This flaxseed pudding is the perfect breakfast for busy mornings because it comes together in no time! It's naturally gluten-free, nut-free and vegan but can easily be modified.
Flaxseed pudding, similar to chia seed pudding is a great make-ahead breakfast. It's also super versatile as you can create different flavors by adding your favorite toppings.
For more easy breakfast recipes check Salted Caramel Chia Pudding, Almond Milk Overnight Oats, Almond Milk Chia Pudding or Apple Chia Pudding.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It makes the perfect quick and easy weekday breakfast!
- It's great for meal prep!
- Flaxseeds are a really cheap alternative to chia seeds yet packed with nutrients!
- It's super versatile and can be adapted to suit a whole30, keto or a low-carb diet.
What is flax pudding?
Similar to chia seeds, flaxseeds have the ability to bind a high amount of liquid, especially if they are ground. When they are soaked, they will form a thick, pudding-like texture.
Flaxseeds themselves have a quite neutral, slightly nutty flavor which is why toppings come into play. Fresh fruit, nuts, nut butters and sweeteners of choice help to add some additional flavor.
Ingredients & substitution notes
- (Whole) Flaxseeds: We used brown flaxseeds for this recipe but golden flaxseeds work just as fine! If you are using the whole seed then you'll need to grind them in a blender of coffee grinder to get flaxseed meal. Alternatively, you could buy ground flaxseeds.
- Milk of Choice: We use unsweetened plant milk to make flaxseed pudding. My favorite one is oat milk because it's naturally quite sweet. Soy milk, almond milk or any other milk alternative will work as well. Feel free to use regular cow's milk too.
- Sweetener: This recipe calls for maple syrup but you could use agave syrup or honey (not vegan) instead. Even regular sugar such as brown sugar will work.
- Salt (optional): A tiny pinch of (sea) salt further enhances the flavors but is optional.
How to make flaxseed pudding
This healthy breakfast consists of only 4 ingredients which is why it's so quick and easy to prepare. The best part is that you can easily prepare it the night before- perfect for busy mornings!
Step 1: Make your flaxseed meal (optional)
This recipe calls for flaxseed meal aka. ground flaxseeds. Even though you could buy pre-ground flaxseed at most grocery stores, it's super easy (and cheaper) to make your own flaxseed meal at home.
Put all of the flaxseeds to your blender, food processor or coffee grinder and blend for about half a minute. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed, then blend again until you end up with finely ground flaxseed meal.
Step 2: Whisk it together
Transfer the ground flaxseeds to a medium bowl (we used cereal bowls) and add your milk, sweetener of choice and pinch of salt.
Whisk until well combined then set aside for at least 1 hour of overnight to thicken.
Add your toppings of choice and enjoy!
If, shortly before consuming, you enjoy a thinner consistency, add a couple of tablespoons of milk.
Variations
- Vegan: This recipe is vegan if you choose to use a non-dairy milk such as soy, oat or almond milk.
- Whole30: Skip the maple syrup and use unsweetened apple sauce or a mashed banana as a sweetener.
- Toppings & Add-Ins: Fore more variation ideas see the section below.
Add-in & topping ideas
- Fresh Fruit: One of the best toppings out there! The options are endless, simply chop up your favorite type of fruit or fruits and add them to the pudding. Our favorites are banana slices, apple pieces or tropical fruits during the summer months.
- Dried Fruit: The second best option to fresh fruit in my opinion. Think chopped dates, dried cherries or raisins or even cranberry for more winter flavors.
- Nuts: Chopped nuts such as chopped walnuts, cashews or almonds all taste amazing as a topping.
- Nut Butters: Peanut Butter or try our Homemade Almond Butter!
- Yogurt: Add a tablespoon of unsweetened plain yogurt or vegan yogurt such as soy yogurt for some creamy texture and additional protein.
- Vanilla Extract: Add a teaspoon vanilla extract for some subtle vanilla flavors.
- Cacao Powder: Fancy some chocolatey flavors? Add a teaspoon of cacao powder!
- Chocolate Chips/ Cacao Nibs: Create yourself a delicious chocolate flaxseed pudding by adding some (vegan) chocolate chips or cacao nibs to the mix!
Top tips
- Use ground flaxseeds (flaxseed meal), not whole flaxseeds.
- Add your toppings of choice to turn this basic breakfast recipe into a flavorful meal!
- If you want to prepare this as a grab-and-go breakfast, combine the ingredients in a mason jar or container with a lid. Add your toppings only shortly before serving.
Storage
Dry flaxseeds can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar with a lid. To ensure a longer shelf life, flaxseed meal should be stored in the refrigerator.
Flaxseed pudding can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days but taste best when consumed rigth away.
FAQs
You could try, but the texture will be very different. Whole flaxseeds don't have the same ability to bind liquid as chia seeds do. That's why we blend them into flax meal. That way they can hold much more liquid (milk in our case) which results in a thicker, more pudding-like texture. Hence why I would recommend using ground flaxseeds.
Another advantage is that ground flaxseeds are easier for the body to break down.
Flaxseeds have a mild, nutty flavor so they can easily be used in sweet as well as savory recipes.
Flaxseed meal is just a different name but it's the same as ground whole flaxseeds. You can easily make your own flax meal by blending whole flayseeds in a blender or grinder.
Yes, they are. It's just another name.
Flaxseeds include plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. Just like chia seeds, they are also high in omega 3 fatty acids Most nutritional experts also recommend ground flaxseeds over whole ones because they are easier to digest. This means that the body can absorb the nutrients more easily.
More Breakfast Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Flaxseed Pudding
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (ground) flaxseeds *if using whole, blend them in a coffee grinder or blender
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ cup plant milk or other milk of choice *oat milk, soy milk, regular cow's milk...
- pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
- If using whole flaxseeds, put them into a blender, food processor or coffee grinder and blend until you end up with finely ground flaxseeds.
- Place the ground flaxseeds, milk of choice, sweetener and salt into a bowl.
- Stir to combine. Then set aside for at least 1h or overnight to thicken.
- Add your toppings of choice (fresh fruit, dried fruits, nuts, almond butter, more maple syrup, chocolate chips...) and enjoy!
Video
Tips & Notes
- Texture: If you prefer a thinner consistency, add 1-2 tablespoon of milk before serving.
- Grab-and-go: If you want to prepare this as a grab-and-go breakfast, combine the ingredients in a mason jar or container with a lid. Add your toppings only shortly before serving.
- Vegan: This recipe is vegan if you choose to use a non-dairy milk such as soy, oat or almond milk.
- Whole30: Skip the maple syrup and use unsweetened apple sauce or a mashed banana as a sweetener.
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