Oat Milk Chia Pudding

Oat milk chia pudding is a great dairy free breakfast, snack, or dessert. Top with your favorite fresh or dried fruit, nuts, granola, shredded coconut, or chocolate chips!

If you've never had chia pudding, it is reminiscent of tapioca and can be eaten as a breakfast, a dessert, and even a snack.

Chia seeds were a staple in the ancient Aztec and Mayan diets and have been touted for their health benefits for centuries. In fact, “chia” is the ancient Mayan word for “strength.”

Technically, there are many ways you can add chia seeds to your diet, but this oat milk chia pudding is one of my favorites.

The seeds are absorbing up to 12 times their weight in liquid when soaked and developing a coating that gives chia-based foods and beverages a distinctive gel texture.

One of the things I love about it is that you can make it ahead of time.

I do meal prep for the week on Sundays, and little jars of chia pudding are so easy to make and quick to grab. Best of all, it will keep in the fridge for a week.

You can mix things up by topping the pudding with fresh or dried fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, granola, and more.

I personally prefer neutral flavor full fat oat milks that taste and have the texture of regular milk. However, any oat milk will do.

If you like this oat milk chia pudding, you may also like my coconut milk chia pudding and my almond milk chia pudding.

Choosing your Brand

I have tried a handful of oat milk brands and I can tell you, not all oat milks are created equal.

Some brands taste like oats and have the consistency of water. Other brands have a milder taste and are slightly reminiscent of milk. Oatly and Alpro are my two go-to brands.

When I visit New York, I really like Oatly, which I find to taste like regular milk and to be a little extra creamy. I'd assume this is true in Canada too.

In Israel, I only use the barista version of Oatly, which is still more watery than the regular Oatly in the States. I expect it is the same in Europe because that is where it is imported from.

For Israel and Europe, I find the Alpro oat milk indistinguishable from the Oatly Barista. However, the Alpro "Not Milk" oat milk I find to be almost identical to milk but a little sweeter - which I like.

Types of Vanilla

Vanilla comes from a pod commonly known as a “vanilla bean”, which comes from the vanilla orchids.

Vanilla pods have been used for flavoring since the Aztecs and was introduced to Europe by a Spanish conquistador, along with cocoa.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is created by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol for some time. This is the most commonly used type of vanilla.

Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is common in Europe and some parts of the Middle East, like Israel. 

It is made from vanilla beans sitting in sugar, vanilla bean powder mixed with sugar, or sugar mixed with vanilla extract.

In some countries, like Italy, you can also find vanilla powdered sugar, which is used for confections.

Vanilla Paste

Vanilla paste is generally a specialty item.  It is a thick paste that contains a blend of the scraped-out vanilla pod seeds and vanilla extract. 

You can use it as you do vanilla extract and it will leave flakes of vanilla bean like you see in vanilla bean ice cream.

Imitation Vanilla

Imitation Vanilla, otherwise known as artificial vanilla or vanilla essence, is made from synthetic vanilla. 

This is the compound that naturally occurs in vanilla beans and gives it its flavor.

Can I use imitation vanilla?

Many will tell you that you should use high quality vanilla, just like they say you should use the best cocoa. 

However, most of us will probably not be willing to pay the hefty price that comes with exceptionally high-quality ingredients.

Overall, vanilla is very expensive, so the extract is as well. 

So, if you’re not going to get regular quality vanilla extract, you might as well use imitation vanilla.

Can vanilla extract be used as a substitute for vanilla beans?

Yes, vanilla extract can be used as a substitute for vanilla beans. Use about 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for each inch of vanilla bean.

How to Store Vanilla

Pure vanilla extract and other vanilla products should be kept away from heat and light, and should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

Does chia pudding contain dairy?

Some variations do, but it isn't necessary since you can use a dairy free milk. This recipe uses oat milk.