Chocolate Chia Pudding

Name: Chocolate Chia Pudding
Prep time: 1 min
Total time: 301 min
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))

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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.

Chocolate Chia Pudding in two glass ramekins surrounded by strawberries and cocoa powder

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.

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Why should you try it?
Step by step
Is it easy to make?
Is it healthy?
Making it really smooth
What milk to use?
Different flavours
How to serve
FAQs
Extra tips
More chocolate recipes
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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

Step by step

One: Put the chia seeds, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a large bowl.

A large dish containing chia seeds, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla

Two: Add the almond milk and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours (overnight is best).

Unmixed Chocolate Chia pudding in a large dish

Three: Pour into a blender and blend until smooth (optional).

A blender jug full of blended chocolate chia pudding

Is it easy to make?

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.

A glass ramekin containing chocolate pudding. Half a strawberry is on top

Is it 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?!

Making it really smooth

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.

Different 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

Chocolate pudding in a glass pot topped with half a strawberry

How to serve

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 will work on this chocolate chia pudding too.

FAQs

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.

More chocolate recipes

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