Banana Bread Pudding with Maple Cream (Vegan and No Bake)

I am SO excited to share this recipe with you today!  I love all of my recipes and wouldn’t share anything with you that I didn’t feel that way about, but I have to say I think this is one of my best recipes yet!   I had this idea in my head for quite some time now.  I wanted to combined my obsession with bread pudding and chia pudding to form a no bake, vegan dessert.  As with all ideas you never know how it is going to turn own once executed.  I finally tried it and OMG AMAZING happened right in front of my eyes (and tastebuds).  I am so sorry that I waited so long.  Now all I can do is shout from the rooftops how awesome this recipe is and pass along the recipe to EVERYONE.  This bread pudding tastes just like a creamy and decadent bread pudding made with egg custard but with NO eggs in sight.

I remember the first time I tried bread pudding.  It was when I still lived in the midwest and was visiting my sister when she lived in Wisconsin.  She took me out to a fine french restaurant for dinner and as with most fancy nights out you usually end up ordering dessert (even if you are stuffed to the limit).  They had banana bread pudding on the menu and our waiter recommended it.  My first bite and I was in a heaven.  Ever since that moment whenever I saw a bread pudding on the menu I would want it but didn’t always get it because of how rich it normally is.  It wasn’t something I ever made at home due to the calorie content and the fact that I would probably end up eating the whole thing.  Now that I have this easy to make healthy version I can even have bread pudding for breakfast!  And believe me I already have.

This recipe is friendly to meat eaters and vegans alike.  Even if you are not vegan I love this recipe because it is a great way to get Omega 3 fats from the chia seeds and it really takes no effort to make.  This is my version of semi-homemade health food.  Feel free to use any version of bread you like or even your favorite homemade bread pudding.  A cranberry orange or pumpkin bread would work wonderfully for the holiday season.  Try a grain free or gluten free bread if that is your style.

For this particular recipe I used Manna Organics Banana Walnut Hemp bread.  It is made with 100% sprouted whole grains and is unleavened.  It is a good quality bread made with REAL FOOD.  This flavor was my favorite of theirs because the hemp adds protein and it has big chunks of banana inside.  They didn’t pay me to say that either.  All these thoughts are my own.  Its just damn good bread and it makes damn good bread pudding.  Healthified!

What flavor do you want to make?

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Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 8

Author Sara

Ingredients

• 1 Loaf Manna Organics Walnut Banana Hemp bread or any bread you like
• 1- 13.5 oz can full fat Coconut milk
• 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup honey, or coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla powder or extract
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup raw cashews soaked in water for 1 hour, drained, and rinsed
• 3 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-4 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Cut the bread into 1/2 inch pieces- the bread I used fell apart easily with the knife.
2. In a small baking dish (mine was 5X9) add the coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla, chia, and cinnamon.
3. Whisk until combined.
4. Add in the bread and divide evenly in the dish. Pressing down the bread to make sure it is soaking up the liquid.
5. Cover and refrigerate at least 4-6 hours (I did overnight for best results).
6. In a blender add the cashews, maple syrup, vanilla and 2 tbsp water. Blend on high until smooth adding in additional water as needed.
7. Top the banana bread with maple cream and serve with fresh fruit if desired.
8. Eat for dessert or breakfast.
9. Keep in the fridge covered for up to one week.

Recipe Notes

*choose organic ingredients when possible.