No-Cook Coconut Chia Pudding Jars with Mango, Lime and Toasted Coconut
Whisk chia seeds with coconut milk, water, maple syrup, vanilla, lime and salt in a lidded container, stir again after 10 minutes, then chill in the cooler overnight or at least 4 hours. In the morning, spoon the pudding into jars and top with diced mango, toasted coconut and nuts. It takes about 15 minutes of hands-on work and needs no stove or fire.
This is the breakfast you make the night before and forget about until morning. Chia seeds soak up coconut milk and turn into a thick, creamy pudding while you sleep. No stove, no fire, no pan to scrub.
Lime and fresh mango keep it bright, and the toasted coconut and nuts add crunch. It works well on a hot trip when nobody wants to light anything, or on a cold morning when you'd rather stay in the sleeping bag a few more minutes.
No-Cook Coconut Chia Pudding Jars with Mango, Lime and Toasted Coconut
- Prep
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- No heat
- Pack weight
- 3 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- No stove
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- 1-quart lidded container or jar
- Whisk or fork
- 4 jars or bowls
- Spoons
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Can opener
- Small zester or fine side of a box grater
Steps
-
Mix the base
Pour the coconut milk, water, maple syrup, vanilla, lime zest, 1 tbsp lime juice and salt into a lidded 1-quart container. Whisk or shake until smooth.
-
Add the chia
Add the chia seeds and whisk hard for 30 seconds. Scrape the bottom so no seeds sit in a clump.
-
Stir again
Wait 10 minutes, then stir well. This keeps the seeds from settling into one lump.
-
Chill it cold
Seal the container and set it in the cooler for at least 4 hours or overnight. Keep it at 40°F or below and the pudding should be thick and spoonable by morning.
-
Dice the mango
In the morning, dice the mango on a clean cutting board. Wash your hands and the knife first, since this fruit goes in raw.
-
Fill the jars
Stir the pudding and add a splash of water if it's too thick. Taste it and add more maple syrup if you like. Spoon it into four jars or bowls.
-
Top and serve
Pile on the mango, toasted coconut and chopped cashews. Squeeze a lime wedge over each one and eat right away.
Trail Notes
Mix the pudding at home, chill it, and bring it in a sealed container in the cooler. It keeps up to 3 days at 40°F or below. Toast the coconut and chop the nuts at home too.
Mix in the evening and let it sit in the shade overnight only if it stays cool out. Otherwise mix it right after you wake up and give it 30 minutes. It will be softer, like a thick porridge, but still good. Eat it all and don't save leftovers.
Use peaches, berries or sliced banana in place of the mango. Pumpkin seeds work in place of cashews for a nut-free version.
Pack out lime peels, mango skins and pits, since they attract animals and take a long time to break down. Strain your dishwater through a bandana or mesh and pack the chia bits out too. Then scatter the water well away from camp and water sources.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
LunchNo-Cook Tuna and White Bean Salad with Lemon, Capers and Fennel
DinnerNo-Cook Mexican Tuna Tostadas (Tostadas de Atún) with Chipotle Lime Crema and Avocado
Snack or treatNo-Cook Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds with Lemon-Dill Cream CheeseMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
How long does chia pudding need to set when camping?
Give it at least 4 hours in a cooler, though overnight is best. Short on time? Stir it twice and give it 30 minutes for a looser, porridge-like texture.
Can I make chia pudding without a cooler?
Yes, if you eat it all right away. Mix it in the morning, stir after 10 minutes, wait 30 minutes and serve. Don't keep leftovers warm for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
Why is my chia pudding clumpy?
Chia seeds stick together if they aren't stirred well. Whisk hard right after adding them, then stir again at 10 minutes. If it's already clumpy, a splash of water and a good stir usually fixes it.
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