Irish Coffee Chia Parfait Recipe

Irish Coffee Chia Parfait…let that one sink in for a minute. Yummmmm.

I dreamed up this decadent treat while we were in New Zealand last week.

Z and I went to the Christchurch Botanic Garden, and I noticed a delightful layered dessert in the café’s refrigerated case.

Now, I’m not big on desserts, and I kinda loathe the accuracy that has to go into baking…

…but I figured a chia pudding would be the perfect way to make a no-bake treat for you guys.

And since Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, I was inspired by the flavors of Irish coffee:

Chocolate, vanilla, almond, and of course coffee come to mind.

The bottom is a homemade chocolate syrup, followed by a layer of mocha chia pudding. Next comes a layer of almond vanilla chia pudding, coconut whipped cream, and a topping of roasted almonds and dark chocolate.

But I set myself a challenge for this Irish Coffee Chia Parfait recipe…

…it had to be dairy- and alcohol-free.

Now, if full-fat dairy does fit into how you nourish your body, that’s awesome. There are a few ways you can incorporate it here, such as using heavy whipping cream instead of the coconut cream.

And if an Irish cream liqueur like Bailey’s is your tipple, you can certainly put a dash or two of that in. I’d recommend it goes into the almond vanilla layer. (I won’t tell.)

I think this Irish Coffee Chia Parfait is decadent enough without the booze. Up to you, though.

Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know stupid-easy recipes are my style. Obvs.

But this one is a multi-layered treat with a few different steps. Neither of them is incredibly involved or time-consuming, but it does take some planning and a little bit of wait time.

You could always make two layers of this Irish Coffee Chia Parfait recipe – say, the mocha layer and the whipped coconut cream – and call it a day.

Or you can go all in for the four layers.

While this recipe is refined-sugar free, it’s still a bit on the sweet side, and it’s still a dessert.

Dessert every night isn’t a special thing, but I also don’t believe in dietary perfection or depriving yourself every single day.

Nourishment is about more than calories, macronutrients, or micronutrients…just a friendly reminder. Sometimes nourishment looks like enjoying a special dessert with family or friends. You get my drift.

I used chia seeds in my Irish Coffee Chia Parfait because they help thicken the puddings while keeping them egg-free. (Click here for the chia seeds I use.)

Chia seeds are rad because they absorb liquid and soften, taking on a pudding-like texture.

I’ve got a few different chia seed puddings here on the site:

• 3-Ingredient Banana Pudding
• Coconut Chia Pudding
• Eggnog Chia Pudding
• Dark Chocolate Coconut Chia Pudding
• Vanilla Berry Chia Pudding

So if this Irish Coffee Chia Parfait doesn’t strike your fancy, the others might.

If you can’t have coconut milk, substitute any other nut milk you’d like. You might have to skip the coconut whipped cream on top – unless you can tolerate heavy cream. It’ll still be tasty.

And, you can make the parfaits ahead of time by assembling the chocolate syrup and chia puddings. Top with the whipped coconut cream right before serving.

[simple-recipe]

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