Fall’s Best Toddler Snack: Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding 🎃

If you’ve ever wished pumpkin pie could count as a healthy snack, this one’s for you! This Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding tastes like fall in a spoon but is secretly packed with good stuff for your little one. We’re talking pumpkin for beta-carotene, chia seeds for fiber, and almond butter for healthy fats.

It’s creamy, cozy, and naturally sweet without any added sugar. We love it warm on chilly mornings, straight from the fridge on busy ones, and always with Avery’s official toddler stamp of approval (aka: messy spoon, happy face).

💛 Why You’ll Love It

✔️ Tastes like pumpkin pie but made with nourishing, real ingredients
✔️ Naturally sweet with pumpkin and banana (no added sugar needed!)
✔️ Creamy and cozy thanks to almond butter + whole milk
✔️ Fiber and iron-rich chia seeds keep little bellies full longer
✔️ Quick to prep - just stir, chill, and done
✔️ Toddler-approved texture that’s soft, spoonable, and mess-happy
✔️ Meal-prep and freezer friendly - make once, enjoy all week or month!

Yields: ~32 toddler portions (2 oz each) or ~8 cups total pudding. We froze them in this silicone freezer tray for a healthy snack all month!

Ingredients:

• 7 cups whole milk (we used a whole half gallon carton)

• 1⅔ cups pumpkin purée (a full 15 oz can is about 1¾ cups - you can use the whole can)

• 6 tbsp smooth almond butter (or a rounded ⅓ cup)

  • NOTE: this thickens the pudding so if you want it runnier, add less almond butter

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• ¾ tsp ground nutmeg (or 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice)

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ cup chia seeds (this keeps the ratio ~3 tbsp per 1 cup liquid for proper thickening)

• Optional: ¼ cup mashed banana or date paste (for natural sweetness)

Instructions:

1. Warm the Base

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together:

• Milk

• Pumpkin purée

• Almond butter

• Cinnamon, nutmeg (or pumpkin spice), and vanilla

Warm until just heated through and smooth. Don’t boil to prevent curdling.

2. Sweeten (Optional)

Taste and stir in:

• Mashed banana or date paste. We didn’t add this and Avery still loved it!

3. Add Chia Seeds

Remove from heat and whisk in:

• ¾ cup chia seeds

Let sit at room temp for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Chill to Thicken

Let chill in the fridge for at least 1–2 hours, or overnight for best texture. IF it’s too thick for your preference, stir in milk until your desired consistency.

Storage:

• Keeps in fridge for 3–4 days

• Or freeze for up to 1 month