Cherry Vanilla Almond Chia Pudding

Smooth and lightly sweet, this Cherry Vanilla Almond Chia Pudding takes 5 minutes to prepare. It's healthy, gluten free, vegan and dairy free!

Don't be afraid of the words "chia pudding".  This has all the benefits of chia seeds in one delicious bowl.

For those who didn't know this, when you put chia seeds in liquid, they become gel-like, almost like a pudding.  Enter my Chia Pudding….lightly sweet, packed with omega fatty acids and antioxidants.  

This is my perfect breakfast or snack (next to my Overnight Oats of course!)  I think you all know how much I LOVE chia seeds.  

We all know about the antioxidants and healthy fatty acids they contain, but they are also loaded with protein, calcium and Vitamins A, B, E and D.  Chia seeds also provides you with energy without any caffeine as well as help with weight loss.  

Even MORE reasons why you should be eating chia seeds daily.  Just saying.

I put a teaspoon of maple syrup in there because I wanted it a bit sweeter, but the cherries make it sweet on their own if you feel like leaving it out.  I've had it both ways and love them equally.  

But you know how some days you just crave something sweet?  Yup, that's how I felt when I created this recipe. 

Read your ingredients on your dried fruit, many of them contain added, unnecessary sugars.  I used Trader Joe's dried cherries, love the label because it says "Absolutely Nothing Added".  

Perfection.

And look how pretty it looks in a fancy glass from Anthropologie?  Just so you know, my chia pudding is usually in a glass container.  

And it tastes just as delicious.

But I am keeping it real here people. When I meal prep I buy those glass containers with the lids and I just make a bunch of them at a time.

I would love to say I am always eating my chia pudding out of fancy glasses but that is just not true. But it's still pretty for the picture.

I have made this pudding with maple syrup and also with Monk fruit in order for it to be low carb and sugar free. 1 teaspoon of maple syrup isn't really much sugar at all, but it does add up for those that are trying to reduce or eliminate sugar from their diets.

The bottom line is that it tastes delicious both ways. Those cherries are naturally sweet on their own.

Cherry Vanilla Almond Chia Pudding

5 from 1 vote

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Servings: 1 serving

Author: Lauren Kelly

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• ▢ ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of your choice
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢ 1 teaspoon 100% maple syrup or Monk fruit to make it sugar free and low carb
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract I used Nielsen-Massey
• ▢ 1 tablespoon unsweetened dried cherries
• ▢ 1 tablespoon slivered almonds

Instructions

• Place all of the ingredients except the cherries and almonds in a small bowl and mix well.
• Cover with a lid.
• It may look watery, but allow it to sit overnight (or at least a few hours) for it to thicken.
• Add cherries and almonds right before serving.

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There are endless possibilities for chia pudding.   Let me know what your favorite kind is!

If you make these Vanilla Almond Chia Pudding or any of the other recipes I have shared with you, please some back and let me know. You guys know that I love to hear from you!

I hope you enjoy this! Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!