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This easy flaxseed pudding recipe is vegan, super healthy, and makes a perfect breakfast or snack! Loaded with insoluble fiber and healthy fats, this gluten free flax pudding feels more like dessert thanks to its pudding-like consistency and subtle sweetness. It also happens to be paleo and low carb too!
Move over overnight oats! This healthy flaxseed pudding recipe is even creamier and a fun way to change things up for breakfast.
It's so delicious, satisfying, and packed with healthy fats and plant based protein. With only 5 simple ingredients, and only 5 minutes of active time, you can have a tasty and guilt free dessert ready in no time!
Flaxseeds are a great source of plant-based omega 3 fats, are high in fiber, protein, and antioxidants, and have all sorts of health benefits. This sweet pudding mixture is super healthy overall and can be enjoyed daily, which is great because it's so easy to make! Make individual servings ahead of time and grab one whenever you need it!
Your taste buds and your body will thank you for this ground flaxseed pudding. If you need some ideas for toppings, try my high protein granola or my low calorie granola, or see our many variations below!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Made with simple ingredients
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
- Healthy breakfast and easy snack
- Only 5 grams of net carbs
- Great for meal prep, family friendly
- Overnight recipe
- High in fiber
- Vegan, gluten free, paleo, low carb
- Best flaxseed pudding recipe ever!
Latest Recipe Video!
🥘 Ingredients
You only need five pudding ingredients for this flaxseed dessert recipe! Get the full details for ingredients and the step-by-step instructions on the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Ground Flaxseeds: Ground flaxseed is the base of this easy breakfast recipe. These seeds are a source of mucilaginous gums, commonly known as flax gel. When the seeds are soaked in water or other liquid they become gelatinous because they are water soluble. This makes flax seeds popular as an egg replacement and why they are great for this linseed pudding.
- Ground Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon gives this flax meal pudding a warm and spicy flavor.
- Plant Milk: Unsweetened almond milk binds with the flaxseeds to create that pudding like consistency.
- Maple Syrup: A little sweetener helps balance the nutty (slightly bitter) taste of flaxseeds. Maple syrup is used to sweeten this flax seed pudding, but you can use other sweeteners if you prefer.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract gives this overnight flaxseed pudding a subtle vanilla flavor and enhances the other flavors in the recipe.
🍲 Ingredient Substitutions
- Type Of Seed: Brown or golden flaxseeds both work in this recipe.
- Spices: Feel free to try other spices like nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, or even ground ginger.
- Different Type Of Milk: Any type of plant based milk will work in this recipe. Try oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or any plant-based milk of your choice.
- Liquid Sweetener: Instead of maple syrup, you can use agave nectar / agave syrup, date syrup, honey, or you can rely on your favorite fruit to sweeten up this recipe. You can even used a mashed banana to sweeten this flaxseed breakfast pudding.
🔪 Instructions
Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the ground flaxseeds and cinnamon into a mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the remaining ingredients, whisk until smooth.
Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, up to overnight / 24 hours to set.
Serve: When set, remove from the fridge, stir and serve with desired toppings. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
💭 Expert Tips
- The longer you let the mixture set, the more like pudding it will be. For best results, allow it to set in the fridge overnight.
- Do not use whole flax seeds. Whole flax seeds won't turn into a pudding consistency the way that ground flaxseed will. Additionally, ground flax seeds are healthier, because the tough outer shell of the seed has been removed, which means your body is able to digest it and absorb the health benefits of flaxseed much more easily. Whole seeds may not be digested and simply pass through your system. Make your own flaxseed meal with a coffee grinder if you already have whole flaxseeds. You can also buy pre-ground flaxseeds at grocery stores.
- For meal prep, make a big batch on Sunday night, separate out individual portions into mason jars, and store in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
📖 Variations
This flax meal pudding can be customized with so many different flavors and toppings! Here are some our favorites:
- Chia and Flax Seed Pudding: Making a chia flax pudding recipe is really easy! Just add one tablespoon of chia seeds to your mixture. If you only have chia seeds and no flaxseeds, chia seed pudding works just as well! Keep in mind, chia pudding will have a more tapioca-like texture than flax pudding.
- Chocolate Flaxseed Pudding: Add a tablespoon of vegan cocoa powder to this into a chocolate vegan flaxseed pudding!
- Make It Creamier: use full fat coconut milk instead of unsweetened almond milk in this cinnamon flaxseed pudding recipe.
- Chia Flax Hemp Pudding: Mix all three of these seeds together for a great source of plant-based protein, fiber, healthy fatty acids, and a variety of minerals.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
I love loading up my flax seed breakfast pudding with all kinds of different toppings! You can even layer your pudding with the toppings for more of a "trifle" style pudding. Try some of these delicious topping options:
- Fresh berries or other fresh fruit
- Crushed nuts or pumpkin seeds
- Sliced bananas or coconut chips
- Dessert toppings and drizzles like maple syrup, blackberry simple syrup, strawberry simple syrup, chocolate sauce, chocolate chips or white chocolate chips, or even caramel sauce.
- Coconut yogurt, coconut cream, or coconut whipped cream
- Granola or any favorite cereal
- Peanut butter, almond butter, pumpkin seed butter, or for a more decadent option try vegan nutella or white chocolate hazelnut spread.
❓Recipe FAQs
Is flaxseed paleo?
Yes! Flaxseed is considered paleo because it is a seed, not a grain.
IS FLAX SEED KETO FRIENDLY?
Yes! Flaxseeds are a keto friendly option! Flaxseeds are high in fiber and low in carbs, making them suitable for a keto diet or low-carb diet. 3 tablespoons of flaxseeds have 5.7 grams of fiber, but have only 0.1-0.3 grams of net carbs.
Is gluten free flaxseed pudding Whole30?
Yes! When it's made with almond milk and flax seed meal (both of which are not legumes), this pudding is Whole30 friendly. Just make sure to swap maple syrup with some mashed banana or mashed dates to sweeten the pudding to keep it Whole30 compliant.
What is the difference between flaxseeds and chia seeds?
Flax seeds and chia seeds are similar in that they have plenty of fiber, protein and healthy fats. Chia seeds are tiny oval shaped black or white seeds, that have a very bland/mild flavor. Flax seeds are flatter and bigger than chia seeds, and are typically brown or golden. They have a nuttier flavor than chia seeds. Because flax seeds are more commonly found, they are also typically cheaper / more budget friendly than chia seeds.
Nutritionally, these two seeds are slightly different. Both seeds contain protein and omega 3 fats, but flaxseeds have more omega 3 fats per serving than chia seeds. Flax seeds also have more copper and potassium. Chia seeds have more fiber, calcium and iron than flax seeds. But flax seeds are higher in lingans than chia seeds - a powerful antioxidant.
Both types of seeds are really healthy for you, and make a great part of a balanced diet!
Are flaxseeds healthy?
Yes! There are so many health benefits of ground flaxseeds.
Here's what makes them healthy:
** High in plant protein and dietary fiber: 3 tablespoons have 6 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein.
** High in antioxidants: This seed is high in lingans, which have anti inflammatory and anti cancer properties.
** High in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals: Flaxseeds are packed with omega 3 fats, and are high in thiamine, copper, magnesium, and manganese.
** Good for your digestive tract: What does flaxseed do for your stomach? Flaxseed is loaded with fiber so it's often used to help with digestive issues and relieve constipation.
CAN YOU MIX FLAXSEED WITH MILK?
Yes, this combination is said to be a healthy drink. Simply add 1 tbsp of flax seed powder to a glass of milk, boil, and drink.
How do you store flax pudding?
Flaxseed meal pudding can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or mason jar for up to four days. I don't recommend freezing this pudding, as it will change consistency when frozen and then thawed.