Holiday’s are made for indulging, but there’s a way to indulge without going overboard. We really wanted to make a health-conscious dessert that was perfect as a Thanksgiving dessert and after a lot of brainstorming, we came up with a Healthy Pumpkin Chia Seed Parfait Dessert topped with whipped cream! It’s not a Thanksgiving spread without some pumpkin, so this is a great substitute for pie!!

So, why chia seeds?

This nutrient-packed seed has been a cult favorite and here’s why:

• they’re full of antioxidants
• they have a lot of nutrients but not that many calories
• they’re high in fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids

Pretty much, they’re stuffed with all kinds of great nutrients without being too dense or calorie high. Turning them into a dessert is winning at life, right?! Scroll to the bottom for the recipe!

Just a heads up, this recipe does require a bit of pre-planning. To get the right consistency, you’ll have to make the pudding base the night before and let the seeds soak for a few hours. There’s very little active work involved in making this healthy pumpkin chia seed parfait dessert, so get it ready the night before and enjoy the next day. Recipe is below!

Healthy Pumpkin Chia Seed Parfait

Yield: 4-6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

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Ingredients

Vanilla Layer

• 1/4 Cup Chia Seeds
• 1 Cup Almond Milk
• 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• Maple Syrup

Pumpkin Layer

• 1/2 Cup Chia Seeds
• 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
• 1 Cup Almond Milk
• 1 Tbsp Pumpkin Spice
• Maple Syrup to Taste

Toppings

• Whipped Cream
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Maple Syrup to Taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the pudding bases. Combine all ingredients in the Vanilla Layer list into a bowl and mix until seeds are distributed evenly. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
2. In a separate bowl, combine all ingredients in the Pumpkin Layer list into a bowl and mix until seeds are distributed evenly. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
3. When the base is a pudding-like texture, it's ready to assemble. We layered ours in a stemless wine glass, but mason jars work too!
4. Layer Pumpkin base and Vanilla Base on top of each other. Top with whipped cream, pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Check out all of our holiday posts here!

Let us know if you try this pumpkin chia seed parfait!