How Long Does it Take to Thicken?

Amazingly, the seeds set quite well in only 15 minutes with cashew milk. However, I really prefer to soak them overnight because it is faster in the morning, but more importantly, it tastes better. I don't really like warm pudding, plus the seeds absorb a bit more over time and have time to soak in the flavor. You could help the temperature of the pudding by doing part of the cashew milk water as ice cubes though and eat it in 15 minutes if you want.

How long does pudding with chia seeds last in the fridge?

They actually do quite well for up to five days, although it starts separating a bit by the third day, depending on the type of milk and mix-ins, etc.

Yes. It works quite well. I put it in smaller containers usually for freezing since one cup is plenty filling for me, so I use my 8-ounce freezer containers. It can last for several weeks and then the night before I want to eat it, I just put it in the fridge to unthaw it. My children aren't a huge fan of how the texture changes a bit, but I don't mind it, and if it seems more off than normal I just use my immersion blender and the texture is all good ahead. You can even use blended pudding as popsicles (the chocolate flavor is my favorite).

4 Ingredient Basic Chia Pudding Recipe + 3 Variations

Description

This chia pudding tastes like a rich dessert but it is healthy enough to eat for a healthy breakfast or healthy snack. It's crazy how filling and satisfying it is! {Paleo, Vegan, Plant-Based, WFPB, Keto, Clean Eating}

The nutrition label applies to the basic base recipe. It doesn't include the options like adding chocolate or fruit.

Ingredients

Scale

Base

1 cup cashew milk or plant-based milk of choice (see notes)
3 Tbsp chia seeds *
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp Real Salt *

Sweetened Base

The equivalent of 4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) sweetener of choice (see notes)
1 more Tbsp chia seeds *

Chocolate

4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) unsweetened cocoa powder *
Optional - 1/4 cup almond butter
raspberries, topping

Strawberry

1/2 cup strawberries, plus additional for topping

Banana

1 ripe banana, plus additional for topping
1/4 tsp cinnamon

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Instructions

Base

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl if you are going to eat it soon or an airtight container, such as a 17-ounce freezer container *, if you are going to refrigerate overnight. Let it thicken anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight in the fridge (see notes).
Stir it and check to make sure it is nice and thick and not liquidy. If it is too thick, add a little extra milk. If too thin, add 1-3 tsp and let it set for another 15 minutes to thicken.
If desired, add your favorite toppings or mix-ins (see below).

Sweetened Base

Add the ingredients to the regular base.

Chocolate

Add the additional ingredients listed above to the sweetened base either before or after refrigerating it.

Strawberry

Smash the strawberries with a fork or food processor.
After the sweetened base is done refrigerating layer the strawberries, then the base and top with sliced strawberries.

Banana

Add one ripe banana and the cinnamon to the blender if you are making a cashew base or use a food processor or smash the banana separately if you are not.
Top with additional fresh bananas, chocolate chips or pecans if desired.

Notes

Types of milk

Cashew milk - makes it light and creamy. You can click the link to the left to get my full recipe but the basic idea is to blend 1/4 cup raw cashews with 1 cup of water in a Vitamix * or other high-speed blender. I especially don't soak my cashews when making the milk for pudding since I know it is going to sit overnight anyway. This is my personal favorite milk for pudding for both taste and ease of use.
Coconut milk - Refrigerated coconut milk * works the best but the brand I use needs 4 Tbsp of chia seeds * instead of 3 Tbsps to get properly thick. My children like the taste of refrigerated coconut milk * slightly better than the cashew milk. I haven't had good luck myself with canned coconut milk *. If you make it full strength, it is hard as a rock (like you can hold it upside down and it doesn't come out) and if you mix half milk, half water the consistency is more or less correct but it just wasn't right. The whole thing has kind of a gray color, the chia seeds * didn't fully absorb and I didn't think it tasted all that great. A good combo is about 1/4 canned coconut milk * and 3/4 cashew milk. You kind of get the best of both worlds.
Almond milk - makes it light and creamy. I don't generally use almond milk myself though because the stuff from the store has added ingredients I don't want to eat and cashew milk is a lot easier to make.
Dairy milk - regular dairy milk doesn't work super great for pudding with chia seeds *. I don't understand why, but the chia seeds * don't seem to soak up the milk as well and it makes it really runny, especially at first. If you let it sit overnight it is thicker but still not thick enough and it really doesn't taste right at all.

How long should I soak my chia seeds?

Amazingly, the seeds set quite well in only 15 minutes with cashew milk. However, I really prefer to soak them overnight because it is faster in the morning, but more importantly, it tastes better. I don't really like this warm, plus the seeds absorb a bit more over time and have time to soak in the flavor. You could help the temperature of the pudding by doing part of the cashew milk water as ice cubes though and eat it in 15 minutes if you want.

Sweeteners

Here are some common sugar substitutes and the amount approximately equal to 1 Tbsp sugar. Pick the one that works the best with your diet and taste preferences. You may always use a little more or a little less than the listed amount to suit your taste preferences. (I personally almost always use maple syrup * because it is easy to use, I tolerate it well and I love the flavor. )

1 Tbsp pure maple syrup * (Paleo, Vegan)
1 scant Tbsp honey (Paleo)
6 drops liquid monk fruit (Keto, Paleo, Vegan)
1 Tbsp coconut sugar * (Paleo, Vegan
6 drops liquid stevia * (Keto, Vegan)
1 Tbsp date sugar (Paleo, Vegan)
4 Dates (Paleo, Vegan)

Keywords: Easy, Overnight, Rich