeds love your bones. In addition to all the other nutrients in these tiny little seeds, chia is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. So if you don’t eat dairy, this is a great way to get in some calcium!

There’s not a whole lot chia can’t do, but if you want to read more about the health benefits of chia, you can read them here at delish.com and healthline.com!

Is the Maple Syrup Healthy?

So you can see that the chia seeds carry the bulk of the nutritional content for this Vanilla Chia Pudding. But let’s not discount the maple syrup in this recipe as empty calories. It’s more than just a natural sweetener!

Maple syrup is full of vitamins and nutrients like antioxidants, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc to name a few (read more about it here). So you can feel good that not only is your chia pudding sweetened naturally, but that sweetener also adds an extra source of vitamins and nutrients to your day!

Lastly, in addition to the maple syrup and chia seeds, the milk you choose to gel your chia seeds with will be adding an extra helping of protein, nutrients, healthy fats, and calcium.

Therefore, you can feel good that every bite of this pudding is healthy, delicious, and good for you!

Suggested Toppings For your chia pudding:

Naturally Sweetened With Maple Syrup Vanilla Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding

This naturally sweetened vanilla chia pudding is a blank canvas to so many scrumptious toppings. Here are some suggestions that will satisfy what ever you’re craving:

  • Top with fresh berries like blueberries, strawberries, and/or raspberries
  • When in season slices or chunks of a fresh peach would be perfect
  • Add sliced bananas and toasted walnuts for a banana bread chia pudding situation
  • Get tropical and add sliced mango, coconut, and some fresh pineapple
  • Make an Almond Joy inspired chia pudding with dark chocolate, coconut flakes, and toasted almonds
  • Cinnamon apples would be divine on top
  • A scoop of peanut butter never hurt anyone–add some chocolate chips too
  • Any toasted nut would add a satisfying crunch
  • Top with your favorite homemade granola and dried fruit
  • A sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice would make a lovely addition for a fall vanilla chia pudding session

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Blueberry Lemon Chia Pudding

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie

A glass of vanilla chia pudding topped with sliced strawberries and sliced almonds. A second glass and wooden spoon off to the side.

Naturally Sweetened Vanilla Chia Pudding

Yield: 2 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Creamy vanilla chia pudding naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. This makes a healthy and satisfying breakfast or snack any day of the week!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups unsweetened oat milk, or any unsweetened dairy free milk
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, NOT pancake syrup
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a large measuring cup or a medium sized bowl. 
  2. Stir the mixture and let sit for 5 minutes to thicken slightly. 
  3. Give the mix a quick stir again and divide among your serving glasses or jars.
  4. Let chill, covered, for 4 hours or overnight until set.
  5. Serve with your favorite fruit, toasted nuts, and a little coconut...and maybe some chocolate chips
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 479Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 97gFiber: 6gSugar: 62gProtein: 8g

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4 Comments

  1. I’ve been trying to cut back on refined sugar. This looks delicious. Definitely adding this to my recipe catalog.

  2. I am really excited to try your recipe! I pinned it yesterday on Pinterest so I don’t lose it! I love the fact that it is a healthy homemade sweet treat! Thanks for sharing with us Michelle!

  3. I have seen recipes for chia seed pudding before and this one looks like the simplest and tastiest one I have ever seen! Definitely adding this to my list of recipes to make ASAP!

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