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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Apr 6, 2021 · Modified: Jan 6, 2023 by Katie

    Warm Chia Pudding

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    Looking for a warm, comforting breakfast that’s not oatmeal? This warm chia pudding consists of only 5 ingredients and is ready in 10 minutes. It’s perfect for days on which you are craving a warm, comforting bowl of breakfast with some nutritional benefits!

    breakfast bowl of chia pudding topped with fresh fruit, walnuts and maple syrup.

    Chia seed pudding has become a super popular breakfast in the last couple of years and I can see why. These little seeds are nutritious, high in healthy fats and fiber and really easy to prepare.

    Chia seeds themselves have quite a neutral taste. However, combined with some fresh fruit or other delicious toppings they make a nutritious breakfast, snack or even healthy dessert that's packed with flavor. 

    For more vegan chia pudding recipes check out Almond Milk Chia Pudding, Coconut Milk Chia Pudding, Vegan Salted Caramel Chia Pudding or Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding.

    Jump to:
    • What is warm chia pudding?
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients & substitution notes
    • How to make warm chia pudding
    • Top tips
    • Flavor ideas
    • Topping ideas
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • More healthy breakfast recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    What is warm chia pudding?

    Chia seeds have the ability to absorb a lot of liquid compared to their size. When mixed together with milk (or water), they expand in size, and form a gel-like consistency. That's why it's called chia pudding. 

    Chia seeds are really versatile because they don't have a strong taste on their own. Hence the flavor combinations you can create using chia seeds are endless!

    While most chia pudding recipes are meant to soak overnight and served cold, chia seeds can also be heated resulting in a cozy bowl of warm chia pudding.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • It only requires 5 minutes of prep time.
    • It's gluten-free (completely grain-free), dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar-free.
    • It includes some extra protein (coming from the chia seeds and the soy yogurt).
    • Chia Seeds are a great source of omega 3-fatty acids!

    Ingredients & substitution notes

    all ingredients needed for warm chia pudding.
    • Frozen Berries (OPTIONAL): I love adding frozen berries to my warm breakfast bowls. For this chia pudding recipe I used frozen mixed berries that consisted of blueberries, raspberries, red currant and blackberries. You can use any berries you like or omit them completely.
    • Milk of Choice: You could use any dairy-free milk of your choice as well as regular dairy milk. For sweet recipes, I usually like unsweetened oat milk because it’s naturally sweeter. Alternatively, you could also use unsweetened almond milk, soy milk or cashew milk. Even coconut milk would work.
    • Yogurt of Choice: adds a creamy consistency. I used unsweetened soy yogurt but you could use any yogurt of your choice. A berry yogurt would add some additional great flavor for example.
    • Maple Syrup: I recommend using pure maple syrup without any additives. Instead of maple syrup you could also use agave, honey (not vegan) or any other preferred sweetener such as brown sugar or coconut sugar.

    How to make warm chia pudding

    This warm chia porridge recipe requires minimal ingredients (5 in total) and no cooking skills whatsoever. The only equipment you'll need is a small saucepan.

    all ingredients for warm chia pudding in a saucepan.

    STEP 1: Combine all ingredients in a small pot. Heat over medium heat, then reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir constantly.

    warm chia pudding in a saucepan.

    STEP 2: Let sit for about 2-3 more minutes. This allows the chia seeds to fully absorb the liquid and thicken. Serve with your toppings of choice!

    Top tips

    • Texture: The longer the chia pudding rests, the more it will thicken. If you make this the evening before and store it in the fridge, you might need to add an extra splash of milk before reheating.
    • Adjust sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter chia pudding, add more maple syrup.

    Flavor ideas

    You could try adding more flavors by adding different spices and ingredients. Below you'll find a few suggestions:

    • Cacao Powder: Berries and chocolate make an amazing flavor blend- you can't go wrong by adding a teaspoon of cacao powder. 
    • Cinnamon: I love adding cinnamon to my breakfast bowls, especially during the colder months. Feel free to replace it with nutmeg or other winter flavors of your choice. Make sure to only add a tiny pinch though, the flavor shouldn't be overpowering!
    • Vanilla Extract: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for some subtle vanilla flavors!
    • Apple Puree: Could either be added additionally or also act as a natural sweetener instead of maple syrup. 
    • Mashed Banana: Similar to the apple puree, if you're after a sugar-free breakfast, try adding some mashed banana instead of the syrup.
    bowl of warm chia seeds topped with fresh fruit and walnuts.

    Topping ideas

    Adding toppings is where the fun is and real flavor comes into play! Feel free to add any toppings of choice, we list a couple of our favorites below:

    • Fresh Fruit: such as fresh berries, apples, oranges, kiwi or banana.
    • Granola: Adds some amazing texture. Both store-bought and homemade work just fine. Check out this Applesauce Granola for a homemade recipe idea!
    • Nuts & Seeds: Such as walnuts, brazil nuts or almonds are my go-to nuts. They taste amazing in combination with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
    • Nut Butter: I love adding a big scoop of homemade almond butter to almost any breakfast bowl. It adds some additional protein and flavor. Alternatively, you could use peanut butter or any other nut butter of choice.
    • Chocolate Chips: Is there any breakfast bowl that doesn’t benefit from adding chocolate chips? 😉 Choose vegan chocolate to keep this recipe vegan!
    • Coconut Flakes: Toasted or raw, both would make a great topping!
    • Dried Fruits: Try adding some dried raisins, cranberries or dried cherries
    bowl of warm chia pudding topped with fresh fruit. next to it some walnuts and maple syrup.

    Storage

    • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
    • Reheat: Gently reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. You might need to add 2-3 tablespoon of milk or water as the chia seeds thicken even more the longer they soak.

    FAQs

    Are chia seeds healthy?

    Chia Seeds are a great source of omega 3-fatty acids (polyunsaturated fat). What’s even better is that they are a complete protein, meaning that they contain all 9 essential amino acids. Chia seeds are also in dietary fiber which feeds your good gut bacteria. It also helps you feel full for longer and prevent blood sugar spikes. Additionally, they may help to lower LDL cholesterol.

    Are chia seeds gluten-free?

    Yes, they are 100% gluten-free.

    Is this recipe meal prep-friendly?

    Absolutely. You can prepare this chia seed porridge the day before and it will taste just as good the next day. You might need to add another splash of milk before serving it the next morning as the chia seeds might thicken even more overnight.

    Can you warm up chia seeds?

    Yes, if you made a big batch of these chia seed pudding and want to warm it up again the next day, simply add a tiny splash of milk of choice and gently reheat it on the stove or in the microwave (make sure to use a microwave safe bowl).

    How to store chia seeds?

    Chia seeds are a convenient pantry staple to have and may best be kept in a sealed container or glass jug with a lid.

    Do chia seeds go bad?

    If stored properly, chia seeds have a very long shelf life- generally set at 2 years.

    More healthy breakfast recipes

    • Millet Porridge
    • Chia Pudding With Almond Milk
    • Almond Milk Overnight Oats
    • Overnight Oats With Water (No Milk)

    📖 Recipe

    bowl of warm chia pudding topped with fresh fruit. next to it some walnuts and maple syrup.

    Creamy Warm Chia Pudding

    For this easy warm chia pudding you'll only need 5 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time! It makes a great breakfast on winter mornings or whenever you're craving a comforting breakfast bowl.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Katie
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients 
     

    • ½ cup frozen mixed berries (optional) *see notes
    • 1 cup milk of choice (or ½ cup milk + ½ cup water)
    • 4 tablespoon chia seeds
    • 2 tablespoon yogurt of choice
    • 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup (or other sweetener of choice)
    • toppings of choice (berries, granola...) *see notes

    Instructions

    • Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan.
      ½ cup frozen mixed berries (optional), 1 cup milk of choice, 4 tablespoon chia seeds, 2 tablespoon yogurt of choice, 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup
    • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir constantly.
    • Remove the saucepan from the heat. Taste and adjust sweetness.
    • Let sit for 2-3 more minutes. This will allow the chia seeds to thicken even more.
    • Add toppings of choice & enjoy!
    Pssst...You can find detailed step-by step-photos right above this recipe card

    Video

    Notes

    • Frozen berries: add some additional taste and flavor but are optional and can be omitted.
    • Sweeter: For a sweeter chia pudding, gradually add more maple syrup or sweetener of choice.
    • Milk: My favorite plant milk to use in this recipe is unsweetened oat milk but it will work with any type of milk. Instead, you could use ½ cup of milk and ½ cup of water but the pudding will be a bit less creamy.
    • Topping Suggestions: fresh berries (or other fruits), homemade granola, (homemade) almond butter (or any other nut butter), nuts & seeds, chocolate chips, coconut flakes
    • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Gently reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. You might need to add 2-3 tablespoon of milk or water as the chia seeds thicken even more the longer they soak.
    • Nutritional values calculated without toppings!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1. | Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 357mg | Iron: 3mg
    All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates.
    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating and comment telling us how you liked it! Or tag @wholefoodsoulfood__kitchen on Instagram so we can admire your creations!

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    katie author of WSK

    Hi, I'm Katie and I am the face behind this website. Click here to learn more about me and my passion for (healthy) food and photography.

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