First, I want to start with the fact that I disagree about calling this pudding. Chia seed pudding is really more like a yogurt — it’s savory and generally healthy to eat (of course, unless you load it up with chocolate and sugar!), so I’d encourage you to think of it more in the yogurt category rather than as a dessert. With that said, let’s make chia seed pudding with macerated berries!
I start my morning every day with a yogurt / granola / fruit bowl combo, and I’ve started making chia seed pudding a little more often to mix it up (I mean, we’re talking years of more or less eating the same breakfast… :)) Instead of yogurt, I’ll use chia seed pudding, and continue to top it how I normally would for breakfast. You can make a batch of chia seed pudding, keep it in the fridge all week, and enjoy it every day!
Ingredient Notes
To make chia seed pudding with macerated berries, you will need:
- Chia seeds: of course! These little seeds will soak up a lot of the milk to give this it’s “pudding” textures.
- Almond milk, or milk of your choice: this recipe will work with any milk, so feel free to try something new!
- Vanilla: chia seeds and milk are not very flavorful on their own, so you’ll want to add some vanilla (and p.s. did you know you can make your own vanilla extract! Check out my homemade vanilla extract recipe here).
- Honey: this is where the sweetness comes from. If you like things to be a little sweeter, add some more honey!
- Berries: fresh or frozen berries will both work. You’ll use some for the macerated berries, and then some for topping.
- Granola: I love to add a little crunch to my chia seed pudding by topping it with a scoop of my Best-Ever Olive Oil Granola.
Chia Seed Pudding FAQs
What are chia seeds?
Chia seeds are edible seeds from a plant in the mint family (Salvia hispanica).
How long can you keep chia seed pudding?
You can keep chia seed pudding in the fridge for about five days. I’d recommend keeping the pudding in one container, and then adding the berries or granola when you’re ready to eat it so the textures are all still crisp and fresh.
What are macerated berries?
Macerating is the process of soaking fruit in liquid and / or sugar to soften it and release its juices. I like to also smash some of the berries to help this process.
Is this a sweet recipe?
No, it’s really not very sweet. The sweetener comes from the honey (and it’s not a lot), and the berries. So if you like things to be a bit sweeter, consider adding some extra honey
Can you make this with frozen berries?
Yes! This is a great way to use frozen berries. Just make sure to let them thaw on the countertop, then sprinkle with sugar and let the juices all come together. After the berries are thawed, you can use them in the same way you’d use fresh berries.
Can you make this with any kind of berry?
Yes! Any berries will work well — strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries. You could try this with stonefruit, but remember you might get chunks of the peel, which might be an odd texture. But it will work!
I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!
Chia Seed Pudding with Macerated Berries
Ingredients
For Chia Seed Pudding
- 2 cups almond milk or milk of your choice
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
For Macerated Berries
- 2 cups berries or other fresh or frozen fruit of your choice
- 2 Tbsp sugar
For Toppings
- Granola
- Fresh berries
- Drizzle of honey
Instructions
For Chia Seed Pudding
- Add chia seeds, almond milk, honey and vanilla to a bowl, stir to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes and stir again to break up any clumps.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Stir again before serving.
For Macerated Berries
- Add 2 cups berries to a small mixing bowl. If fruit is frozen, allow to thaw until workable. Crush berries to your desired consistency. There is no wrong way here – I crush mine only slightly as I like to have some berry chunks.
- Sprinkle berries with 2 Tbsp sugar. Let sit for at least 15 minutes to draw the juices out of the fruit. Stir to combine.
- To serve, add dollop of macerated berries (about 1/4 cup) to bottom of a glass. Add about 1/2 cup of chia seed pudding. Top with granola, fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey. Enjoy!