Peanut Butter Banana Bread Chia Pudding

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

There’s no better breakfast to have on a summer day than a cold bowl of chia pudding! Let me tell you, this recipe takes chia pudding to the next level. Mashed ripe banana gives it a touch of sweetness, paired with shredded coconut, cinnamon, and a scoop of creamy peanut butter, this healthy recipe has all the flavors of your favorite slice of banana bread!

My Mornings

I love the feeling of waking up with no alarm, the sun peeking through the shutters, slow stretches, the feeling of waking up refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the day. Oh what I’d give to wake up this way every day.

When I’m back at college, I rarely have this luxury. Most days consist of a 8 a.m alarms to get to chemistry lab, class, or to squeeze in an early morning workout before a long day. And on these days, there’s hardly any room to wake up slowly, to make an elaborate breakfast, or to practice mindfulness and set intentions for the day. These have all been things that I’ve prioritized since being stuck at home in quarantine during this pandemic, and I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for the power that mornings can have on our mental health, productivity, and energy levels.

For me, the two most important morning rituals I’ve had the opportunity to consistently practice during this time have been taking the time to make breakfast, and sticking to a morning workout, whether that be a slow sculpt class, HIIT training, or a gentle yoga. These two simple morning rituals have dramatically improved my energy levels and I’ve noticed a significant shift in my mood, alertness, and energy levels.

It is no wonder that eating a balanced breakfast and partaking in daily exercise have had these effects on my mental and physical health. Studies show that when we feed our guts first thing in the morning with plenty of fiber, nutrients, and probiotics, we establish a favorable environment for our gut microbiome to thrive and keep our mood and energy levels high. Pair that with some enjoyable movement to release endorphins, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success!

The Perfect Summer Breakfast

One of my favorite summer breakfasts is a cold bowl of chia seed pudding. There are so many ingredients and fun flavor combinations that you can try with a basic chia pudding recipe! And the best news is that you only need a few ingredients and you can prep it the night before to wake up to in the morning!

If you’ve ever had chia pudding, you know that these tiny black seeds get plump and silky smooth when you let them soak in liquid for a few hours. This consistency is pudding-like and is perfect for summer mornings when you don’t feel like having something hot.

What’s more, did you know chia seeds boast a TON of health benefits?! Let me break them down.

Chia Seed Health Benefits

A one ounce serving of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of healthy fats (most of which are Omega-3’s) and 18% of the RDI of Calcium! *nutrition info from healthline

• Packed with Antioxidants
  • Antioxidants help to rid your body of free radicals which can damage cells and increase your risk of cancer.
• High in Fiber
  • With 11 grams of fiber per serving, chia seeds are one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting enough fiber. This is important to maintaining proper digestion, regular bowel movements, and a healthy gut microbiome.
• High in Protein
  • These tiny black seeds have a relatively high protein content compared to most plant-based foods. This is especially important for those who are vegan and not consuming animal protein sources.
• Loaded with Healthy Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Did you know that chia seeds contain more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon (gram for gram)?!
  • Omega-3 fatty acids are an essential nutrient your body cannot produce on its own and therefore must come from our diets.
  • Omega-3’s are vital to our brain and retina. Studies indicate that they can protect against breast cancer, depression, ADHD, and many inflammatory diseases.

Bring on the Banana Bread

There are so many variations of chia pudding that I’ve experimented with, but today I am sharing my all time favorite combination of flavors! I’m talking a ripe banana, hints of cinnamon and coconut, and the luscious creamy taste of peanut butter. These flavors paired with the silky smooth consistency of chia seeds soaked in almond milk, take this recipe to a whole new level.

I’m calling this my peanut butter banana bread chia pudding because the flavors mimic my favorite slice of moist bakery-style banana bread and you can’t beat that.

All you need is 6 ingredients, and 10 minutes to make this chia pudding recipe 🙂 Plus you can make a few servings of it to have throughout the week! Meal prep never looked better.

The Process

1. The first step to making my peanut butter banana bread chia pudding is to mash a very ripe banana into a medium-sized bowl until mostly smooth.
2. Then, we add in the chia seeds, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, shredded coconut, and peanut butter, stirring with a fork or whisk until thoroughly combined!
3. Cover and place in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.
4. Wake up to a cool bowl of chia pudding. Add your toppings! Some of my favorites are Purely Elizabeth’s chocolate sea salt granola with sliced banana and a sprinkle of hemp seeds!

Once you try this recipe I guarantee you’ll be wanting to try out more variations of this chia pudding! It’s the perfect healthy breakfast that you can make ahead of time and avoid all the fuss.

I hope you get to give this one a try because it’s my favorite! And if you get a chance to, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating on my site!

Liked this recipe? Check out some of my other healthy breakfast recipes and start making your mornings just a little sweeter:)

• Lemon Thyme Olive Oil Cake
• Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie
• Lemon Turmeric Blueberry Breakfast Loaf
• Healthy Banana Bread Granola
• Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies with Homemade Fig Butter