A Chocolate Chia Pudding is so creamy, delicious and easy to make and it tastes far more indulgent than it actually is. Packed full of protein it’s a super simple healthy dessert, with no baking involved and you can even add some other flavours like orange or ginger. It’s also vegan and gluten free. Just 130 calories and only 5 ingredients.
This is a healthy chocolate dessert with no banana or avocado in it. It isn’t made with a tonne of butter or cream and instead we have used almond milk and chia seeds to give it that pudding texture. If you haven’t tried a chia pudding before, then prepare for your mind to be blown.
Why should you try it?
✔ A protein packed healthy dessert
✔ Just 136 calories a portion
✔ Vegan and gluten free
✔ Kids love it
✔ Easy to make different flavours
How To Make a Chocolate Chia Pudding
This is about s simple as chocolate pudding is going to get. You just mix the chia seeds with almond milk (although you can use any milk), cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla and leave them to soak for a few hours – although preferably overnight.
It’s so easy to make that you probably have all the ingredients already in your kitchen. So what are you waiting for? Go make it! It’s easy enough for kids to help make it too.
Is Chocolate Chia Pudding Healthy?
Yes! It’s a healthy and nutrient dessert, that is much healthier than most of chocolate desserts. Using chia seeds not only gives it a delicious texture, but it adds lots of protein to it too. Chia seeds are also a great source of healthy fats, antioxidants and fibre.
Chia a seed that actually comes from the mint family, although it doesn’t taste like mint, and has a kind of nutty taste. The great thing about them is that although they look like tiny seeds, when you add liquid to them and leave them for a few hours, they get much, much bigger, making them the perfect ingredient for a healthy dessert.
This dessert is so healthy, that we often eat it for breakfast. Chocolate pudding for breakfast – how amazing does that sound?!
What If I Don’t Like The Texture
Chia pudding has a different texture to a regular chocolate pudding and if you have had tapioca before then it is similar to that. If you want a smoother pudding, which kids usually prefer, then blitz it in food processor or blender first. This will make it even creamier.
What Milk To Use?
We used a homemade almond milk, however any dairy or dairy-free milk will work. Cashew or oat milk will make it really creamy, whilst still keeping it vegan and coconut milk will make it even thicker and add a delicious coconut flavour to it. If using coconut milk then we usually thin it down with some other milk too, so it isn’t too thick.
Chia Pudding Flavours
We have gone with a classic chocolate flavour here, but there is so much that you can do with this pudding. A drop of peppermint extract or orange extract
How To Serve Chocolate Chia Pudding
Chocolate and berries are such a classic combination, so we like to scatter a few raspberries or strawberries on top, but cherries work well too.
You could also add desiccated coconut, chopped nuts, some chocolate chips/shavings or a drizzle of caramel sauce. Anything that you would add to ice cream work work on this pudding too.
How To Store Chocolate Chia Pudding
This pudding will last for about 4-5 days in the fridge. We like to make a batch and keep it in the fridge for desserts, breakfasts and snacks through the week.
You can freeze chia pudding, and then defrost it overnight in the fridge. Just make sure that you freeze it in individual portions.
Extra Tips:
- Make sure your chia seeds haven’t been sat in your cupboard for too long. If they have then they won’t gel together to make a pudding. If you can’t see this happening after about 20 minutes, then you will need to buy some new chia seeds and start again.
- This pudding will keep in the fridge for about 4-5 days.
- Make different flavour pudding by adding peppermint or orange extract.
- You can use any dairy or dairy free milk, however coconut milk will make it much thicker.
- If you don’t like the texture, whizz it up in a food processor or blender to make it smoother.
- You can swap the maple syrup for honey or another liquid sweetener.
How To Make Chocolate Chia Pudding – step by step:
One: Put the chia seeds, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
Two: Add the almond milk and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours (overnight is best).
Three: Pour into a blender and blend until smooth (optional).
Want to try some other dessert recipes? How about these:
Chocolate Bread Pudding
Mixed Berry Crisp
Almond Butter Cookies
Honey Baked Bananas
Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Apple Cherry Crumble
Coconut Rice Pudding
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Chocolate Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 480 ml almond milk
- 80 g chia seeds
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional, but it does make it nice and sweet)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and put in the fridge for at least 5 hours (overnight is better).
- Pour the mixture in to a blender and blend until smooth. You can skip this step if you like, but I like the smoother pudding.
Notes
- Make sure your chia seeds haven't been sat in your cupboard for too long. If they have then they won't gel together to make a pudding. If you can't see this happening after about 20 minutes, then you will need to buy some new chia seeds and start again.
- This pudding will keep in the fridge for about 4-5 days.
- Make different flavour pudding by adding peppermint or orange extract.
- You can use any dairy or dairy free milk, however coconut milk will make it much thicker.
- If you don't like the texture, whizz it up in a food processor or blender to make it smoother.
- You can swap the maple syrup for honey or another liquid sweetener.
Brittany says
While I LOVE LOVE LOVE the avocado pudding I’ve been making, I must try this for a LESS fatty version. Then I will feel better about eating 2-3 servings at once. HAHA.
Dannii says
I must admit, I did eat way more than one portion. Ooops.