Easy Quinoa Pudding For Breakfast Or Dessert

Quinoa Pudding

This method of turning quinoa into a creamy pudding—similar to rice pudding—is a great option for kids. Quinoa can have a strong flavor, which can make it a challenging food to feed to kids. Because when you slowly simmer the whole grains in milk with a little cinnamon and vanilla, the end result is sweet, creamy, and it works well for breakfast (it’s a great baby breakfast), snack, or dessert. We like this with a little fruit and you can serve it either warm or cold. We love this with fruit (fresh or frozen fruit stirred in) for additional flavor. I sometimes even stir in a little applesauce or fruit puree.

Nutrition in Quinoa

Quinoa is actually a type of seed that’s one of the few vegetarian proteins that are complete—which is great for growing bodies. It’s also rich in nutrients, is naturally gluten-free and high in fiber and protein. TIP: Quinoa is more expensive than some other grains since it’s usually harvested by hand (which is good to know so we understand the cost!).

Ingredients You Need

To make this recipe you need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.

Quinoa: Look for quinoa near other grains such as rice in your supermarket.Milk: You can use cow’s milk, canned coconut milk, or a favorite nondairy milk in this recipe.Maple syrup (or honey): As desired to sweetened. Avoid honey for babies under age 1.Vanilla extract and cinnamon: This adds nice flavor to the pudding, similar to how they works in oatmeal.Fruit (like berries), optional to top.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a preview of how to make this recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe. TIP: You can serve this warm like oatmeal or chilled like rice pudding.

How to Store

Store, once cooled, in airtight containers in the fridge for 3-5 days. Serve chilled from the fridge or heat briefly to warm.

Best Tips for Success

Rinse the quinoa to remove the saponins, or the compounds that can make quinoa taste bitter. I use a fine-mesh sieve. Simmer on medium-low and stir regularly to avoid scorching the bottom of your pot.Use any type of unsweetened milk—cow’s, coconut, or nondairy.To serve this to a baby, use unsweetened nondairy milk and omit the added sweetener.Serve chilled like rice pudding or warm like oatmeal.Add diced fruit as desired.

I’d love to hear your feedback if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share.