Citrus Chia Breakfast Bar

Enjoy a satisfying breakfast that’s packed with the nutrition you need by creating a citrus chia pudding breakfast bar. DIY breakfast bars are a fun and delicious way to host guests for brunch or feed your family on those busy mornings. Chia seeds provide a tremendous amount of nutrients including fiber, antioxidants, and protein to keep you adequately fueled throughout your day. This superfood is also high in Omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals. Best of all, they’re absolutely delicious!

Photo from delish.com

One of the greatest aspects of chia seed pudding is its versatility, which makes it the perfect item for a breakfast bar! By allowing everyone to make it their own, you can create countless flavor profiles and modify the ingredients to meet all dietary needs. With an irresistible citrusy flavor, we’re sharing our go-to citrus chia pudding recipe and highlighting our favorite ingredients to sprinkle on top. 

Prepping the Pudding

First, start with a creamy citrus chia pudding base. We recommend combining 1 cup of chia seeds with 2 cups of your milk of choice, such as almond or coconut. Then, add the zest and juice of one large Darling Orange or Lemon. If you prefer your pudding on the sweeter side, add a teaspoon of raw honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar. Mix well, and let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight. Once it has a thick, gel-like consistency, it is ready to be devoured!

Photo by Bella at ful-filled

Get Creative with Toppings

Now for the fun! When selecting the toppings for the breakfast bar, we prioritize flavors and textures that will highlight those crave-worthy notes of citrus. We also like to consider whole foods that will provide us with an additional boost of energy and nutrients. No matter what you wake up craving, you can always incorporate it into our tasty citrus chia pudding. Some of our go-to breakfast bar ingredients include:

Ingredients that Add Texture 

• Shredded coconut
• Grain-free granola
• Goji berries or dried cranberries
• Walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds
• Cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips
• Sprouted pumpkin or hemp seeds

Ingredients that Bump Up the Flavor

• Greek Yogurt
• Cara cara orange segments
• Bananas, raspberries, or other fresh fruit 
• Cinnamon, ginger, or other spices 
• Matcha or protein powders

Pro Tip: Sneaking in extra fiber and protein couldn’t be easier! If you have leftover citrus chia pudding from the breakfast bar, here are a few delicious tips for using it up the next day.

• Blend a scoop or two into your morning smoothie. Here’s one of our favorites: Sunrise Citrus Smoothie. 
• Add a dollop to your warm oatmeal. It would taste divine in our Darling Orange® & Hazelnut Oatmeal.
• Layer into a Greek yogurt parfait or our Darling Clementines® Overnight Oats. 

I know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow! What ingredients would you add to your Citrus Chia Breakfast Bar?