Mix & Match - Chia Pudding

Chia pudding is one of those recipes where endless variations exist. Whether you're looking for a light, summer dessert or a heartier, warming winter breakfast - all it takes is a little mix & match of flavors and toppings to create a satisfying meal for any craving or season. With a base of just five ingredients, chia pudding is a go-to recipe you'll want to keep on hand for a delicious, quick, and easy breakfast that packs a strong nutritional punch.

Basic Chia Pudding

yields 1-2 servings

1 cup milk of choice

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons sweetener* of choice (if desired)

1/8 tsp salt

Whisk all ingredients in a container.

Let sit for twenty minutes, whisking every five minutes to ensure even distribution of ingredients.

Option #1: Let sit for about thirty minutes total, until mixture reaches a thick, pudding-like consistency. Top with desired toppings and enjoy.

Option #2: Cover and refrigerate overnight for a make-ahead option. In the morning, the pudding will be nice and thick. Top with desired toppings and enjoy. The pudding will keep 4-5 days refrigerated, so feel free to make a larger batch and enjoy throughout the week.

*Sweeteners: coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave syrup, honey, date syrup, etc.

Chia Pudding Mix & Match:

The Formula = Basic Chia Pudding Recipe + Flavorings + Toppings

Optional Flavors:

1. Chocolate Chia: Add 2 tablespoons cacao (or unsweetened cocoa) powder & a pinch of cinnamon to the basic recipe. Top with 1 tablespoon mini-chocolate chips or cacao nibs. Pro-tip: use date syrup as your sweetener.

2. Strawberry Cardamom Coconut: Use coconut milk in the base recipe (canned or boxed is fine) and add 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom. Top with sliced strawberries.

3. Peanut Butter Bliss: Add 1-2 tbsp peanut butter into the basic recipe. Top with sliced banana if desired.

4. Pumpkin Spice: Mix in1/4 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin to the base recipe along with 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, and use maple syrup as your sweetener. Top with walnuts or pecans.

5. Golden Chia: Add in 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon each of ginger powder and ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper (which aids in absorption of the curcumin in turmeric). Pro-tip: use coconut sugar as your sweetener.

6. Gotta Matcha: Add in 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder to base recipe. If desired, use 1/2 teaspoon almond extract instead of vanilla and top with sliced almonds.

7. Protein Powerhouse: Add in 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder to amp up the protein & nutrient content for an even more satiating meal.

Optional Toppings:

Fresh sliced fruit (peaches, figs, dates, berries, banana, kiwi)

Granola or crunchy cereal

Nut butter (almond, peanut, hazelnut, tahini)

Cacao nibs

Goji berries

Frozen fruit/berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

Dried Mulberries

Coconut flakes

Nuts & seeds (sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts)

Hemp or flax seeds