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Craving a sweet treat for breakfast or after dinner? Make a batch of this simple, but delicious chocolate chia seed pudding – a no bake treat made with just 5 simple ingredients.
If you were a fan of those packaged chocolate pudding cups as a kid, I have a feeling you are going to love this chocolate chia seed pudding. This no bake dessert is creamy and chocolatey but packed with tons of nutrients, so it’s a win-win.
Another selling point for this chocolate chia pudding is that it requires just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of active prep time. Make a double or triple batch and store the leftovers in the fridge so you have a tasty snack or healthy dessert on hand.
It makes a great alternative to my typical yogurt and fruit breakfast. For even more great ideas, check our my full list of healthy breakfast recipes!
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Why I Love this Chia Pudding with Chocolate
There are so many reasons I love this simple chocolate chia seed pudding recipe:
- Mix together in 5 minutes or less and is great for meal prep.
- The perfect sweet, but healthy, treat that can be a great afternoon pick-me-up, mid-morning snack, or after dinner dessert.
- Easily customizable to make it your own.
- Each serving is packed with nutrients like protein, fiber, and heart healthy fats. Plus, this recipe is diet and allergen friendly since it is easy to customize to be dairy free, nut free, and gluten free.
- It uses one of my favorite ingredients – check out all the health benefits of chia seeds!
Ingredients for Chocolate Chia Pudding
Use these simple and fresh ingredients packed with nutritional value to make this delicious chocolate chia pudding recipe.
- Milk: use any unsweetened, unflavored milk of your choice (both dairy or non-dairy milks work well). You can also use unsweetened vanilla or chocolate milk (I like almond). For an extra indulgent pudding, you can also try this recipe with coconut milk.
- Chia Seeds: these unassuming little seeds are packed with nutrition (like omega-3 fats). Their superpower is that they can absorb a ton of water, which allows them to plump up and soften, creating a pudding-like texture that is reminiscent of tapioca pudding. Find them in the baking aisle or bulk bins at most grocery stores.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: use either cacao powder or cocoa powder for this recipe. This gives the chia pudding its chocolatey flavor.
- Maple Syrup: I like to use maple syrup to sweeten chia pudding but you can also use honey or a sugar free alternative sweetener like monkfruit or stevia.
- Sea Salt: just a small pinch of sea salt helps enhance the chocolate flavor.
Variations
Use these ideas below to customize your chia seed pudding recipe to your liking!
Add Coffee: if you ever have some leftover coffee, save it and use it in place of some of the milk in your chia pudding. It gives it a bit of coffee flavor that pairs well with the chocolate. You can also use cold brew concentrate or a teaspoon of espresso powder if you have it.
Try with Mint: add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the chia pudding before chilling for a yummy chocolate peppermint chia pudding.
Add Fruit: stir frozen fruit (raspberries or blackberries are great) to the chia pudding before chilling OR top your prepped chocolate pudding with fresh berries (or thawed from frozen). Sliced bananas are also great for this pudding.
Toppings: the chia pudding topping options are endless but a few of our favorites include – dark chocolate shavings (or chocolate chips), peanut butter, crumbled cookies, granola, fruit, chopped nuts, cacao nibs, or graham crackers.
How to Make Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
This healthy chocolate chia seed pudding is simple to put together in a few steps.
Whisk the Pudding: Add all the pudding ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes then whisk again to prevent big clumps of chia seeds from forming. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Alternatively, you can add all of your ingredients to mason jars and shake vigorously to mix.
Optional Step: if you don’t like the texture of chia pudding, you can puree it in the blender before you chill it for a smooth and creamy consistency that tastes a bit like mousse.
Chill: Store the chia pudding in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight to thicken, then enjoy this chocolate dessert!
Are Chia Seeds Healthy?
They sure are! Chia seeds are a great source of plant-based omega 3 fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid.
These healthy fats play an important role in promoting our overall well-being since they support everything from brain function to heart health and reducing inflammation.
There is so much nutrition packed into the tiny chia seed. One serving of chia seeds (about 2.5 tablespoons) provides 5 grams of protein, 10 grams of fiber, 12 grams of carbohydrates, and 8 grams of heart healthy fats.
What Kind of Milk Can I Use for Chia Pudding?
You can use any dairy or non-dairy milk that you wish for chia pudding. For extra protein, reach for dairy milk or soy milk. Other plant-based milks that work well include almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
Coconut milk makes for an extra creamy and rich chia pudding. Since coconut milk is much thicker than other milks, you may need to add a few extra tablespoons.
If you only have sweetened non-dairy milk, you can skip the maple syrup in the recipe (or adjust to taste based on your preferred sweetness level).
How Long Does Chia Seed Pudding Last?
Chia pudding can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze your chia pudding for up to 3 months.
Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying from frozen.
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk, dairy or dairy-free
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, or desired sweetener
- Dash of sea salt
Instructions
- Add all the pudding ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk well to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes then whisk again to prevent lumps from forming. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight until thickened.
Nutrition
Love ur recipes so easy n nutritious