Overnight chia seeds and oats puddings are healthy options for breakfast and desserts and in my case a great lunch option too. It is vegan, high in fiber, and a filling breakfast. I like to make it ahead of time, as it stays well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
What is Overnight Oats and Chia Pudding?
Overnight oats and chia puddings are a great make-ahead pudding like a healthy breakfast. It is made using gluten-free oats, chia seeds, nut milk, and sweeteners. Different flavors and toppings are added to these puddings like coffee, chocolate, berries, or mango. I like to add toppings to my oats and chia puddings like almond/ peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, and fresh/ frozen fruit.
About This Recipe
Chocolate chia and oats pudding are my favorite. It tastes just like a luscious chocolate pudding, but healthier. I like my chia puddings in either coconut milk or oat milk. I am using coconut milk, but you can use any dairy- free milk of your choice. This recipe is a mix and go recipe, so it really is very easy to make. I like to garnish the oats and chia pudding with whipped coconut cream, some berries, nut butters and shaved chocolate. If you love chocolate, you know adding coffee, elevates the taste of chocolate, so we will be using some instant coffee in this recipe too.
Is This Recipe Vegan and Gluten-Free?
This recipe is naturally vegan. We are using oats in this recipe, so it depends on the kinds of oats you are using to make this recipe. I am using Instant Gluten-Free oats to make this recipe.
Is This Overnight Oats and Chia Pudding Healthy?
This pudding is like a tapioca pudding, but so healthy. It is full of antioxidants, plant-based protein, and full of fiber. This recipe is great for improving gut health and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. There is about 8 grams of protein in every serving of this recipe, which is a great way to add protein in your diet. This recipe is great for PCOS, and curb sweet tooth, without adding a dramatic blood glucose spike in your body.
Benefits of Overnight Oat and Chia Puddings
Overnight oats are a great source of whole grains, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. It is a great way to add complex carbs to your body to give a boost of energy without spiking the blood glucose. Oats are mostly naturally gluten-free and are naturally filling, helping you to keep your hunger satisfied. Adding chia seeds to the overnight oats is a great addition to protein, antioxidants, and vitamins. Chia seeds help maintain the requirements of good fiber intake, resulting in a healthy gut. They are also naturally known to have properties that help with reducing inflammation in the body. Daily intake of chia seeds has proved that they reduce your chance of getting any chronic and heart diseases. Try my Mango Chia Pudding recipe.
Expert Tips
Use fresh nut milk of your choice, I like my oats and chia puddings made in coconut and oat milk. I recommend using good-quality cocoa powder and instant coffee. The better the quality of the ingredients, the pudding will taste delicious. You can also add nut butter while making this chia pudding. It is a great source of protein. You can skip using whipped coconut cream, and top this pudding with almond butter, and pumpkin seeds. I recommend cutting up some fresh fruits like bananas and berries, to naturally sweeten the oats and chia pudding. For 4 Cups of nut milk, you need 1 cup of Instant oats and ½ cup of chia seeds. This recipe is great for kids too, as long as they are not allergic to any ingredients.
Substitutions and Variations
You can make different variations of overnight oats and chia puddings, after making the base recipe. I like flavors like mango, mixed berries, and of course chocolate. If you are not vegan, you can also add some Greek yogurt to the recipe for added protein. If you don’t like a tapioca pudding consistency, you can blend the oats and chia seeds with nut milk, and a medjool date, to make a luscious pudding. Chill this overnight, add toppings, and enjoy! You can also add a ripe banana for sweetness and skip maple syrup in this recipe. I prefer to use coconut milk, but you can use any dairy-free milk of your choice like almond, oats, or soy milk. You can add orange zest and a pinch of sea salt to add depth of flavor to this overnight oat and chia pudding.
Ingredients to Make this Recipe
We will be using very simple and healthy ingredients to make this recipe. Coconut Milk - I prefer using coconut milk, but you can use any milk of your choice to make this recipe. Oats - You can use any oats you have on hand. I am using instant gluten-free oats for this recipe. Chia Seeds - I recommend using good quality chia seeds. The chia seeds should bloom in milk/ water in 10 minutes for them to be good. Cacao Powder - Use good quality raw cacao powder for the recipe. This adds a deliciously earthy chocolatey taste to the pudding. Instant Coffee - Using instant coffee gives chocolate a depth of flavor. You can skip it if you are making this pudding more kid-friendly or prefer not to add coffee. Maple Syrup - I like to add maple syrup to sweeten this recipe. But, if you wish to naturally sweeten this recipe, you can add pureed date, or mashed banana or apple sauce to this recipe. Vanilla - You can also add vanilla extract to give some floral taste, to cut the bitterness of chocolate. Fruit - I am using raspberries to top my overnight chocoalate and chia pudding, but you can add any fruit of your choice.
Step-by-Step Recipe
Here’s a step-by-step recipe to make these overnight oats and chia pudding. Step 1 - In a bowl add 2 cups of nut milk of your choice. Step 2 - To this add ½ cup gluten-free instant oats and ¼th cup of chia seeds. Now add 4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder, 2 teaspoons instant coffee, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Step 3 - Mix everything well gently. Step 4 - Give it a taste test to see if the sweetness is right. You can also add sea salt, if you like dark chocolate and sea salt pairing. Step 5 - Cover it with a plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator overnight. It will become thick and pudding-like after chilled. Step 6 - Add toppings like whipped coconut cream, berries, bananas and shaved chocolate, and serve!
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