Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Loaded with fiber, Omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals, this chocolate chia seed pudding recipe is the perfect healthy breakfast or dessert.

Who wants to wake up in the morning and have to prepare breakfast? Not me! So why not whip something up the night before so you can have a quick healthy breakfast on the go. Better yet, how about a healthy dessert that tastes great? Well good thing is chia pudding can tackle both.

A few years back, I started to hear about chia seeds and the many health benefits they hold. And then I realized they make a great vegan egg so I started to use them in quite a few vegan recipes.

However I hadn't jumped on the chia seed pudding bandwagon until Lauren's dad introduced it to us. This pudding is creamy, chocolate and indulgent, but also loaded with nutrients. Even better, it is vegan and dairy free. 

But what puts it over the top is some fresh fruit and homemade granola like dark chocolate hazelnut granola or fruit and nut granola.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• What Type of Milk Can I Use?
• Are Chia Seeds Healthy?
• How Long Will the Pudding Last?
• Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
• Other Dessert Recipes
• Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Recipe Ingredients

• Almond milk - or any other dairy free milk.
• Dates - a natural sweetener.
• Vanilla and almond extract - helps enhance the flavors.
• Cocoa powder - adds chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate protein powder - gives additional protein.
• Coconut oil - helps thicken the pudding.
• Ground cinnamon - subtle additional flavor.
• Salt - enhances the flavors.
• Chia seeds - combines everything to make a creamy, decadent pudding.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Warm milk in the microwave. (this is so the coconut oil doesn't solidify when you mix it in) Place all ingredients except chia seeds in large bowl
2. Blend with a stick blender until well combined or pulse in blender.
3. Add chia seeds and stir by hand for 5 minutes. (this is important to do for a full 5 minutes as it gets the chia seeds beginning to gel as well as mix them throughout) Cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight. Top with fruit and granola when eating.

What Type of Milk Can I Use?

If you are dairy-free you can use any type of dairy-free milk, including almond, cashew, oat or coconut milk. If you use coconut milk, it will be thicker so you will have to add some water to thin it out.

You can also use good old-fashioned cow's milk if you aren't vegan.

Are Chia Seeds Healthy?

As mentioned before, chia seeds are very healthy for you. These benefits include:

• Curbing your cravings and help promote balanced blood sugar.
• Promote good sleep and easing anxiety.
• Improving cardiovascular health.
• Strengthening bone minerals.
• Ease constipation and promote good digestion.

How Long Will the Pudding Last?

Chia seed pudding can be left in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw as needed.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• To avoid lumps, you need to stir the chia seeds for 5 minutes which helps distribute the seeds.
• If you have some lumps, just stir with a fork before eating.
• If the chocolate chia pudding is too thick, add a splash of milk and stir.
• If you don’t like the tapioca consistency of chia seed pudding and want a smoother texture, just blend it all together in a blender of food processor until it is smooth.
• Toppings ideas: granola, chocolate chips, fresh fruit, coconut flakes.

Other Dessert Recipes

• Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
• Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookies
• Vegan Banana Muffins
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites

If you’ve tried this chocolate chia seed pudding recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.