Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

Oh how sweet it is to enjoy healthy sweets! Next time you have a hankering for something creamy and soft, try this Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding. We love chia seeds around here because they deliver tons of nutrients without tons of calories. Oh, and just add a little bit of cocoa powder and the pudding is magically chocolate!

Serves 4

Per 1-cup serving:
260 cal, 11 g fat (1 g sat), 32 g carbs, 114 mg sodium, 13 g fiber, 9 g protein

Ingredients

For the pudding:
2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup bing cherries, pitted and halved
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon SweetLeaf Stevia
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chia seeds

For the cashew cream:
1/4 cup of cashews
1/4 cup bing cherries, pitted and halved
2 tablespoons cold water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon SweetLeaf Stevia

Preparation

Blend milk, cherries, cardamom, Stevia and vanilla together in a blender on high until smooth. Pour the cherry mixture over chia seeds and whisk thoroughly. Let rest for 5 minutes then stir again. After 10 minutes, stir again. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.

Soak the cashews in water and also refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

To make the cream, blend the cherries in a blender until you have a smooth puree. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews and add to the blender along with cold water. Blend until the cashews are liquefied, and have a smooth texture. Add vanilla and Stevia and blend until well combined.

Before serving, give the pudding a good stir and divide into 4 cups; top with cream and more cherries.