Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chocolate chia pudding is so simple and amazingly delicious. It’s the easiest healthy dessert recipe you can make with no baking.

It’s creamy, chocolatey, indulgent and yet, loaded with nutrients. Bonus, it’s also vegan and dairy-free. A winner of a dessert recipe that you’ll make again and again.

I almost hesitate at calling this chocolate chia pudding a dessert or labeling it as indulgent, because really, it’s probably healthier than the average breakfast or snack. There’s just one tablespoon of maple syrup per serving. So feel free to enjoy it any time of day!

But want to know why I really love this recipe? It’s so darn easy to make and you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already. You can’t beat that.

What’s in Chocolate Chia Pudding?

There’s only 5 ingredients in this recipe and that includes:

• Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is typically less processed and healthier than cocoa powder, but either works.
• Maple Syrup: One of my favorite all natural sweeteners.
• Vanilla Extract: For that sweet flavor and smooth aroma.
• Dairy-Free Milk: Choose your favorite one, they all work beautifully.
• Chia Seeds: The glue that combines everything together into a creamy, dreamy dessert.

So then how do you make it? All you have to do is whisk together the cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, nut milk and chia seeds. Chill it for a few hours (or overnight). And voila – chocolate chia pudding. I’ve topped mine with raspberries and chocolate shavings today, but feel free to get creative.

Pro tip: If you don’t like the tapioca consistency of chia pudding and want a smoother, more mousse-like texture, you can blitz it all together in a high-powered blender until it’s smooth.

Are Chia Seeds Healthy?

They sure are! Chia seeds have a ton of health benefits. They’re on my list of 8 anti-inflammatory foods to eat every week since they’re so high in antioxidants and loaded with fiber. In fact, they may be the best source of fiber on the planet.

What Kind of Milk Can I Use in Chia Seed Pudding?

This chocolate chia seed pudding will work with all types of dairy and dairy-free milks. I used my cashew milk recipe (my personal favorite). But you could also use almond milk, banana milk or coconut milk.

If you make this recipe with full-fat coconut milk, it will likely be thicker than the previously mentioned options. You could always add more milk or water to thin it down, if desired.

How Long Will the Pudding Last?

Chocolate chia pudding can be left in the fridge for about 4-5 days. This makes it an easy treat to make in a batch and enjoy over the course of a week.

If you make a large batch, you could even freeze it, then thaw as needed (for when the craving strikes). Meal prepped chocolate pudding? Oh yes. You’re welcome!

Watch Me Make This Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe (1-Minute Video)

More Delicious Chia Seed Recipes

• Basic Chia Seed Pudding
• PB&J Chia Pudding (using almond butter)
• Chia Seed Jam
• Coconut Chia Mango Popsicles
• Blueberry Chia Pudding
• Pomegranate Chia Parfait

Want two more simple chocolate dessert recipes? Make sure to check out my Chocolate Mug Cake and Chocolate Avocado Pudding. They take less than 5 minutes to make!

5 from 15 votes

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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Prep Time: 5 mins

wait time: 4 hrs

Total Time: 4 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 2

Author: Lisa Bryan

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding is a perfectly simple and light dessert when you’re having a chocolate craving. There's only 5 ingredients and you likely have them already. Watch the video above to see how quickly it comes together!

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

• 2 tbsp cacao powder , or cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup dairy-free milk
• 1/4 cup chia seeds

Garnish

• raspberries, (or other fruit)
• chocolate shavings
• coconut whipped cream
• nuts and seeds

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl, add the cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, dairy-free milk and chia seeds. Whisk together until all ingredients are combined.
• Leave the mixture in the bowl for 15 minutes without stirring for the chia seeds to gel. After 15 minutes, whisk it together one more time.
• Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator overnight or a minimum of 4 hours. 
• Remove the chocolate chia seed pudding from the fridge and stir together with a spoon. Serve into small dessert sized glasses. Top with your favorite fruit, chocolate shavings or other garnishes.

Lisa's Tips

• If you notice your chia seeds aren't starting to gel and thicken after 10 minutes, you may have dud chia seeds. This can happen in they've been sitting in your pantry a while. Just grab a new bag of chia seeds. 
• If you want that frosted look on your berries, here's how you do it. In a single layer on a plate, freeze fresh berries that have been washed and are completely dry. Once they're frozen, add them to the chocolate chia pudding. About 2-3 minutes later (as they come to room temperature) they'll have that frosted look. But serve them up quick because it doesn't last long! 

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 65mg, Potassium: 380mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 9.3%, Vitamin C: 12.8%, Calcium: 32.8%, Iron: 16.5%

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chocolate Chia Pudding, Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe, Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

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