Mandarin Creamsicle Chia Pudding
The following recipe was created in collaboration with Lauren Schulte. To see more of her bites and meals, visit her Instagram @TheBiteSizePantry.
Chia seeds aren’t just for growing cute potted leafy animals, they’re also for eating. In the past, I rarely added these small seeds to my daily diet, but ever since finding out how delicious they are in pudding form, I’ve never looked back. Made with fresh oranges, creamy coconut milk, chia seeds and a splash of vanilla, my Mandarin Orange Creamsicle Chia Pudding is an easy dessert, slightly decadent snack or sweet breakfast!
I’ve recently added this recipe into my morning breakfast routine and it is surely a reason to get out of bed! The orange-flavored pudding sprinkled with chia seeds, or little power houses of nutrition as I like to call them, really hits the spot. They sit overnight in the pudding mixture and double in size by the next morning while also becoming very soft and easy to chew. If you don’t soak the seeds beforehand or let them sit overnight in the pudding mixture, they can be very crunchy and not-so-pleasant to eat.
Perfect for those looking for a make ahead breakfast or snack, this easy recipe requires no cooking at all – it just needs to sit for an hour or overnight to allow the chia seeds to plump up. The end result is a tapioca-like texture and a taste like none other!
Mandarin Creamsicle Chia Pudding
Servings: 4
Ingredients
For the Chia Pudding
- 1¼ cups Heinen’s organic unsweetened coconut milk
- ¼ cup fat-free evaporated milk
- 1 packet Jell-O sugar-free vanilla instant pudding
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments, canned
- ½ cup mandarin orange juice, from the can
- ⅛ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 1 tsp. Heinen’s wildflower honey
- ¼ tsp. orange zest, optional
For the Toppings
- Organic granola
- Mandarin oranges
- 0% Fage Greek yogurt
Instructions
- In a blender, add all of the chia pudding ingredients except for the instant pudding. Blend until smooth.
- Add the instant pudding and blend until smooth.
- Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight. Letting the pudding sit allows it to set and thicken. The chia seeds soften and plump up, too.
- When ready to enjoy, top with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and mandarin orange slices. Garnish with a large slice of orange for an extra pop of color.
Interested in making this recipe? Order the ingredients online for Curbside Grocery Pickup or Delivery.
