It’s finally my favorite time of the year—fall! While there may not be much of a weather change here in South Florida, that doesn’t stop me from enjoying all the seasonal pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavors that come with it. Just because the temperature doesn’t cool down as much doesn’t mean I can’t indulge in the tastes of the season.
To kick off the fall vibes, I’ve been mixing my go-to Coconut Yogurt Kefir Chia Pudding with a quick and easy pumpkin-spiced apple topping. This delicious topping can be enjoyed as-is for a refreshing treat, or you can warm it up for a cozy autumn-inspired dish. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the fall season without the need to wait for the weather to change!
While chia pudding is often made with non-dairy, plant-based milk, I prefer using a combination of Greek yogurt and Kefir for a creamier, thicker texture. This blend provides more protein, helping you stay satisfied longer, and a good dose of probiotics. Kefir contains three times the probiotics of yogurt, but its tangy flavor can be strong. To balance this, I recommend sweetening it or using flavored kefir until it suits your taste.
To make this pudding, mix equal parts of Greek yogurt and Kefir, add coconut flakes, 4 to 5 tablespoons of chia seeds, a splash of vanilla extract, and sweetener if desired. This recipe makes about two servings and can easily be prepped ahead for a convenient and healthy meal.
For the pumpkin spiced apples, all you need is 4 ingredients.
- Apples
- Pumpkin spice,
- Vanilla extract
- Sweetener of your choice (I used coconut sugar).
Stir everything together until well combined, and you’ll have a perfect blend of the crunchy sweetness of apples paired with the warm spiciness of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom—the signature flavors of pumpkin spice. For a warmer version, cook the apples with 2 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil until softened, enhancing the richness and flavor.
As always, top your chia pudding with your favorite crunchy toppings to elevate the dish. For added crunch and extra healthy fats and protein, I used salted roasted pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds, but you can also try almonds, pecans, walnuts, or even white or dark chocolate to complement the flavor combination.
Check out the recipe below:
Pumpkin Spiced Apples with Coconut Yogurt Kefir Chia Pudding
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spiced Apples with Coconut Yogurt Kefir Chia Pudding
Coconut Yogurt Kefir Chia Pudding
- 1 (5oz) container of your favorite yogurt
- 5 ounce Unsweetened or Vanilla flavored Kefir
- 2 tbsp Coconut flakes
- 4-5 tbsp Chia Seeds
- Splash Vanilla Extract
- Sweetner of choice (optional)
Pumpkin Spiced Apples
- 2 medium size Gala or Honey Crisp apples (diced)
- 1-2 tbsp of coconut sugar or your favorite choice of sweetener
- 2-3 tsp Pumpkin spice
- Splash of vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp butter (optional)
Instructions
Coconut Yogurt Kefir Chia Pudding
- In a medium size bowl add the yogurt and kefir to the the bowl and combine.
- Add the coconut flakes, vanilla extra, and chia seeds and combine. Let set in the fridge, covered for 30 minutes to overnight.
Pumpkin Spiced Apples
- Dice the apples and add to a small bowl, add sweetener of your choice, vanilla extract, and pumpkin spice. combine evenly. Add as topping to the Chia Bowl
- If warmed, cooked the apples in a small saute pan with 2 tbsp of butter till soften. Serve immediately.
