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If you’re looking for a light and fresh chia pudding that’s super creamy and full of cherries and berries, then this Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding recipe is the one for you! It’s a vanilla-flavored chia pudding topped with a creamy vegan yogurt spiked with black forest fruits. Enjoy as a healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert.
Page Contents
- Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How To Make Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ Step-By-Step
- Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Tips For Making The Perfect Chia Pudding
- Nutrition Tip: Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
- More Sweet Breakfast Recipe Ideas
- How to Make Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ Full Recipe
- Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ FAQs
- Pin Recipe for Later!
Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding
This Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding is really easy to make. It’s a simple vanilla and maple-flavored base topped with a quick and easy black forest fruits purée mixed with a creamy dairy-free yogurt. I love to top my chia pudding with fresh juicy sweet cherries and low-sugar granola for extra crunch.
It’s the perfect breakfast if you’re on the go and a great small snack to boost your energy when you hit that 3 pm afternoon slump. It’s also a healthier option for dessert if you want something tasty without too much sugar.
This Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding is:
High in omega-3
Naturally vegan & vegetarian
Gluten-free & dairy-free
A no cook recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds are a fantastic ingredient! Despite their size, these tiny black seeds are loaded with nutrients, which is why I love to incorporate them into my recipes. Once chia seeds mix with liquid, they’ll happily soak it up, becoming gel-like in consistency, giving us a super-creamy chia seed pudding.
- Unsweetened almond milk: Almond milk is the perfect complement to any chia pudding. It adds a delicious creamy texture and nutty flavor that will take your breakfast bowl to the next level! Almond milk also provides vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, providing an extra nutritious twist.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract gives this pudding a flavor upgrade.
- Maple syrup: I use maple syrup to add sweetness, but you can use your favorite sweetener or leave it out for a sugar-free chia pudding.
- Black forest fruit mix: Black forest fruits are bursting with juicy flavor. I use a frozen mix of tart cherries, blueberries, red grapes, blackcurrants, and blackberries to bring exciting fruity flavors to the pudding. But don’t think you have to use forest fruits. Mixed berries are an excellent alternative.
- Vegan yogurt: When you thought this pudding couldn’t get any creamier, the puréed black forest fruits are combined with luscious coconut yogurt. Yum!
- Low-sugar granola: I love a little crunch with a creamy pudding, so topping it off with crunchy low-sugar granola is perfect.
How To Make Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ Step-By-Step
- Whisk
Whisk the chia seeds, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and it will start to thicken. Whisk again to remove any clumps that may have formed, and evenly distribute the seeds throughout the milk.
- Thicken
Pour the chia pudding into an airtight container, and place it in the fridge for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
- Black Forest Yogurt
Meanwhile, make the black forest yogurt. Mash the berries with a fork until you are happy with the texture. Alternatively, you can use a small blender.
- Add Yogurt
Mix the yogurt into the black forest fruit purée. Cover and keep refrigerated until your chia pudding has set.
- Top & Serve
When the chia pudding has set, spoon the black forest purée on top of the chia puddings, add some fresh fruit, and sprinkle crunchy granola.
Full recipe and ingredients list in the recipe card below.
Why You’ll Love This Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding
It’s so simple to make.
This simple recipe will soon become your favorite way to enjoy chia pudding.
You only need SEVEN ingredients.
Yes, that’s right. You only need seven ingredients to make this recipe. And all seven can be easily found in most grocery stores.
It’s grab-and-go.
Prepare your chia seed pudding in a mason jar, Kilner jar, or meal prep container so you can enjoy it on the go. Great for breakfast at work, an easy after-school snack for the hungry kiddos, or a post-workout energy boost.
It’s dairy-free and gluten-free.
This chia pudding recipe is dairy-free and naturally gluten-free, so it is a great dessert option for people with those particular food allergies or intolerances.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Milk: This recipe uses almond milk, but you can use any milk you’d like. Dairy or dairy-free milk all work great. Coconut milk is very dreamy in chia pudding but also very high in calories, so do with that what you will.
- Chocolate: Turn this into a black forest chia pudding. You know, the kind of black forest loaded with chocolate – the one that tastes like a black forest cake. But this version is much healthier. Just add a tablespoon of good-quality cocoa powder (or cacao powder) to the chia pudding and then top it with vegan dark chocolate chips, vegan chocolate shavings, or cocoa nibs. Deee-licious.
- Extra protein: If you want to add more protein to your diet and like to use protein powder, instead of adding a scoop to your smoothies, how about adding it to your chia pudding? Plain, chocolate, and vanilla, are all delicious options. Look out for a vegan protein powder if you want to keep this recipe plant-based.
- Sweeteners: If you’ve got a sweet tooth but are not a fan of maple syrup, honey, agave, or date syrup are good ‘real food’ alternatives.
Tips For Making The Perfect Chia Pudding
1Use Your Favorite Milk
Along with chia seeds, the liquid is the main ingredient in a chia pudding, so use the milk you love – otherwise, the chances are you won’t enjoy it, which would be a tragedy!
2Whisk Well
Whisk your chia pudding well after it starts to thicken, so you don’t end up with unpleasant clumps of chia seeds.
3Thicken Overnight
For the best texture, leave your chia puddings to thicken overnight, so there’s enough time for the chia seeds to absorb all the liquid they possibly can, giving you a creamier pudding.
4Use Fresh Chia Seeds
Old chia seeds may struggle to absorb the liquid needed to thicken a chia pudding, so check the labels and the expiry dates to ensure your chia seeds are fresh.
Nutrition Tip: Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are an excellent source of plant protein and, of course, fiber, which helps you feel full for longer. Fibre is also great for digestion. Chia seeds are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to help reduce inflammation, which is associated with chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, among others1,2.
More Sweet Breakfast Recipe Ideas
If you like the look of this breakfast idea, check out more delicious breakfast recipes below.
- Pineapple Passion Collagen Smoothie
- Creamy Porridge Custard with Strawberry Rhubarb Coulis
- Blueberry and Hazelnut Porridge
- Wholemeal Gingerbread Pancakes with Lemon Cream
- Very Berry Breakfast Smoothie
How to Make Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ Full Recipe
Print
Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsweetened almond milk (I use RUDE Health Unsweetened Almond Milk)
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup (65 g) frozen forest fruit berries, thawed
- 1 tbsp vegan natural coconut yogurt (I use COCOS Organic Natural Coconut Yoghurt)
- 1 tbsp granola
Instructions
- Prep: Gather and prepare your ingredients.
- Chia Pudding: Whisk the chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and allow it to thicken slightly. After 10 minutes, whisk again to remove any clumps that may have formed, and evenly distribute the seeds throughout the milk. Pour the chia pudding into an airtight container, and place it in the fridge for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
- Black Forest Yogurt: Meanwhile, make the black forest yogurt. Mash the berries with a fork until you are happy with the texture. Alternatively, you can use a small blender. Then stir the yogurt into the puréed fruit until it’s all incorporated. Cover and keep refrigerated until your chia pudding has thickened.
- Toppings: When ready to serve, spoon the black forest yogurt on top of the chia pudding, and sprinkle over a little crunchy granola. I also love to top mine with fresh cherries.
Notes
- Storage instructions: Store the Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Always check for freshness!
- Freezing instructions: You can also store chia pudding and fruit purée in the freezer for up to a month.
- A note on granola: It’s best to add granola before serving, so it remains crunchy.
- A note on the black forest purée: If you’re making a big batch of this recipe, you may find it easier to purée the fruit in a food processor than mash by hand.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chilling Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chia pudding recipes, chia seed recipes, easy breakfast recipes, healthy breakfast ideas, meal prep ideas, meal prep breakfasts, healthy snacks, healthy dessert
Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding ~ FAQs
The ideal chia seed to milk ratio is 1:4. For example, you will need 4 tablespoons of milk for every 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. For a thicker consistency, you may prefer a 1:3 (chia:milk) ratio.
It depends. There could be a few reasons your chia pudding didn’t work out:
1) The chia seed-to-milk ratio is off. Ideally, you want to use 1 part chia seeds to 4 parts liquid.
2) You haven’t whisked the chia seeds into the liquid well enough after it starts to set.
3) You’re not using fresh chia seeds. Expired chia seeds can lose their absorption power. Tip: Once opened, keep chia seeds in an airtight container.
If your chia pudding is too runny, check the following:
1) Your chia seed to milk ratio is 1:4.
2) You have put the pudding in the fridge long enough to thicken. At least 1 hour, preferably overnight, to allow the chia seeds to absorb all the liquid and to achieve their gel-like consistency for the best texture.
To thicken your pudding, you can add more chia seeds and let the pudding sit a little longer.
Chia pudding is a great healthy snack that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. It’s high in fiber, protein, and omega-3 fats. It also contains plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Chia seeds in and of themselves have little flavor. However, they take on the taste of any liquid they absorb. So, in the case of this recipe, the chia pudding will be strongly flavored with almond milk, vanilla, and maple.
As the recipe stands, it is not keto-compliant. However, to make this a keto chia pudding, omit the maple syrup and granola, and you’re good to go!
Thinking of making this Black Forest Fruits Chia Pudding? I’d love to know how it turns out. Get in touch via the comments section, and let me know!
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