I’ve had chia pudding a handful of times, but nothing quite like this before. My motivation for creating this coconut chia pudding recipe was to make a healthier (no refined sugar) “smash cake” for my son’s first birthday party. I was going to make a traditional cake for him, but then got to thinking….”what does Oskar REALLY like?” – BANANAS! He is obsessed with those things! Oh, and mangos too…
So, the end result ended up being a decadent spin on a traditional coconut chia pudding with some of Oskar’s favorite ingredients. And in my opinion, no dessert is complete without fluffy coconut whipped cream, so of course, that was added on top.
All of the babies at his party loved this creamy dish and Oskar and I enjoyed the leftovers for breakfast for the following few days. It may be creamy and decadent (and topped with whipped cream), but it also makes for a deliciously healthy breakfast, packed with loads of fiber, Omega 3’s, protein, potassium and vitamin C.
When it came time to bring a cake to daycare to celebrate “O’s” first birthday, I scooped the chia pudding into a cupcake pan, sprinkled just a tad of rainbow sprinkles on top and boom, a beautiful birthday treat that the babies can enjoy together (and mom’s can feel good about them eating).
- 3 ripe bananas + 2 more quartered and reserved
- 1 ripe mango - chopped into little squares
- 7 T chia seed
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 5 ripe Medjool dates
- 1 can light coconut milk - or 1.5 cups
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Coconut whipped cream
- Optional - sprinkles
- Add all ingredients to blender, aside from reserved banana, mango, sprinkles and coco whipped cream, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer to individual bowls or one large pan such as a pyrex.
- Let chill 8 hours or overnight and add quartered banana, mango, coco whip cream and a dash of cinnamon and sprinkles (for fun)!
- **Store in fridge, covered or in Tupperware for up to 5 days.
- Great for breakfast or dessert for all ages. Baby will love it too!
Oskar enjoying his “smash cake”!
What other creative first birthday recipes do you have that you can share?
