There is something about baked or sautéed apples that feels like a special treat. Whether they are in an apple pie, an apple cake or an apple crumble, they are wonderfully delicious. Although apple desserts are definitely a classic, these naturally sweet fruits can make non-dessert dishes feel a little festive too…
These spiced apple chia parfaits are a healthy, nutrient packed breakfast that feel like a special treat. A creamy vanilla chia pudding topped with spiced apples, apple sauce and crunchy granola is a delicious way to start any day!
Let’s get started…
Begin by mixing your chia pudding. This step takes 2 minutes and should be done a minimum of 4 hours before you want to assemble the parfaits. I prefer to do this the night before to give the chia seeds all night to rehydrate.
In a large bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of chia seeds into 2 cups of your favorite milk (I love using unsweetened vanilla almond milk) and add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Cover the bowl and chill until thick and creamy.
When you are ready to assemble the parfaits, start sautéing your apples.
Place 2 large peeled and diced apples into a skillet over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg, cloves and salt. Once the apples start to simmer a bit, drizzle about 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup over and give them a good stir. It should take 5-6 minutes for the apples to get nice and tender and once they are, transfer the skillet off of the heat.
Now that the vanilla chia pudding is all thick and luxurious and your apples are tender, it is time to assemble the parfaits…
Divide your chia pudding between 4 glasses or meal prep containers.
Add a thin layer of apple sauce and then top with your sautéed apples. When you sauté the apples, it makes them tender and brings out their natural sweetness, but it also draws out their moisture, so a little layer of apple sauce helps bring moisture back into the texture of these fabulous parfaits.
So far, we have a creamy vanilla chia pudding, a little bit of apple sauce and those sweet, tender apples. These parfaits are good to go right now, but if you want to take things one step further… add a little dollop of vanilla greek yogurt and some granola.
Parfait perfection achieved.
These layers make me happy and the fact that they contain plant protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants all in a truly delicious package makes me excited to start my days with them.
If you are looking for a delicious, nutritious breakfast that you will actually want to eat every morning then I would love for you to give these spiced apple chia parfaits a try!
And if you want to add a little variety into your breakfast game then give these other delicious chia parfaits a try too…
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- Pineapple Coconut Chia Parfait
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- Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Parfait
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- Berry Chia Parfait
Spiced Apple Chia Parfaits
Ingredients
Vanilla Chia Pudding
- 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or your favorite milk)
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of chia seeds
Spiced Apples
- 2 large apples, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- a pinch of nutmeg, cloves and salt
Garnishes
- vanilla greek yogurt
- apple sauce
- granola
Instructions
- Combine 2 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk with 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and 1/2 cup of chia seeds in a bowl, cover and chill for 4 hours or overnight
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 large peeled and diced apples, 1 tablespoon of butter, 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg, cloves and salt and cook until the apples have softened
- To assemble, layer the vanilla chia pudding, some apple sauce and the spiced apples and garnish with granola
- Chill in airtight containers for up to 5 days
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