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Chia Seed Parfait with Chocolate and Raspberries

Chia seed parfait makes for a super easy and healthy breakfast, high in protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Chocolate and raspberry is a flavour match made in heaven, with the perfect balance of sweet, rich and fresh- better yet, you can prepare this delicious dish for an entire week in advance, taking the stress out of weekday breakfasts!

Two glasses of chia seed parfait, a small bowl of raspberries, with a drizzle of agave

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What is chia seed parfait?

Chia seed parfait is a simple grab and go breakfast or snack. Chia seed pudding is made by stirring together chia seeds, milk and your flavour or sweetener of choice. The chia seeds absorb the liquid and become gel-like, creating a pudding consistency.

The chia pudding is layered with different toppings and fillings to make a nutritious and filling parfait. Fruit and nuts are most common, but you could also use oats, granola, seeds, dried fruit or yoghurt. 

What does it taste like?

Chia seeds themselves are pretty much flavourless so make a great base for your favourite flavours. You can add whatever flavourings you like to chia pudding parfait- be it vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, caramel or anything else. 

For this recipe I’ve gone with one of my favourite flavour combos. Chocolate and raspberry is a match made in heaven; it feels indulgent but is still super fresh. I’m a massive fan of breakfasts that taste like dessert, and this one is definitely on that list!

What is the texture of chia pudding like?

As mentioned above, when the chia seeds absorb liquid they create a pudding-like texture. This parfait is like a thick and creamy tapioca pudding- seriously it’s just like dessert! You can blend the easy chia seed pudding to make a smooth texture, but in this recipe I’ve kept the seeds whole.

Three quarter photograph of chia pudding with raspberries and toasted almonds on top

Why I love chia seed parfait

  • It’s super easy and quick to make, making it the perfect breakfast or snack for a busy schedule.
  • No cooking, and no special equipment– all you need to do is stir the ingredients and wait.
  • It tastes like dessert, and is great for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. You can even enjoy it for lunch or dinner, and it’s perfect for meal prep.
  • It’s perfect for those new to chia seeds, as it shows them off in all of their glory!
  • The options for flavours and toppings are endless, so you really can’t go wrong.

Is chia pudding parfait good for you?

Chia seed parfait is super good for you! It’s filling and will give you energy for hours due to its fantastic nutritional properties. Chia seeds are high in protein, soluble fibre, healthy fats, and omega 3s, and may also be beneficial to digestive health. They’re also great in chia seed porridge.

There’s no refined sugar in this recipe, nor are there any artificial sweeteners. It’s all whole food, plant based goodness!

What’s in this chia seed parfait?

This chia pudding parfait is made up of 3 components:

  • A chocolate chia seed pudding
  • Fresh raspberries
  • A vanilla chia seed pudding

I’ve also added a sprinkle of toasted flaked almonds and a drizzle of agave nectar to the top of the parfaits, for a nutty crunch and hint of sweetness.

Ingredients for chia seed parfait

What ingredients should I use?

This recipe uses just 6 simple ingredients:

How to make berry chia parfait

There are just 3 simple steps to making chia seed parfait!

Split the chia seeds between 2 small bowls. To one bowl, add the cacao powder and mix. Split the milk, vanilla and liquid sweetener between the two bowls, and stir.

Wait 5 minutes, then stir the mixtures one more time. Make sure there are no clumps of chia seeds. Move the bowls to the fridge and allow to set for at least 1 hour.

Layer! Once the chia pudding has set, layer the parfait in two glasses. Add half the chocolate pudding to the bottom of each glass, add the raspberries, then finally layer the vanilla pudding on top. 

You can top the parfaits with a few extra raspberries, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of syrup if you would like.

How long does it take to set?

The parfaits need to set up for at least 1 hour, but I prefer to make the pudding the night before and enjoy it in the morning. 

My top tips for chia seed parfait

The ratio of seeds to liquid is really important! If you get this wrong, you could end up with either runny chia pudding or crunchy chia seeds. 

  • Two tablespoons of chia seeds to half cup liquid (per person) is the perfect ratio. If your chia seeds still aren’t absorbing, they may be past their best. I would recommend checking the date on your seeds and trying again with some fresh ones.
  • If your chia seeds are fresh but you still find the pudding too runny, you can try adding in an extra half tablespoon of chia seeds and leaving the pudding for half an hour. 

The most important part of this recipe is adding the ingredients together and mixing, waiting 5 minutes, then mixing again. This stops the chia seed parfait from being clumpy or separating in the fridge. There shouldn’t be any chia seed clumps once you have finished mixing.

I like to mix it in a clear bowl or jar so that I can see what’s going on, but as long as you make sure to mix it really well, a bowl will be okay.

Close up photo of agave nectar being drizzled on chia seed pudding

Can I prepare this recipe in advance?

This easy chia seed pudding should be prepared 1-2 hours in advance to give it time to set, but can also be made up to 5 days in advance. I love this about chia seed parfait as it allows me to prep at the weekend and have breakfast and snacks ready to go all week long. It’s a great way to stop yourself reaching for unhealthy convenience snacks!

Can chia pudding be frozen?

This chia parfait keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge, but you can also keep it in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Freeze it in airtight containers and thaw in the fridge overnight before eating. This is great if you want to make a big batch of quick chia seed pudding for grab-and-go breakfasts (even for an entire month!).

Can it be heated?

Chia seed parfait is traditionally enjoyed cold, but if you want to eat this recipe in winter you might like to heat it up! To do this, empty the parfait into a saucepan and place it over a medium-low heat. Keep stirring as it warms, until it reaches the desired temperature. 

It may thicken up a little more as you heat it, so have some dairy-free milk on hand that you can add to loosen it up. 

The only downside of this method is that you lose the lovely layers! If you want to keep the layers, you would need to warm each component separately, then build it once warm.

Chia seed parfait in a jar with a spoon coming out of it

Ingredient substitutes

  • Gluten free or coeliac? This recipe is naturally gluten free so you won’t need to substitute any of the ingredients!
  • This chia pudding recipe can be made with water rather than milk, if you don’t like dairy-free milk. Bear in mind that the final outcome won’t be creamy if you take this route.
  • On the other hand, if you would like it to be extra thick and creamy, you can make chia seed parfait with coconut milk from a can. 
  • Add some plain or flavoured protein powder to the pudding for an extra boost of protein in the morning. You could add chocolate or vanilla protein to each of the puddings for some added flavour.
  • Experiment with toppings! You can add vegan greek yoghurt, different fruits, muesli, granola, dried fruit, nuts or seeds.

FAQs

Why didn’t my chia seed pudding set/why is it runny?

Your chia seeds could be off. Check the date on your chia seeds and try buying some fresh ones. If it’s still too runny, add a half tablespoon of chia seeds, stir, and wait half an hour.

My chia pudding is crunchy

This means that there wasn’t enough liquid for your chia seeds to absorb. A half cup of liquid to two tablespoons of chia seeds is a good ratio. If your parfait is still crunchy, add another splash of liquid, stir and wait half an hour.

Can I make a smooth chia seed parfait?

If you don’t like the texture of chia seeds, you can actually blend your chia pudding! You can us a normal or immersion blender to blend the pudding until it’s smooth.

Looking for some more healthy breakfast recipes?

  • These easy muesli slices are a great grab and go option. They also double up as a snack, and can be grabbed from the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • If you fancy more chia seed goodness, try spreading this almond chia seed butter on wholegrain toast.
  • 6 simple ingredients make these easy banana pancakes the perfect healthy weekend breakfast.
  • Vegan coffee overnight oats combine super convenient overnight oatmeal with a hit of coffee- the perfect pick-me-up.
  • Looking for something savoury? This Spanish omelette doesn’t contain any eggs, and makes a delicious breakfast or brunch.
  • This healthy quinoa granola is the perfect cereal to have on standby for busy mornings. It will keep for up to a month in an airtight container!

Pin it!

Close up photo of agave nectar being drizzled on chia seed pudding

Chia Seed Parfait with Chocolate and Raspberries

Chloe from Forkful of Plants
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine Raw
Servings 2
Chia seed parfait makes for a super easy and healthy breakfast, high in protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Chocolate and raspberry is a flavour match made in heaven, with the perfect balance of sweet, rich and fresh- better yet, you can prepare this delicious dish for an entire week in advance, taking the stress out of weekday breakfasts!

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp cacao powder
  • 250 ml almond milk (1 cup)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp natural liquid sweetener
  • 150 g fresh or frozen raspberries (~1 heaped cup)
  • 2 tbsp sliced almonds optional

Instructions
 

  • Split the chia seeds between 2 small bowls. To one bowl, add the cacao powder and mix. Split the milk, vanilla and liquid sweetener between the two bowls, and stir.
  • Wait 5 minutes, then stir the mixtures one more time. Make sure there are no clumps of chia seeds. Move the bowls to the fridge and allow to set for at least 1 hour.
  • Once the chia pudding has set, layer the parfait in two glasses. Add half the chocolate pudding to the bottom of each glass, add the raspberries, then finally layer the vanilla pudding on top.
  • You can top the parfaits with a few extra raspberries, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of syrup.

Notes

Storage: This recipe should be prepared 1-2 hours in advance to give it time to set, but can also be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge. You can also keep it in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Freeze it in airtight containers and thaw in the fridge overnight before eating.
Top tips: Two tablespoons of chia seeds to half cup liquid (per person) is the perfect ratio. If your chia seeds still aren’t absorbing, they may be past their best. I would recommend checking the date on your seeds and trying again with some fresh ones.
If your chia seeds are fresh but you still find the pudding too runny, you can try adding in an extra half tablespoon of chia seeds and leaving the pudding for half an hour. 
The most important part of this recipe is adding the ingredients together and mixing, waiting 5 minutes, then mixing again. This stops the chia seed parfait from being clumpy or separating in the fridge. There shouldn’t be any chia seed clumps once you have finished mixing.
If you don’t like the texture of chia seeds, you can actually blend your chia pudding! You can us a normal or immersion blender to blend the pudding until it’s smooth.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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