Simple Pumpkin Pie Spice Chia Seed Pudding

Fall Season is Here!

Alright, so who isn't obsessed about pumpkin anything when it's Fall? I personally don't think I go overboard, but it's definitely something I try to incorporate in my snacks, desserts, or coffee. So for this particular snack, I definitely wanted to incorporate some pumpkin flavor into it without overwhelming it with pumpkin. 

Let's go over what chia seeds are first and foremost! Chia seeds come from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. Salvia hispanica seed is often sold under its common name "chia" as well as several trademarked names. Its origin is believed to be in Central America where the see was a staple in the ancient Aztec diet. So what about the benefits? Chia seeds have recently gained its popularity with its excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber at 10 grams per ounce (about 2 tablespoons), protein, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Research suggests that by incorporating chia seeds into your diet it may help improve cardiovascular risk factors such as lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. Awesome sauce!

So now knowing that fantastic news, here is my recipe of Pumpkin Pie Spice Chia Seed Pudding..

Ingriedents

1 cup vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond milk (I used coconut milk) 

1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons of honey (or pure maple syrup) plus 4 teaspoons for serving

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

Kosher salt

1/4 cup chia seeds

2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1/4 c chopped pumpkin seeds (or pistachios)

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, the vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon of salt until just blended. Whisk in the chia seeds; let stand for 30 minutes. Stir to distribute the seeds if they have settled. cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, grab some mason jars, bowls, glasses, whatever you prefer and spoon the pudding half way full into your glass then sprinkle in some pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and the pumpkin seeds (or in my case pistachios), and then fill the rest with more pudding, sprinkle the rest of the pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and seeds. Lastly, trickle some honey or syrup on top. And that's it! Mmmmm I hope you enjoy it! If you have any suggestions or have your version, please feel free to comment and share. I'm always looking for new renditions of chia seed pudding. Happy eating! 

Fun tip: if you use mason jars you can distribute your pudding however you'd like and leave it in the fridge and keep it on hand for snacks throughout the week :)