I recently discovered chia pudding as a healthy breakfast, dessert or snack idea. Due to the success of my Smooth Chocolate Chia Pudding, I decided to take a turn with vanilla chia pudding. You may top the pudding with fruits, nuts, seeds or other favorite toppings. I chose a nutty theme with ground nutmeg, hazelnuts, raw cacao nibs and hemp seed hearts.
I recently received a sample of Hemp Hearts from Manotoba Harvest through the Sweat Pink Ambassador Program through Fit Approach. Hemp Hearts make a nutty nutrient-rich topping for yogurt, smoothies, salads, cereals and chia pudding!
One lucky Feeling Fit reader will win a free 2-ounce sample of Hemp Hearts. The two-ounce size indicates that it contains one serving, but since I use the Hemp Hearts as a topping or garnish it lasts considerably longer. To enter, simply comment on this post and enter through the giveaway widget. The winner will be randomly selected among valid comments.
Vanilla Spice Chia Pudding Recipe
This chia pudding recipe is a little smoother than traditional chia seed pudding, though not as smooth as the smooth chocolate chia pudding recipe that I posted last Summer. The color is darker than your usual vanilla as it uses dark chia seeds and vanilla bean powder (mentioned in this post).
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut water (plain water or nutmilk would also work)
- .25 cup of chia seed
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Powder (vanilla extract could work in a pinch)
- .5 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 ripe banana
- .5 cup unsweetened nut or coconut milk
- optional honey or maple syrup to taste
- Fruit and nuts of your choice to top the pudding, I used
- 3 hazelnuts
- .5 teaspoon Hemp Hearts from Manitobia Harvest
- a dash of nutmeg
- .4 teaspoon raw cacao nibs
Instructions
- Put coconut water in a jar.
- Add vanilla bean powder and chia seeds and mix.
- Leave to soak overnight (a few hours may be sufficient, I usually do this phase in the evening)
- Combine the chia pudding made in stage one with: 1 ripe banana broken into 1" portions, .5 cup nut milk, optional honey (though it is fine without) and cacao powder.
- Blend until smooth according to your preference. The pudding should have a smooth pudding or mousse texture, however it may be warm from the blender. You may serve or chill for 30 minutes.
- Top with fruit, seeds, nuts or spices of your choice. Enjoy!
Notes
Most of the prep time is passive. This is a quick make-ahead breakfast or snack that I like to start sometime the evening before I consume it.
Enter To Win A Free Package of Hemp Hearts:
Where to Find Hemp Hearts:
Hemp Hearts are available from the Manitoba Harvest Website And also on Amazon… 
I have never heard of these before
Sounds delicious!
WOW! This looks amazingly delicious!
The Vanilla Spice Chia Pudding looks delicious!
How interesting. Would love to try this!
thanks!
My daughter is trying to eat much more healthy and I would love for her to try this. Thanks!
All the best to her! Good luck on the giveaway.
I’ve never tried hemp hearts, just hemp seed oil. I do love the healthy fat since it really helps my dry eyes, and this has plenty of good fats.
Do you notice a difference when eating healthy fats? That is fantastic.
I do, healthy fats and water really help my eyes. I didn’t eat enough fats of any kind in the past and it really does make such a difference. Getting enough sleep helps of course too!
Mmmmm great recipe! I’ll have to give it a go!
Meg x
Let me know how it goes if you do, this isn’t as sweet as some might prefer. I have a sweet tooth, but I often try to stick with the sweetness that comes from the fruit.
I’ve only had hemp hearts in Big Slice Apples so it’d be nice to try them in other foods.
I haven’t tried Big Slice Apples, but I think they go really well with fruit.
LOVE Hemp Hearts! I recently tried them in a snack subscription box.
Thank you, good luck!