Coffee Chia Seed Pudding with Protein Boost

A quick, make-ahead breakfast that blends coffee flavor with chia seeds and a protein lift — creamy, portable, and customizable for busy mornings. If you like protein-packed breakfasts, try pairing this with some energizing high-protein smoothies on rotation.

What you’ll need

• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened oat/almond)
• 1/2 cup cold-brew coffee or strong cooled espresso
• 1 scoop (about 20–25 g) vanilla or chocolate protein powder
• 1–2 teaspoons sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or monk fruit) — optional
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt
• Optional toppings: sliced bananas, berries, nuts, cocoa nibs, or a spoonful of nut butter

Ingredient notes: use a flavored protein powder to double as a sweetener and flavoring, or choose unflavored for more control.

Step-by-step prep

1. In a mixing jar, whisk or shake the milk, coffee, protein powder, sweetener, vanilla, and salt until smooth to prevent clumps.
2. Stir in chia seeds until evenly distributed.
3. Let sit 5 minutes, then stir again to break up any clumps. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
4. Before serving, give it a good stir. If too thick, stir in a splash of milk until you reach the desired consistency. Add toppings and enjoy cold or slightly chilled.

Serve in a jar for grab-and-go mornings or layer with fruit and granola for texture contrast.

Texture, sweetness, and protein tips

• To avoid grainy texture from some protein powders, dissolve the powder in a small amount of milk first, then add the remaining liquids.
• For a thicker pudding, increase chia to 4 tablespoons; for a looser one, reduce to 2 tablespoons or add extra milk.
• Adjust sweetness after chilling — cold often mutes sweetness, so taste and tweak just before serving.
• If you want extra protein without changing flavor, fold in Greek yogurt when serving.

Consider swapping flavors seasonally or trying different protein bases to find your preferred mouthfeel; if you need more green breakfasts, check these healthy spinach smoothies for variety.

Flavor variations and add-ins

• Mocha: stir in 1 teaspoon cocoa powder and use chocolate protein.
• Tiramisu-style: layer with a smear of mascarpone or thick Greek yogurt and dust with cocoa.
• Nut-butter swirl: fold in 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter for richness.
• Berry compote: warm berries with a little sweetener, cool, then layer on top.
• Tropical: swap coffee for chilled espresso-toned cold brew concentrate and top with shredded coconut and mango.

If you like alternating breakfasts, a lighter option to pair on rotation is this detox smoothie idea that works well after a richer pudding: detox smoothie slimming breakfast snack idea.

Make ahead and storage

• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days; stir before eating.
• To freeze: portion into silicone molds or jars (leave room for expansion) and freeze up to 1 month — thaw overnight in the fridge.
• Pack toppings separately to keep crunches crisp until serving.

Conclusion

If you want a dessert-like spin, try a tiramisu-inspired version using the detailed recipe from a popular tiramisu chia pudding for inspiration. For more protein-forward breakfast ideas to pair with this pudding, see this roundup of 21 high-protein breakfast ideas.

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