This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Sooโฆ itโs that kind of Sunday.
YESS! A breakfast/brunch Sundayโฆ aka my favorite kind. Todayโs breakfast is on the healthier side, but I promise, itโs just as delicious as any of the more indulgent choices on the site. This recipe comes from my friendย Amie Valpone and her cookbookย Eating Clean: The 21-Day Plan to Detox, Fight Inflammation, and Reset Your Body. I am SOO beyond excited to be sharing not only todayโs recipe with you guys, but also Amieโs amazing new cookbook. If youโre interested in cleaning up your diet, fighting inflammation or just digging in to some healthy and delicious recipes, then you have to check out Amieโs new book. I cannot believe all the info sheโs packed into one book, like whoa!! Not only are there recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, but Amie also providesย a wealth of knowledge on eatingย clean and properly prepping, cooking and creating healthy meals (and making themย taste really good too). She even gives tips on eating out! On top of all the incredible recipes in Amieโs book, she also includes a two-week meal plan + the ultimate healthy girls guide to pantry staples.
I know, whoa right?!? Choosing just one recipe to share took me hours.ย I ended emailing Amie to ask if I could share not one, but two recipesโฆ I just could not decide!
Iโm a huge fan of all things granola, so obviously the grain free granola was a MUST MAKE for me, but then the breakfast chia pudding sounded too good to pass up. When I read Amieโs recommendationย to top the puddingย with a the grain free granola I kind of knewย that making them both was just what I had to do. So both recipes it was, and umm guys, it was good decision.
Letโs start with the pudding. I love that Amie blended her pudding with cashews and dates for added nutrients + flavor. Itโs very different from a lot of chia puddings Iโve seen, but itโs really satisfying and so stinkin easy to put together. It makes for the perfect quick and healthy weekday breakfast or snackโฆespecially when topped with the grain free granolaโฆwhich is maybe the most addicting thing ever!
OKAY, so the granola. I cannot lie, Iโve been eating this day after day and am still not even close to being sick of it. Itโs that GOOD. The granola is packed with almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds and a touch of honey or maple to add some sweetness. Addicting I tell you, and really great for people who are grain free! ๐
GAME PLAN: make the granola today to have on hand for breakfast and snacks all week-long. The recipe makes a big batch of about eight cups so it should last you the week. Key word there is โshouldโโฆmine lasted three daysโฆoops. You can also make the pudding today and divide it into cute little jars. Then just grab it in the morning, add all your toppings (I like bananas, berries and mass amounts of granola) and out the door you go!
Breakfast for the week = Done and DONE.
Thanks Amie! ๐
Chia Pudding with Grain Free Granola.
Ingredients
Chia Pudding
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 1/2 cups milk or water, you can also use coconut milk
- 2/3 cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight and drained*
- 6 dates, pitted
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- fresh fruit, for topping
Grain Free Granola
- 1 1/2 cups raw almonds
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup raw brazil nuts, chopped (can also use cashews)
- 1 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, or vanilla
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries, or cranberries
Instructions
Chia Pudding
- In a small bowl, combine the chia seeds and water (or milk); set aside until the mixture forms a gel, about 20 minutes.
- Combine the cashews, dates, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and half of the chia gel in a high-speed blender. Puree until smooth. Transfer the pureed mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the remaining chia gel.
- Serve immediately or keep stored in the fridge until ready to eat. Top with granola (recipe below) and fresh berries.
Grain Free Granola
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the almonds, coconut, pecans, Brazil nuts (or cashews), sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, water, and almond extract. Add the wet ingredients to the nut mixture and toss to coat.
- Spread the granola on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring halfway through. Remove the granola from the oven and stir in the dried apricots and cherries (or cranberries).
- Set aside to cool for 15 minutes before serving. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Have a kick ass, health foods filled Sunday!ย ?
This was good, but there were a few things I would change next time. First, there were way too many almonds for my taste, so I’d definitely cut down to 1 cup. I also thought there was too much cinnamon and would cut it in half. I did make one substitution and used almond butter instead of water in the liquid ingredients (which I thought was delicious!).
Thank you so much Chris! I hope you enjoy this even more next time! xTieghan
Nice healthy recipe!!!
Thannk youu!!
Just gorgeous, I want to inhale that granola!
TMG!, This was the best , easiest, and tastiest granola I made…i made a batch today.
Will try the pudding later.
Thanks for this recipe.
๐
Happy to hear you liked it!! Thanks Ragini
Yay! This makes me so happy. Thank you so much, beauty! I am so happy that you are loving my new cookbook and I’m sending you so much love and big hugs. This post is absolutely beautiful and I am so beyond grateful for your support.
Thank you again. Have a beautiful week!
xo
Ah thank you!!! ??
Doesn’t even look healthy but it is : good point for me.
Thanks for sharing I’ll be checking the cookbook out.
Thank you!! Hope you love it
What a yummy way to use chia!
How many dates do you use? Is it just me??? I don’t see them in the ingredients…
Sorry about that! I used 6 dates.
I love a good nutty granola!! And the fact that it’s grain-free… even better! Great pudding recipe!!! Can’t wait to make it!
They’re the best!! Hope you enjoy! Thanks Deborah!
Oh my! I have a serious thing with granola. I just cannot get over the crunch goodness. I have been on the lookout for a grain-free granola with only the most wholesome ingredients and this definitely fits the bill. Can’t wait to prep this for my breakfasts this week!
I hope you love it!
Buying the book. Making this today ! Perfect timing as I just started a grain & dairy free diet. Thank you for sharing! Xo
Your welcome Debi! Thank you (:
I love the granola it looks so good….but I just can’t make the plunge into chia seeds they freak me out.
Love how you make something so healthy look so gorgeous and delicious! YUM! Happy Sunday to you as well ๐
Thank you!! Happy sunday to you too!!
I LOVE your photography, and the granola and chia pudding look absolutely divine together. I can’t wait to try them! I’m doing the 21 Day Fix right now, and I am definitely going to find a way to incorporate that pudding into this diet.
One question – can you specificy how many dates to blend into the chia pudding? I don’t think I saw the measurement anywhere. But, then again, I very well could have blown right past it.
Thanks for sharing the recipe (and thanks to Amie for letting you share!)! ๐
Sorry about that! I used 6 dates! Thanks brooke (: