Caramel Apple Chia Pudding with Cinnamon and Yogurt

This Caramel Apple Chia Pudding is a perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings during apple season! It's full of tons of flavor from dates, apples, and creamy Greek yogurt and it packs in so much nutrition like dietary fiber, plant-protein, and healthy fats!

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As a dietitian, I've become a big fan of chia pudding like my vanilla cinnamon chia pudding and pumpkin chia pudding. But lately, I've been CRAVING this delicious apple chia pudding! It's a healthy recipe with tons of nutrition, but more importantly, it is honestly so delicious!

Blending the dates with milk, yogurt, vanilla, cinnamon, and a little maple syrup creates a sweet creamy base and the chia seeds plump up to the perfect pudding consistency as it sits in the fridge. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

More Chia Pudding Recipes and Chia Seed Recipes

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Apple Chia Pudding Ingredients and Substitutions
How to Make Caramel Apple Chia Pudding
Dietitian Tip
Variations
Storage for Caramel Apple Pie Chia Pudding
Expert Tips
FAQ
Related
Pairing
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💬 Comments

Apple Chia Pudding Ingredients and Substitutions

This caramel apple pie chia seed pudding is made with simple ingredients. Below are some notes. Check the recipe card for the measurements.

ingredients for caramel apple chia pudding on a table.

Chia Seeds - chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse and the key ingredient. They provide important nutrients like healthy fatty acids to support heart health, both insoluble and soluble fiber which can help with gut health and prevent blood sugar spikes, and plant-based protein. When soaked like in this easy chia pudding, they absorb the liquid and have a pudding-like consistency. Black chia seeds or white chia seeds work.
Apples - fresh apples add so much flavor and natural sweetness. They also provide vitamin C, antioxidants, and dietary fiber for gut health! I suggest using a crisp apple like Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp. You could also use a Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious or a different variety based on your personal preference.
Medjool Dates - Medjool dates have a caramel-like flavor and are a natural sweetener and popular sugar alternative. Plus, dates also add nutrition including extra fiber and some potassium, iron, Vitamin B6 and magnesium. In this recipe, they dates are blended with the other ingredients to make a sweet tasting base.
Greek Yogurt - for an extra protein boost and to make it especially creamy, add Greek yogurt or Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt). You can use regular yogurt if the texture of Greek yogurt bothers you or vegan yogurt like coconut yogurt to make it vegan. Use vanilla flavored yogurt if you want it a bit sweeter.
Milk of Choice I make my chia pudding with either regular cows milk or unsweetened non-dairy milk like almond milk. I usually prefer the almond milk because it's a bit creamier! Other options for plant-based milk are oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk or coconut milk.
Pure Vanilla Extract & Pure Maple Syrup - I personally love using a drizzle of maple syrup and vanilla to sweeten chia pudding. You could also use honey, agave syrup, date syrup, or your liquid sweetener of choice.
Cinnamon - a teaspoon of cinnamon because you really can't beat the apple & cinnamon flavor duo. Cinnamon is a good source of antioxidants so it can help with immune health.
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt - this is optional, but I add a pinch of sea salt or kosher salt to enhance the flavors

How to Make Caramel Apple Chia Pudding

Below are some photos showing the instructions for making this recipe that I hope you find helpful! The full recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

overhead view of dates, cinnamon, milk, and greek yogurt in a food processor.

Step 1: Chop your apple into small pieces. Remove the pits from the dates and roughly chop them. In a high speed blender or food processor, add the dates, Greek yogurt, milk, vanilla, syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt. Blend until smooth. There will still be some date chunks and that's ok!

chia pudding in a glass container with diced apple.

Step 2: Pour the mixture into a medium bowl, add the chia seeds and diced apple and stir with a good whisk. Let the mixture rest 10-15 minutes and give it another good stir. This helps prevent the chia seeds from clumping. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Optional: top with sauteed diced apple before serving.

Hint: It will thicken up quite a bit in the fridge! I prefer my chia pudding quite thick personally. If you prefer it thinner, add another splash of milk.

Dietitian Tip

Chia seeds have nearly 10 grams of fiber per ounce or 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. And this chia pudding can be enjoyed as the perfect fall breakfast or a healthy dessert or snack! I like to have it with an extra scoop of Greek yogurt and sautéed apples.

Variations

There are endless ways to customize this caramel apple cinnamon chia pudding! Below are some of my favorite toppings and add-ins:

Fresh Fruits - top it with whole foods like caramelized apples that I sautee with a bit of olive, avocado, or coconut oil, cinnamon apples, or fresh berries & enjoy it as a healthy snack. You could even make a simple apple compote to top it!
Peanut Butter - add a drizzle of nut butter - peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.
Nuts or Seeds - pumpkin seeds, pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds make great toppings and add crunch.
High Protein - a scoop of protein powder or extra Greek yogurt can be added for more protein.

Storage for Caramel Apple Pie Chia Pudding

Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
If you want to store it in individual jars, here are some options: Wide Mouth Mason Jar, Mason Jars with Bamboo Lids

Expert Tips

Roughly chop the dates before adding them to your food processor or blender. This will help them blend a bit easier.
Don't skip the double stir. After whisking in the chia seeds, let it sit about 10-15 minutes at room temperature and whisk it very well again before refrigerating.
Patience is key! Give it at least 4 hours in the fridge for the chia seeds to plump up to their full potential. Make it the night before and portion it into individual containers for a ready-to-go breakfast.

FAQ

Is this Caramel Apple Chia Pudding healthy?

While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a nutrient-rich recipe. The chia seeds provide dietary fiber, plant-protein, antioxidants, healthy fatty acids, and several vitamins and minerals. The Greek yogurt adds more protein and calcium. This recipe is sweetened with dates which also add fiber and iron, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to enhance the sweetness. If you prefer to cut the sugar even more, skip the maple syrup!

Where can I find chia seeds at the grocery store?

Chia seeds are commonly found in the health foods/organic section of the grocery store. Sometimes they are found in the baking aisle and often you can also find them in the bulk section.

Why isn't my chia pudding thickening?

To avoid this problem, be sure to stir it VERY well when you add the chia seeds and let it sit for at least 4 hours in the fridge! It will continue to thicken as it sits.

How do I prevent my chia seeds from clumping together?

To avoid the chia seeds from clumping, don't skip the step where you wait about 10-15 minutes after adding the chia seeds and stir very well again. I've found this to make a big difference in the end product.

Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Caramel Apple Chia Pudding:

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian

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