Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk

Chia pudding with coconut milk is a great dairy free low calorie tropical breakfast, snack, or dessert. Top with your favorite fresh or dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, or even chocolate chips!

If you’ve never had chia pudding, it is reminiscent of tapioca and can be eaten as a breakfast, a dessert, and even a snack.

Chia seeds were a staple in the ancient Aztec and Mayan diets and have been touted for their health benefits for centuries. In fact, “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.”

Technically, there are many ways you can add chia seeds to your diet, but this chia pudding with coconut milk is one of my favorites.

I really enjoy the tropical flavor the coconut milk gives to the chia pudding and how creamy it makes it compared to chia pudding with almond milk or chia pudding with oat milk.

The seeds are absorbing up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked and developing a coating that gives chia-based foods and beverages a distinctive gel texture.

One of the things I love about it is that you can make it ahead of time.

I do meal prep for the week on Sundays, and little jars of chia pudding are so easy to make and quick to grab. Best of all, it will keep in the fridge for a week.

You can mix things up by topping the pudding with fresh or dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, granola, and more.

Types of Vanilla

Vanilla comes from a pod commonly known as a “vanilla bean”, which comes from the vanilla orchids.

Vanilla pods have been used for flavoring since the Aztecs and was introduced to Europe by a Spanish conquistador, along with cocoa.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is created by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol for some time. This is the most commonly used type of vanilla.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is common in Europe and some parts of the Middle East, like Israel. 

It is made from vanilla beans sitting in sugar, vanilla bean powder mixed with sugar, or sugar mixed with vanilla extract.

In some countries, like Italy, you can also find vanilla powdered sugar, which is used for confections.

Vanilla Paste

Vanilla paste is generally a specialty item.  It is a thick paste that contains a blend of the scraped-out vanilla pod seeds and vanilla extract. 

You can use it as you do vanilla extract and it will leave flakes of vanilla bean like you see in vanilla bean ice cream.

Imitation Vanilla

Imitation Vanilla, otherwise known as artificial vanilla or vanilla essence, is made from synthetic vanilla. 

This is the compound that naturally occurs in vanilla beans and gives it its flavor.

Can I use imitation vanilla?

Many will tell you that you should use high quality vanilla, just like they say you should use the best cocoa. 

However, most of us will probably not be willing to pay the hefty price that comes with exceptionally high-quality ingredients.

Overall, vanilla is very expensive, so the extract is as well. 

So, if you’re not going to get regular quality vanilla extract, you might as well use imitation vanilla.

Can vanilla extract be used as a substitute for vanilla beans?

Yes, vanilla extract can be used as a substitute for vanilla beans. Use about 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for each inch of vanilla bean.

How to Store Vanilla

Pure vanilla extract and other vanilla products should be kept away from heat and light, and should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Does chia pudding contain dairy?

Some variations do, but it isn’t necessary since you can use a dairy free milk. This recipe uses coconut milk.