Made with coconut milk, speckled with chia seeds, flavored with vanilla and sweetened with maple syrup, you’re going to devour this Creamy Chia Pudding. It’s a healthy make-ahead breakfast, snack or dessert like none other!

Raw honey being drizzled over a cup of chia seed pudding topped with fresh berries

Table of Contents

Healthy Homemade Vanilla Pudding with Chia Seeds
What Are Chia Seeds?
What Does Chia Pudding Do For You?
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
Tips for Success
Topping Ideas
Storage and Freezing
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Healthy Homemade Vanilla Pudding with Chia Seeds

Sometimes I like to take a little break between dinner and dessert, but there are other nights where I crave something sweet immediately after finishing my meal. On those nights, I get super bummed if I can’t reach into my fridge and grab a cold cup of chia seed pudding. So I like to keep some on deck at all times!

Not only does chia pudding make a fabulous dessert, but it’s also healthy enough to serve for breakfast. No matter how much I snack on the stuff, I never seem to get tired of it! Whether I enjoy it with fresh fruit or a swirl of creamy nut butter, I tune out everything else until my cup is empty. Very few dishes can do that for a busy mom, and this pudding is definitely one of them.

Two glasses filled with vanilla chia seed pudding on a marble countertop

What Are Chia Seeds?

Chia seeds come from a flowering planted called Salvia Hispanica, which is native to Mexico and a member of the mint family. They have a mildly nutty flavor and are filled with good-for-you nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium and antioxidants. Chia seeds also have a ton of fiber, so they’re great for your digestive health and can help you lose weight because they make you feel full for longer. Chia seeds can be eaten raw, or added to liquids like in this pudding. When they are soaked in liquid they soften and take on a gel-like texture, which makes them perfect for creamy desserts and breakfasts.

What Does Chia Pudding Do For You?

Thanks to the chia seeds, this pudding is full of antioxidants, fiber and healthy omega-3 fats. In other words, it’s a dessert (or sweet breakfast) you can feel good about eating! It uses natural sweeteners and coconut cream, which keeps it dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar free. Even though it has a light and creamy pudding texture, it will keep you feeling satisfied and energized for hours.

Two cups of chia seed pudding on a countertop with a bowl of fresh strawberries and a few loose blueberries

Recipe Ingredients

Another amazing thing about this pudding? It’s made with just 4 ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Full-Fat Coconut Milk: Just scoop off the cream at the top of the can – you won’t need the liquid underneath it.
Chia Seeds: Make sure you mix them in well so that all of them are exposed to the coconut milk liquid.
Pure Maple Syrup: Added to taste.
Vanilla Extract: Be sure to use pure vanilla extract, not the fake stuff.

A bowl of chia seeds on a marble countertop with a copper tablespoon digging into it

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How to Make Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding couldn’t possibly be quicker or simpler. Just be sure to prepare it at least 2 hours before you plan to dig in.

Combine Ingredients: Add all of the pudding ingredients (coconut cream, chia seeds, maple syrup & vanilla) to a small bowl. Use a whisk to mix everything together until combined.

A tablespoon of chia seeds hovering over a jar filled with coconut cream, vanilla extract and maple syrup

The combined ingredients for chia pudding in a jar before the pudding has set

Cover & Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, place it in the refrigerator and let it sit for 2 hours minimum.

Enjoy! Serve the pudding with a drizzle of honey if desired.

An overhead shot of a glass of chia seed pudding on a countertop beside another cup of pudding

Tips for Success

I recommend reviewing the tips and tricks below before you get started with this recipe. Perfect chia pudding is just around the corner!

Use Pure Maple Syrup: Artificial maple syrup will add unwanted ingredients to your pudding such as corn syrup. Go for 100% pure maple syrup to keep your pudding healthy as can be.
Let the Pudding Sit Overnight: Even though this pudding only takes 2 hours to thicken, I never eat mine that soon after making it. I prefer to chill it overnight so that the seeds get nice and soft.
Stir Before Serving: Be sure to give your pudding a good stir before you serve it. This breaks up any clumps of chia seeds that may have formed while the pudding was sitting around.

Two cups of creamy chia seed pudding sitting side by side on a wooden slab

Topping Ideas

There are plenty of yummy ways to finish off this silky chia pudding. I love layering it into a cup with any combination of the following items!

Fresh Berries
Nut Butter
Granola
Shredded Coconut
Banana Slices
Chopped Nuts
Cacao Nibs
Hemp or Sunflower Seeds

A glass of chia pudding garnished with a mint leaf in front of a second glass of pudding on a countertop

Storage and Freezing

As long as it’s kept well covered in the fridge, this pudding will stay fresh for up to 5 days. You can also store it in the freezer after it has thickened (for up to 2 months). If you doubled or tripled the recipe, just be sure to separate it into individual servings before freezing it.

Freeze each serving of chia pudding in a freezer-safe container with an inch or so of free space at the top. This extra room allows the pudding to expand as it freezes. Thaw out frozen chia pudding in the fridge overnight before enjoying it.