Peach-Cherry Smoothie and Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits

During the summer months, I tend to make the common sense transition from warm breakfasts like slow-cooker oatmeal and eggs to more refreshing options like chia pudding and smoothies. It’s hot as balls in NYC, and since there’s no AC in my kitchen, I like to get in, out, and back in front of my living room window unit as quickly as humanly possible. Mornings are already tough enough without starting the day a sweaty mess. (Morning walkers/subway takers, I don’t know how you do it. Hats, shirts, and pants off to you.)

On the subject of AM struggles, I’ve mentioned before that I’m not exactly a morning person. There’s a lot of naked wandering and muttering pre-coffee, and I’m extremely cranky and sensitive to light/noise/life between 7am and 8am. For these reasons, I find morning smoothie-making to be a rather stressful experience. It’s not that smoothies are difficult to prepare (anyone can throw things in a blender and turn it on), it’s the noise factor that really gets me.

Dear god, the noise.

Just to be clear, I love my Vitamix more than most people people love their pets (or significant others), but that beast is loud. So LOUD, dammit. Every time I turn it on, I have to fight the urge to curl up in a ball on the floor (à la Buster in Arrested Development) until the noise stops. And because I prefer really thick smoothies, I need to let the machine roar in my face for at least a full minute while I use the black plunger thingie to stir.

Like I said, it’s a rather stressful experience.

So, when I received an email from the lovely people at Jamba Juice asking if I wanted to try the new Jamba Juice Quiet Blender, I was understandably excited. I usually turn down cookware/appliance offers out of respect for my roommate (who fears I may one day die a hoarder’s death), but this offer was too good to pass up. I told the rep to send away(!!), fantasizing about all of the delightful, stress-free smoothies in my future.

I finally took my new blender for a spin on Wednesday morning, and I have to say, I was pretty impressed. First of all, the 32-ounce jar is much smaller than my Vitamix, which I appreciate because it fits perfectly underneath my kitchen cabinets. It also comes with a 20-ounce travel cup that functions as a mini-blender (sort of like a NutriBullet) and is great for everything from on-the-go smoothies and juices to sauce-making.

But my appreciation for sizing and travel cup perks are semi-irrelevant, since all I really cared about was the noise. I was skeptical, but I’m pleased to report that this bad boy is actually surprisingly quiet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s far from silent (that would be impossible), but thanks to the sound enclosure—which is basically a removable shield you put over the blender before turning it on—the motor produces a low growl versus the aforementioned Vitamix roar. Snaps for Jamba Juice.

I look forward to putting this relatively soothing appliance to work all summer long, starting with Peach-Cherry Smoothie and Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits. (Yes, I know that is a strange recipe title, but I couldn’t figure out how to describe things any other way. Just go with it.)

Fruity, refreshing, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, these layered beauties are the perfect naked season breakfasts/snacks/desserts. The recipe requires a tiny bit of planning, since the chia pudding needs to be prepped at least 4 hours in advance, but stirring a few ingredients together will take all of 2 minutes, so I think you have it in you. Once the pudding is good to go, just blend the (roughly 22-ounce) smoothie, layer the two in glasses or mason jars, and add your favorite toppings. (Cherry roses optional and not recommended—those things took me like 20 minutes.) Done and Done.

The recipe below makes 2 giant parfaits or 4 baby parfaits like the ones on your screen, but it can easily be scaled down for those flying solo. I suggest going ahead and making the full batch of chia pudding (you can eat it on its own or add it to parfaits throughout the week) and halving the smoothie recipe. Easy.

In other great news, these parfaits just happen to be vegan, gluten-free, low-sodium, paleo (if you ditch the granola), and Dude Diet-friendly, so their crowd-pleasing potential is very high. Please try them ASAP.

And if you’re in need of a fancy new blender to whip up these parfaits and other fabulous blended creations, I’d like to gift you one!! I’m GIVING AWAY a Jamba Juice Quiet Blender with Travel Cup to one of you wonderful peeps.

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is subscribe to Domesticate ME! if you haven’t already (simply enter your email in the box at the top of this site’s sidebar), and leave a comment below telling me either: a.) your favorite smoothie flavor combo OR b.) your favorite Arrested Development character and why. (Entertain me.)

The giveaway will close on Thursday, July 21 at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced in next Friday’s post. May the odds be ever in your favor. (If you don’t win, but you still want this blender, you can always order it on Amazon.com…)

Peach-Cherry Smoothie and Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits: (Serves 2-4)

Ingredients:
For the Coconut Chia Pudding:
1 cup light coconut milk (the kind in the can)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup (If you have a serious sweet tooth, you can add an extra teaspoon of syrup.)
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Small pinch sea salt
3½ tablespoons chia seeds
For the Peach-Cherry Smoothie:
1 cup chilled light coconut milk (the kind in the can)
1½ cups fresh or frozen peaches
1 cup fresh or frozen cherries
½ frozen banana
Toppings: (optional)
Gluten-free granola of your choice
Fresh fruit (I like cherries and peaches to stay in keeping with the parfait’s theme, but you do you.)
Cacoa nibs or dark chocolate shavings
Chopped
Coconut flakes
Hemp seeds

Preparing you Peach-Cherry Smoothie and Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits:

-Start by making the chia pudding. Combine all the ingredients for the pudding in a bowl or storage container. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours to allow the chia seeds to work their gelling magic. Stir will before serving.

-When your pudding is good to go, make your smoothie. Add all the ingredients for the smoothie to a blender.

-Blend until smooth. (This smoothie should be on the thick side, people.)

-Time to assemble your parfaits! Layer the chia pudding and smoothie in glasses or mason jars. You can either make two (or three) large parfaits with two layers each of pudding and smoothie, or four small parfaits with one layer each of pudding and smoothie.

-Decorate with toppings of your choice and grab a spoon.

Peach-Cherry Smoothie and Coconut Chia Pudding Parfaits

Author - Serena Wolf

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Prep Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Yields: 2 giant parfaits, 4 baby parfaits

Ingredients

For the Coconut Chia Pudding:

• 1 cup light coconut milk the kind in the can
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup If you have a serious sweet tooth, you can add an extra teaspoon of syrup.
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Small pinch sea salt
• 3½ tablespoons chia seeds

For the Peach-Cherry Smoothie:

• 1 cup chilled light coconut milk the kind in the can
• 1½ cups fresh or frozen peaches
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries
• ½ frozen banana

Toppings: (optional)

• Gluten-free granola of your choice
• Fresh fruit I like cherries and peaches to stay in keeping with the parfait’s theme, but you do you.
• Cacoa nibs or dark chocolate shavings
• Chopped nuts
• Coconut flakes
• Hemp seeds

Instructions

• Start by making the chia pudding. Combine all the ingredients for the pudding in a bowl or storage container. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours to allow the chia seeds to work their gelling magic. Stir will before serving.
• When your pudding is good to go, make your smoothie. Add all the ingredients for the smoothie to a blender and blend until smooth. (This will be on the thick side, people. That’s a good thing.)
• To assemble your parfaits: Layer the chia pudding and smoothie in glasses or mason jars. You can either make two (or three) large parfaits with two layers each of pudding and smoothie, or four small parfaits with one layer each of pudding and smoothie.
• Decorate with toppings of your choice and grab a spoon.

This post was created in partnership with Jamba Juice who provided me with a blender. As always, all thoughts are very obviously my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Domesticate ME! delicious.