1-First Step: Gather Your Tools and Ingredients Before you begin, ensure you have a medium mixing bowl, a whisk, and four airtight containers or mason jars for storage. Gather all your ingredients and measure them precisely accuracy matters particularly with the chia seeds, as too few won’t create enough structure and too many will make the pudding overly thick. If using canned pumpkin puree, make sure it’s plain pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added spices and sweeteners that will throw off the flavor balance. Having everything ready before you start will make the process smooth and efficient.

2-Second Step: Mix the Base Ingredients In your mixing bowl, combine the milk, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together until smooth and well combined. This step is crucial for ensuring even distribution of flavors throughout the pudding. Make sure to break up any lumps of pumpkin puree so your final mixture is uniform. If you prefer an ultra-smooth texture, you can use a blender for this step instead of whisking by hand, which will create a perfectly silky base before adding the chia seeds.

3-Third Step: Add the Chia Seeds Pour the chia seeds into the liquid mixture and begin whisking vigorously. This is the most important step in the process. Whisk for 1-2 full minutes to ensure the seeds are well distributed and beginning to hydrate. If you skip or rush this step, the seeds may clump together, creating uneven pockets of gel rather than a consistent pudding texture. The mixture will still look quite thin at this stage, which is completely normal the chia seeds need time to absorb the liquid and expand.

4-Fourth Step: Let the Mixture Rest Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes, then give it another thorough whisk or stir. During this rest period, you’ll notice the seeds starting to sink and the liquid becoming slightly thicker. This second stirring helps prevent the seeds from settling at the bottom and ensures even absorption throughout the mixture. After this second stir, the pudding is ready to be portioned into containers. Divide the mixture evenly between your four jars or containers, leaving about an inch of space at the top since the mixture will expand slightly as it sets.

5-Final Step: Refrigerate and Serve Place the containers in the refrigerator and let them chill for at least 4 hours, though overnight is ideal for the best texture and flavor development. During this time, the chia seeds will absorb the liquid and expand, creating a thick, creamy pudding consistency. When you’re ready to serve, give the pudding a good stir and add your favorite toppings. Some delicious options include chopped pecans, pumpkin seeds, a dollop of Greek yogurt or coconut cream, a drizzle of additional maple syrup, or a sprinkle of extra cinnamon. The pudding will keep well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, making it perfect for meal prep.