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.
Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe Video
While it’s super easy to make this recipe, it always helps to watch a quick step-by-step tutorial video. Give it a watch below!
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 chia pudding for dessert? Oh yes. You’re welcome!
More Delicious Chia Seed Recipes
Did you know you could turn this chocolate chia pudding in a smooth and creamy chocolate chia mousse? You sure can! Here’s more chia seed recipes you’ll love as well:
- 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!
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients
- 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!
I am glad to see this chocolate chia seed pudding sweet with raspberries, I tried it for my family.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe, Anna!
Would it be ok, tho not pretty pic possibly, with using Ground Chia? Worried about eating nuts & seeds personally. But I know I’d love this and want the benefits of Chia. Will try it today.
You need the chia seeds as a whole so that it can gel up into a pudding.
Amazing recipe! My sister has tried some other recipes but we always come back to this one, love it! Thanks for sharing :)
The best recipe , love it thanks
I love it , thanks
Glad you loved this chocolate chia pudding!
Do you have any diabetic recipes with more low sugar content I guess I could go light on everything love your video food is great can’t wait for your book next year
Hi Kathy – I don’t have geared specifically for diabetics, but you can always reduce the sugar content in specific recipes.
I chilled mine in the refrigerator over night and it didn’t set, it’s still liquidy. I’m not sure why it didn’t turn out.
This could be because you have a bad batch of chia seeds unfortunately.
Ah-mazingly delicious, made twice this week already. It’s a great recipe for my 10 and 8 year old to make on their own. Thank you for posting :)
Happy to hear you and the kiddos are loving this chia pudding Clare!
Chocolate chia seed pudding is the bomb,in fact I love all flavors of chia seed pudding
Thanks sharing this article about the chocolate recipes this is too good idea and help us recipes
Glad this was helpful! :)
Made this for my kids and was very disappointed. 1tsp of vanilla was way too much. Tasted more like alcohol than anything else. I used regular store bought organic vanilla. Might try again with half the vanilla or less. None of us enjoyed this as is.
Hi Teresa – it sounds like the problem was more with the brand of vanilla that you used. Next time I’d recommend you purchase an alcohol-free vanilla extract. The brand Simply Organic has one!
This is really to good about the recipes and I am try at home thanks sharing this article
Hope you enjoy this chocolate chia pudding!
Thanks for sharing it
Thanks sharing this article and help us information about the chocolate chia pudding to good recipes
Of course! Glad you’re learning a lot :)
Such a amazing recipe about the chocolate chia pudding thanks sharing this article
Thanks so much Bell!
WOW! I had a craving for some chocolate pudding last night but I had to wait until today to eat it because of the chia seeds. It was so worth it! It was so hard not to eat both servings at once, haha. Lisa, you amaze me with all your delicious recipes.
Glad you enjoyed this Chocolate Chia Pudding Daisy!
Lovely recipe.
Made with 1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 almond milk.
Topped with toasted pecans and 92% Dark Chocolate shavings. Yeah!
Sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed this chocolate chia pudding Evon :)
Just made it and it tasted delicious.
Can’t wait to dig in tomorrow morning.
I threw in some count shavings and will top with coconut whip cream in the morning.
Love the idea of coconut shavings and whip cream with it :)
Thanks sharing this to good recipe and good blog such a great chocolate chia pudding thanks sharing this article
Such a great idea about the chocolate chia pudding this is wonderful recipes thanks share this article
Of course! Hope you enjoy this delicious sweet treat Bradley :)
Great restful and healthy recipes.
Thanks so much Mansha!
Tasty! But you should buy chia seeds that are already cold split or blend this because the seed is like a sesame seed, with the “shell” or outside not digestible, so your body doesn’t get the nutrition inside the seed unless you open it up. They come out whole just like sesame seeds.
That is the case with flax seeds.
The surface of chia seeds is delicate and easily breaks apart when exposed to moisture, so they are typically prepared with liquid foods. In this way, they are absorbed and digested well in their whole form, unlike flax seeds.
I just grind them up like I do flax seeds. I don’t care for that tapioca like texture and I have Crohn’s, so I’m supposed to avoid seedy things.
I haven’t tried pudding before but your recipe looking yummy will try it now absolutely
Thanks for sharing
Hope you enjoy this chocolate pudding Clara :)
this chocolate chia pudding is soooo good!!! I had mixed feelings about chia pudding but I had some recently at a resort breakfast and I decided I needed to try this. it’s such a great healthy dessert, as is the chia pudding mousse. keep it in the fridge for the week and it’s perfect for cravings! even if you just have a bite. thanks Lisa!
Happy to hear this chocolate chia pudding was a hit!
I am looking forward to making this – at what point do you put it in the high power blender? I want a smooth pudding.
You can actually follow my chocolate chia mousse recipe for a blended version :)
232 k cal? So 232,000 calories? Lol
Hi Abbey – kcal is the same as the normal calorie count for the recipe card :)
I love your content. This chia seed pudding was so delicious. A definite add to my meals. I had this for breakfast was awesome to enjoy.
Glad you’ve enjoyed this chia pudding Christina!
this seems lovely, I am a pudding lover, I will try it this weekend.
Please also make chocolate cookies recipes for my 8 years old child.
Hi Dany- I actually have a few cookie recipes on my website, including the best chocolate chip cookies!
Great! I wonder for how many days I can keep it deep freezer? Can I hold it for a a few weeks? I expect the taste remains the same!
Hi Kathy – yes! It will hold for a month or so.
I’ve developed an addiction this pudding! It is sooo yummy. I used dark chocolate cocoa powder because it’s what I had in my pantry and I mix it with almond coconut granola and bananas. My new go-to breakfast.
It’s definitely addicting!
looks delicious, i will try it :)
Enjoy Norman :)
Hi, can I substitute the maple syrup for xylitol sweetner? I use xylitol all the time as I have pre diabetes now, I used to be diabetic, so trying to stay as low sugar as possible.
Unfortunately, I don’t cook with xylitol so I’m not sure how it is as a substitute.
There is a Lakanto maple syrup substitute. I’m sure it will taste great with it.
I love Chocolate and this new Chocolate Pudding recipe with raspberries it’s really delicious
is your any app for new recipes?
Glad you enjoyed this Roger! You can get notified about new recipes if you subscribe to my email list, which you can find on the homepage :)
The recipe was so easy and amazing tasting.
I replaced the maple syrup for a sweetener.
Chocolate Craving was gone after this.
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed this chocolate treat Alejandra :)
Really delicious! What a treat to have. Will be a staple of mine for sure.
Can’t beat this quick and easy chocolate treat (that’s also secretly healthy).
Love this! I substitute honey for the maple syrup as maple is not my favorite and it’s awesome.
Glad you enjoyed this chocolate sweet treat :)
Amazing article I really love this tasty recipe and I hope all the readers will enjoy this tasty recipe and I t will be the best article for all mothers who want to bake these kind of delicious recipes with us..
Thanks for sharing this article to us
Delicious. Does this freeze well?
Yes, you can freeze this!
Wow I love this article because it is my favourite chocolate chai pudding.. I really love this recipe and I hope it will be the best recipe ever..
Thanks for sharing this article to us..
Happy to hear you enjoyed this chocolate chia pudding :)
Love this! Could I use ground chia seed and if so, how much of the ground seed would be equal to the whole seed in this recipe?
For chia pudding it’s best to use whole chia seeds so that it gels up.
Love this chia pudding and love your iTunes😊😊😊😊So glad I found you
Thanks Diana! Glad you loved this chia pudding variation :)
Wow this is very interesting and useful article for all mothers whose parents love chocolate recipes.. Infect to only for mothers it is also specific article for all chocolate lovers..
Thanks for sharing this article to us..
Of course! Hope you enjoy this recipe Emily :)
Wow its just amazing and yummy recipe of chocolate pudding.. I love chocolate and the most favourite thing is that I am mad for freeze strawberries.. I always use these frozen strawberries to decor my food items and to enhance its taste.. I must try it soon in my own kitchen
Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe…
Enjoy this recipe Julliya! :)
Is there a substitute for the Chia seeds?
Hi Chloe – no, to make chia pudding you need chia seeds.
I would suggest using basil seeds. They should gel the same way. :)
I have never had chia seed pudding, so this was my first time trying and making it. Personally, I would prefer it a bit sweeter. However this can be easily tweaked next time so no biggie. I just added some cherry flavoured yogurt as a topping. Very nice, simple recipe, will make again. Thank you.
Easy and tasty. Just started eating chia seeds and found your recipe. Thanks for the sweet treat!
Glad you loved this chocolate version Lisa!
I reeeeeally wanted to like this recipe because my niece is allergic to everything and my husband is dairy free, and it’s hard to make deserts that suit everyone. Unfortunately no matter how much I tinkered and added more liquid and flavourings, I couldn’t get rid of the gritty seed texture (including after blending) nor the strong chia flavour. Maybe the chia I am using is a different variety. Keen to hear any suggestions for softening the chia and masking the seedy flavour.
Hi Samantha – if you still have a gritty seed texture, it might be that your blender is not powerful enough to fully blend it. As I don’t have a gritty texture in mine. But as for the flavor, yes, there is some chia seed flavor. The only solution to that would be masking it with more sugar or flavorings.
Hey!
I know the serving size for the recipe makes two, but how much would one serving be in cups?
Hi Gabby – I’d say each serving is about 1/2 cup!
Thank you, Lisa 🙏🏻 Delicious and extremely easy to prepare it 🤩 and it’s healthy!!
Thrilled to hear you loved this chia pudding recipe Arina!
Could you add a little coffee to it ? Maybe if it needs thinned out some ? That just sounds good to me.
I haven’t tried! But could be an idea :) Let me know how it goes!