Blue raspberries! Is there really any such thing or was this term just invented by the frozen treat makers of my childhood? I can remember walking to K-Mart or 7-11 as a kid and seeing Blue Raspberry Slurpees, Otter Pops, and Snow cones, but in my life I’ve never seen an actual blue raspberry. So, do they exist? There is a berry called a blackcap, or white bark raspberry that is a dark purple color, closer to the color of blackberries, but these were not used in those frozen kids treats. In fact, those bright sugary treats were dyed with synthetic blue dye, invented after a popular red food dye was removed from the market after having been found to cause tumors in rats. From synthetic to synthetic. Hmm…
This Blue Raspberry Chia Pudding has none of the synthetic stuff, nothing to cause health concerns, and in fact the blue comes from natural derived Blue Spirulina and can even BENEFIT your health. Spirulina is an algae, a plant that grows in fresh or salt water, then dried into a powder for consumption. It’s considered a superfood due to the number of nutrients and antioxidants it contains. Most spirulina is dark green, but Blue Majik comes from a particular type of algae that is blue in color coming from its additional antioxidant, phycocyanin. Both have health benefits, but the blue color turns everything it comes into contact with blue and that is just so fun! And as proven by the frozen treat industry, kids love blue food or anything that makes an adult look twice!
I added raspberries (regular red colored ones), and lemon zest and lemon juice for a bright fruity dessert! And, of course chia seeds are a nutrient powerhouse, and gel up similar to tapioca pearls, but with protein, fiber and a high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids, which we need to get more of in our diets.
We’re using coconut milk to make these pudding cups nice and creamy, and at this serving size, they are low-FODMAP as well as vegan, and gluten-free. If you try this recipe, please let me know in the comments below or Pin it for later!
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