Craving a creamy, refreshing, eye-catching brunch or dessert recipe for a gathering? Looking no further than coconut chia pudding cups topped with a dragon fruit banana “nice cream.”

Chia seeds absorb the liquid and thicken the maple syrup sweetened coconut milk into a rich, thick pudding.

Tropical red dragon fruit, or pitaya, is a beautiful bright pink color. It’s loaded with phytonutrients and antioxidants, and contains protein, fatty acids, and B vitamins.

Dragon fruit may help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, and the fatty acids help lower triglycerides. It’s also a high-fiber food, helping to regulate blood sugar and aid digestion. The oligosaccharides function as prebiotics, improving gut health.

Because dragon fruit is mildly sweet, this nice cream (or very thick smoothie) tastes best when made with very ripe bananas.

I hope you like this fun and beautiful dragon fruit chia pudding cup recipe.

Dragon Fruit Coconut Chia Pudding Cups

Makes about 12 (9 oz.) servings

Chia Pudding Ingredients

1 cup chia seeds
3 cans coconut milk (14 oz., regular or low-fat)
14 oz. plant milk (coconut, almond, soy)
6 Tbsp. 100% Real Maple Syrup
3 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. salt
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I used shredded desiccated coconut)

Nice Cream (Smoothie) Ingredients

4 frozen very ripe bananas (cut into 1″ pieces and freeze)
18 oz. frozen cubed red dragon fruit (pitaya)
1/2 – 1 cup plant milk

12 clear plastic cups (9 oz.)
frozen blueberries for garnish (optional)

Directions

To make the pudding, combine the pudding ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. (If your coconut milk is cold, you may have to warm it up a bit to melt the coconut fat so it blends well.) Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight, stirring after 1 hour to ensure chia seeds are well distributed. Divide evenly among 12 6-8oz cups or serving dishes.

When you are ready to serve, combine the nice cream ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, adding just enough plant milk to keep things moving. Divide among the pudding cups and garnish as desired.