Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

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If you love pumpkin pie, this one is for you. This Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding tastes like pumpkin pie in a jar! It’s both vegan and gluten free and only requires 6 simple ingredients and just 5 minutes of prep time. Highly recommend topping with vegan coconut whip, additional pumpkin pie spice, and a cinnamon stick!

Growing up I didn’t usually go for the pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. I was much more of an apple pie girl. But as I get older, I am starting to gain an understanding an appreciation for pumpkin pie and pumpkin spiced things in general!

Have you seen my Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte? Drinking them this time of year is something I truly look forward to!

the idea behind this recipe

Originally when I started brainstorming my plans for this recipe I had intended for it to be a breakfast recipe. I really love overnight steel cut oats (recipes coming soon!) and thought why not incorporate a chia pudding breakfast series on the blog as well?!

Chia seeds are known for being a great superfood and source of Omega-3, which would make them perfect for a breakfast recipe! Read more about chia seeds in this article by Bon Appetit – Chia Seeds: Everything You Need to Know About This Powerhouse Superfood.

Now, I’m not going to tell you that you CAN’T eat this for breakfast because you absolutely can, but after recipe testing, it did end up tasting a lot like dessert. Like I said, this is pretty much pumpkin pie in a jar.

It’s honestly quite impressive how indulgent this tastes because I’ve never associated chia seeds with dessert! Don’t underestimate them like I did. Chia seeds are truly magic here.

prepping your pudding!

All you need is a few simple ingredients that I bet you already have!

• chia seeds
• canned coconut milk
• pumpkin puree
• maple syrup
• pumpkin pie spice
• vanilla
• salt

Mix all of these ingredients together well in your jar until fully incorporated! A 16 ounce jar works perfect here.

This is pretty hard to mess up, but just be sure all of the chia seeds are coated in the liquid mixture. This will help them absorb all of the delicious flavor and become gelatinous.

how long do I have to chill this for?

I prefer to chill this mixture overnight just like I do with my overnight oats but if you are short of time, allow this mixture to chill for at least 2 hours.

This chia pudding will also last up to 5 days so if you prepare it and accidentally forget about it, no big deal! Meal prepping dessert, anyone?

How did you get your chia seed pudding so creamy?

Something you may have noticed in the finished images of the chia pudding is the texture of the pudding is very smooth.

The secret? Blending the pudding after it has chilled in my Vitamix.

I like to do this for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I am a big texture person. This pudding is a lot more enjoyable to me when the chia seeds are ground and it has a true pudding texture.

Secondly, eating ground chia seeds can help nutrient absorption!

If you like the texture of this pudding without blending, by all means, enjoy it unblended! There are still many health benefits to eating chia seeds in their original form.

Note: If you have a newer Vitamix with a wider base, you will need to make 2 servings of this pudding at a time or there will not be enough volume in the canister for the Vitamix to blend it properly. If you have the older Vitamix that is taller and thinner at the bottom, 1 serving of this pudding should be enough to blend!

Frequently Asked Chia Pudding Questions!

1. Is chia pudding hard to digest? It can be! Chia seeds are very high in fiber so if you are not accustomed to eating large amounts of fiber on a daily basis, you may have a hard time digesting chia seeds in larger quantities. I do find personally that soaking them overnight in the pumpkin pie mixture and blending them does help aid in digestion!
2. Can you eat chia seeds every day? Absolutely. As we discussed earlier in this article, chia seeds are great nutrition. A little goes a long way! They are very high in fiber though, so incorporating them into your diet slowly may make them easier to digest.
3. Why are my chia seeds not absorbing the liquid? If your chia seeds don’t appear to be absorbing the liquid and becoming gelatinous (see my prep photos!) they may be old! Try again with a fresher bag of chia seeds.
4. Can I use fresh pumpkin instead of canned? Yes! If you cannot find canned pumpkin puree, you can use fresh roasted pumpkin puree. Just be sure to use the same amount and you don’t want it to be too watery.
5. Can I freeze this recipe? No. Freezing this pudding would alter the texture negatively.
6. Can I make this recipe ahead of time? Yes! You can prep this recipe 5 days ahead of time!

Now, don’t forget to serve this chia pudding with coconut whip and a dusting of pumpkin pie spice. These two things really make it dessert! Trust me.

I can’t wait for you guys to try this one! It’s really surprising how much this tastes like pie considering the ingredients! It would also be a perfect, gluten free pumpkin pie option for Thanksgiving this year!

If you do give it a try, please don’t forget to leave a comment and share it with me on Instagram! You can also pin this recipe for later!

Enjoy.

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