This banana pudding recipe with chia seeds is your healthy alternative to classic banana pudding. No need for a cheat day or any refined sugar when you’ve got this delicious recipe on hand.
We’ve all heard about the amazing health benefits of chia seeds. These tiny seeds are nutrient-packed, rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. In fact, just one ounce of chia seeds contains 4,915 mg of omega-3 fatty acids! The omega-3 value of chia seeds alone makes them worth adding to your diet.
This banana pudding recipe, however, isn’t an overnight chia seed pudding recipe. Not that we don’t adore chia seed pudding (we truly can’t get enough), but this recipe aims to be a quicker version that mimics the creaminess of a classic banana pudding recipe.
To make this pudding, you only need a handful of ingredients, including coconut milk, bananas, chia seeds, maple syrup (optional), and cashews (also optional). The coconut milk and bananas are blended together to create the base for the pudding, while maple syrup is added as a natural sweetener. The chopped cashews on top provide the satisfying crunch that Nila wafers might normally do in a classic banana pudding recipe.
You can make this recipe overnight if you really want the chia seeds to fully plump up, but we would suggest just popping the pudding into the fridge for an hour. This will soften up the chia seeds without causing them too absorb too much of the coconut milk or make the pudding dense.
The bonus with this banana pudding recipe is that it’s not only healthy, but it’s paleo-friendly and vegan-friendly as well!
Banana Pudding Recipe with Chia Seeds
serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, peeled
- 1/4 cup of full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tbsp chopped cashews
Directions:
- To a food processor or blender, add the banana, coconut milk, and maple syrup. Blend until smooth.
- Add in the chia seeds, then pulse a few times just until the seeds have been mixed in.
- Pour the pudding into a container and cover. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until chilled.
- Before serving, top with some chopped cashews.
Recipe adapted from StupidEasyPaleo.com
