This flaxseed pudding with almond milk is the best thick and creamy vegan and gluten free pudding for your weekly meal prep. Change up the toppings and flavors for endless options. All you need is 5 minutes to prep this pudding!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Great substitute for Overnight Oats. If you usually make yourself oats for meal prep, but want to switch it up, there's nothing better than this flaxseed pudding. It's just as easy, made with many of the same ingredients, and is equally filling.
- Stores well in the fridge. If you leave for work early in the morning, finding a breakfast you can prepare on Sunday and eat all week long is extra important. This flaxseed pudding will last in the fridge for 4 days, meaning all you'll have to do during the week is grab and go.
- Smoother than chia seeds! Chia seed pudding is a popular healthy breakfast and dessert because it turns into a similar pudding texture. However, one big difference is that chia seeds are a unique texture that's not for everyone! Ground flaxseeds solve that problem by making the smoothest vegan pudding without needing a blender!
Ingredients
- Ground flaxseed - There are two types of flaxseeds you can buy: golden or brown flaxseeds. Both contain equivalent nutrition (PACKED with omegas!) and only slightly differ in flavor. For a more milder, sweeter flaxseed, go with the golden flaxseed. Bob's Red Mill makes a high quality ground flaxseed, but you should be able to find it by several brands.
- Almond milk - I like to use almond milk when making flaxseed pudding because it is nutty and creamy, but still mild enough to not overpower the flavor. You can use your favorite go to milk. If you are vegetarian, you can use dairy at a 1-1 ratio.
- Cinnamon - Optional, but highly recommended! Cinnamon adds a warmth and sweetness to the flavor that adds such a nice touch. If you love cinnamon, store the flaxseed pudding overnight with a cinnamon stick for an even deeper cinnamon flavor.
- Maple syrup - I find a little sweetener to be necessary in making the flavor of the vegan flaxseed dessert shine. I like maple syrup, but you can use your favorite sweetener. Stevia, honey, or sugar swapped at a 1-1 ratio will also work well.
Step by Step Instructions
- Make sure to start your prep with ground flaxseeds. If you buy whole flaxseeds, you will need to grind it by using a coffee grinder, highspeed blender, or food processor. It should look like soft crumbs when it is fully ground.
If you grind more flaxseeds than you need, use them to make Fluffy Vegan Oat Milk Pancakes, Chewy Biscoff Butter Cookies, or Easy Pumpkin Protein Muffin.
- Place all flaxseed pudding ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined. Make sure that all of the ground flaxseed is covered with the milk so it will properly absorb it overnight. At this point, the mixture should appear soupy and loose.
- Cover and refrigerate! Securely cover the mixture with a lid or cling wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. It will become creamy and pudding-like in texture.
- Serve. Remove the pudding and stir well to combine. If you'd like your flaxseed pudding a little thinner, add a splash of milk and stir to incorporate. Serve with your favorite yogurt, fruit, and an extra drizzle of maple syrup. Or try one of the below flavor combinations!
Pudding Flavor Variations
There are tons of ways to customize the flavor of your flaxseed pudding. Here are a few topping ideas to inspire you, but feel free to add your own combinations!
- Cinnamon Apple - add chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, chopped walnuts, raisins.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter - add peanut butter, crushed peanuts, and chocolate chips.
- Biscoff Cookie - add biscoff cookie butter, brown sugar and crushed up Biscoff Butter Cookies.
- Strawberries and Cream - add quartered strawberries, vanilla, maple syrup, and yogurt or coconut whip.
- Peanut Butter Banana - add banana slices, chopped walnuts, and peanut butter.
- Chocolate Coconut - add chocolate chips, shredded coconut, maple syrup, and almonds.
- Blueberry Pie - add blueberries, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and yogurt or coconut whip.
- Chocolate Pecan Cherry - add pitted cherries, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, maple syrup, and pecans.
Storing and Heating Instructions
Flaxseed pudding is typically enjoyed cold, however you can eat it warm if preferred. To warm, simply microwave in 30 second bursts until warmed through.
Store any pudding leftovers in an airtight or very tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you store it loosely covered, it will dry out and become unfavorable in texture.
Freezing this pudding is also not recommended.
Time Saving Hacks
I work from home, so I will usually store all 4 pudding servings together in one larger container. If you work out of the home and need to bring your flaxseed pudding to the office, store it in individual servings so you have it meal prepped for you ahead of time.
To do so, divide the pudding ingredients among 4 single serve jars and mix them separately.
FAQs
Ground flaxseed is most often found in the baking aisle of the grocery store. It may also be sold as flax meal. Ground flaxseed and flax meal are the same and can be used interchangeably! If you don't see flaxseed in the baking aisle, check the cereal aisle or near the other nuts and seeds.
Whole flaxseeds do not work well when making pudding because they are very hard and do not absorb liquid in the same way as ground flaxseed. You will not get a pudding texture with whole flaxseeds.
Both golden flaxseed and brown flaxseeds are equally good! The most popular flaxseed found in stores is golden flaxseed. It is more neutral in flavor and best for baking or making foods where you don't want the flaxseeds to overpower the flavor.
Expert Tips
- Store your ground flaxseeds in the refrigerator or freezer! Ground flaxseeds can go rancid quickly if not stored in a very cool environment. Store your flax in the refrigerator or freezer to help them last for months without compromising flavor.
- Don't skip the salt! Salt is essential for balancing the sweetness and creaminess in the pudding.
More Easy Breakfasts You'll Love
Creamy Flaxseed Pudding (vegan, GF)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Ground Flaxseed
- 1 ½ cups Plant based milk I used almond
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
- If you are using whole flax, grind it by using a coffee grinder or highspeed blender. It should look like soft crumbs when it is fully grinded.*
- Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until they are fully combined. It will appear soupy and loose.(I make mine directly in the glass storage container so I can cover it and place it right in the fridge)
- Securely cover the mixture with a lid or cling wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. It will become jelly-like and creamy in texture.
- Remove from the container and add any toppings you like!** I personally add a layer of yogurt then fruit.
- This pudding will stay fresh for up to 4 days covered in the fridge.
Notes
- Cinnamon Apple - add chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, chopped walnuts, raisins.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter - add peanut butter, crushed peanuts, and chocolate chips.
- Biscoff Cookie - add biscoff cookie butter, brown sugar and crushed up Biscoff Butter Cookies.
- Strawberries and Cream - add quartered strawberries, vanilla, maple syrup, and yogurt or coconut whip.
- Peanut Butter Banana - add banana slices, chopped walnuts, and peanut butter.
- Chocolate Coconut - add chocolate chips, shredded coconut, maple syrup, and almonds.
- Blueberry Pie - add blueberries, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and yogurt or coconut whip.
- Chocolate Pecan Cherry - add pitted cherries, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, maple syrup, and pecans.
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