Strawberry Crumble Chia Pudding (Printable version)
Creamy chia layers with sweet strawberries and golden oat crunch
# What You'll Need:
→ Chia Pudding
01 - 1 ⅔ cups unsweetened almond milk
02 - 4 tablespoons chia seeds
03 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Strawberry Compote
05 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
→ Oat Crumble
08 - ¾ cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free if needed)
09 - ¼ cup chopped almonds or pecans
10 - 1 ½ tablespoons coconut oil, melted
11 - 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup or honey
12 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - Pinch of salt
→ Garnish
14 - 2 to 3 fresh strawberries, sliced
# Directions:
01 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well combined. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes, then whisk again to break up any clumps. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight until thick and gelatinous.
02 - Combine the sliced strawberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries break down and the juices reduce into a thick, syrupy consistency. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
03 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). In a bowl, toss together the rolled oats, chopped nuts, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt until evenly coated. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden brown and crisp. Let cool completely on the sheet.
04 - Spoon a layer of chilled chia pudding into the bottom of each glass or jar. Add a generous spoonful of strawberry compote, followed by a sprinkling of oat crumble. Repeat the layers once more for a taller parfait, if desired. Finish with fresh strawberry slices on top.
05 - Serve immediately for the best texture contrast. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate the assembled parfaits (without the crumble) for up to 2 days; add the oat crumble just before serving to maintain its crunch.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- It straddles the line between breakfast and dessert so convincingly that you can eat it at either end of the day without a drop of guilt.
- The textures, creamy pudding, jammy fruit, and that shattering oat crumble, make every spoonful feel like three desserts in one.
02 -
- If you forget the second whisk, the chia seeds will settle into a solid brick at the bottom of the bowl and no amount of stirring later will fully fix it.
- Adding the crumble right before serving instead of hours ahead is the difference between a satisfying crunch and sad, soggy crumbs.
03 -
- Toast the nuts in the oven for two minutes before mixing them into the crumble and you will unlock a depth of flavor that feels almost unfair for something this easy.
- Taste your strawberries before sweetening the compote, because peak season fruit barely needs any added sugar and overcompensating will mask that natural sweetness.