Chocolate Chia Pudding
306 Comments
Sep 06, 2023
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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. 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. Long story short, you really can’t beat chia pudding, whether you’re whipping it up for breakfast or dessert!
What’s in Chocolate Chia Pudding?
There’s only 5 ingredients in this easy recipe and that includes:
- Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is typically less processed than cocoa powder, but either one works in this recipe.
- Maple Syrup: One of my favorite all natural sweeteners. You could also use honey or another liquid sweetener.
- Vanilla Extract: To enhance the sweet flavor.
- Milk: Choose your favorite one, whether dairy or dairy-free, they all work beautifully.
- Chia Seeds: The omega-3 packed seeds that combine everything together into a creamy, dreamy dessert.
How to Make Chocolate Chia Pudding
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 texture, you can blitz it all together in a high-powered blender to create a chocolate chia pudding mousse.
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. Today, I’m using my cashew milk recipe (my personal favorite). But you could also use almond milk, oat milk, or even banana milk.
If you make this recipe with canned 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 to 5 days. This makes it an easy treat to make in a large batch and enjoy over the course of a week.
If you have leftovers you can even freeze it! It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Then simply thaw as needed when those chocolate cravings strike. Meal prepped chia pudding for dessert? Oh yes. You’re welcome!
More Delicious Chia Seed Recipes
Here’s more chia seed recipes you’ll love as well:
- PB&J Chia Pudding
- 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!
I hope you enjoy this chocolate chia pudding as much as I do! If you make it, let me know how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help others in this community!
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk (dairy or dairy-free)
- ¼ 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 to 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
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally posted May 2019, but updated to include new information.
This chocolate chia pudding is fantastic! So decadent! I LOVE your recipes! Love that I also learn about why the food is good for me from your videos/posts.
Happy to hear you loved this chocolate chia pudding! Chia seeds are definitely one ingredient I love to incorporate into my weekly routine :)
Delicious. Thank you!
Of course Elizabeth! A chocolate treat you can enjoy all year round :)
This looks super delicious and also extra simple! Definitely going to try this one out this evening!😍
Great – hope you enjoy!
This chocolate chia pudding is delicious!! Its creamy and chocolatey and just the right texture.
Hi Shabibi – So glad you enjoyed this chocolate chia pudding :)
Thanks for the recipe. Would you blitz in blender before or after you chill it and it gets thick?
Thanks
Hi Sonja- I would blend it beforehand :)
If you want a smoother pudding, do you put it in the blender before or after it sets?
Hi Rita- for a smoother pudding, you can reference my chocolate chia mousse recipe! :)
I absolutely love this to get my chocolate craving under control. I added a tsp of coffee leftover from the morning that really added to the flavor (and as a mom, that’s all that was leftover lol)!
Hi Sam- Sounds delicious with a bit of coffee leftover :) Glad this recipe comes in handy for any of your chocolate cravings!
Yum! We just made this for the first time three days ago and then again today. It’s so delicious! I already loved chia pudding but I never managed a chocolate version that actually tasted like chocolate pudding. I’ll probably have to go along the routes of some of your readers and double the amount next time around.
Hi Anna- Amazing! I’m glad I was able to introduce you to new flavors of chia pudding :)
I make this recipe weekly doubling the recipe as my husband and I absolutely love it. I find it best for the pudding to sit in the fridge a minimum of 8 hrs for a thick pudding consistency. Thank you for a great recipe!
Hi Tracey – I’m happy you both love the recipe! And very smart of you to make a double batch. ;) I always do the same! Enjoy.
These photos are stunning. That is all.
Hi Lee- Thanks so much! :)
So quick and easy, perfect to have in the fridge for sweet cravings! Didn’t have milk on hand, so I mixed the water with two teaspoons of tahini. Worked a charm.
Hi Bettina- Definitely a great option for when you’re craving a chocolate treat!
I made this last night and just had it for breakfast. It is so good Lisa! Such a great way to increase my omega 3 intake. Only thing is it came out a lot more liquid like than yours. I may reduce the milk amount next time.
Hi Priya – so happy you loved the recipe! And yes, you can always tweak the ratios a bit to get the texture you prefer. Enjoy!
Hi, those 232 kcal are for how many grams? 100??
Hi Teresa – it’s for half of the recipe, as there’s two servings. :)
It’s really good. I’m used to a sweeter pudding though. I may up the maple syrup a little or try a different sweetener altogether. The chia sort of reminds me of Tapioca pearls, which is not a bad thing at all.
You can always adjust the sweetness levels for this as the cacao can be a bit strong sometimes :) But, I’m glad you enjoyed this dessert overall!
Love this, I eat it with tons of fresh fruit.
Hi Renee – Berries on top of this chia pudding is the best! Gives a refreshing bite.
Can you replace cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder?
Sure, I don’t see why not.
How many ounces is 1 serving?
Hi Diana – It will be around 8-10 ounces.
This was my first time trying chia pudding and I loved it! Is delicious and very easy to make.
Hi Maidie – Welcome to the chia pudding gang! So happy you enjoyed your first batch. Now it’s time to get creative with different toppings!
Yummy!!!! I just ate a bowl for lunch 🤫🤐 using the single serving recipe from your Chia Pudding Meal Prep Guide. I made mine with cashew milk and topped with bananas and a spoonful of almond butter. 😋 So easy and so delicious. Thank you!!
Hi Sasha – Amazing! So glad you loved this recipe and it sounds amazing with bananas and almond butter :) Can’t wait to see what other variations you whip up next!
So when I made these I thought they were amazing but I was going to take them to a family get together and wanted opinions so I took several into work. I had never used chia seeds before and my coworkers all said they were “icky” in texture, but I liked the “pop” that I got. When I took them to work I didn’t tell them they were the chia seed pudding and the four out of five (one of who had said she didn’t like chia seeds) LOVED them so much that I didn’t have any for the fifth coworker! I’ve now made this at least five times just for myself! It’s not too sweet and just gives me that little something to have at night! Yeah!
Hi Debbie – That’s amazing! A lot of people get thrown off when they think about the actual seeds being in it, but it does gel up to be a delicious consistency. I would also recommend for your coworkers to try the chocolate chia mousse which is a blended version :)
Regarding your pro tip to make it a less “tapioca” like consistency, do you blend it when initially making the pudding or after it’s set in the fridge?
Hi Jessica – to make it more of a mousse texture, you can just blend everything as is :) You can also refer to my chocolate chia mousse recipe for further instructions.
Can you grind the chia seeds before making the pudding… or blitz the chia seeds in a magic bullet?
Hi Jeanette- Yes! You can make a blended chia mousse actually, which I have a recipe for on the site. Just search for “Chocolate Chia Mousse”.
This has become my ‘go to’ dessert and it’s a hit every single time. Easy and delicious! Thank you Lisa!
Hi Kathleen – So happy to hear that! It’s definitely a quick and easy recipe to whip up when you’re craving something chocolatey :)
What brand(s) of cacao powder do you endorse?
The one I use is linked on the Shop page on my website. :)
This is sooo easy and soo delicious!! Loved it, tks!!
Hi Marta – I’m so glad you loved this chia pudding! Also, if you liked this recipe, be sure to follow me on Instagram for a chocolate recipe that I am uploading this weekend :)
Everyone loves it !
Hi Caroline – So happy to hear that! You can never go wrong with chocolate + chia pudding :)
I have made this 5 times now and wow it is so good and simple. I only use honey now to make things sweet and let me tell you it is so good with honey. I made it last night and couldn’t wait to have it this AM.
Hi Ellen – I am so glad you love the chia pudding recipe! Honey is a great alternative and tastes just as great :)
Love love this chai pudding…AND I love your youtube channel!
Thanks so much for your delicious recipes and fun videos :-)
Thanks so much Bev! I’m happy you love the chia pudding recipe and my videos. Enjoy your dessert! :)
I was wondering if you could tell me how many carbs and sugars this recipe would have if I left out the maple syrup? I think it would taste OK for me as I don’t have much of a craving for sweets and the vanilla would be enough.
Hi Ann – you could try plugging the ingredients without the maple syrup into a nutritional calculator online. :)
Hey, Lisa,
This was an absolutely delicious and possibly the most easiest dessert one can whip up. I am also doing Keto so switched the maple syrup to 18drops of liquid stevia left everything else the same. Just wanted to leave a review so that other Keto people out there can try it out as well. Thanks.
Great! Happy you loved the recipe Ronnie and thanks for sharing your keto tips as well. I’m sure that will help others. :)
Thanks for this great and super easy recipe!! I’m a new mum with absolutely no time and we had some friends coming over who happen to be vegan and this was so quick and easy to put together. Everyone loved it. I also added some mint to it and it was delicious.
Wonderful! I’m glad you all loved the recipe. And a little mint is always great with the chocolate (a personal favorite of mine as well). :)
Ok, it’s because I trust you that I gave this pudding a try. After all, chia seeds are just such an unusual food. I’m not typically a fan. Well, you won me over (again). I finally have found a use for chia. After the pudding thickened, I topped it with unsweetened coconut shards, finely chopped walnuts and sliced bananas. This was really good.
Yay, happy to hear that Hillary! I’ll try not to steer you wrong. ;) And the chia pudding sounds great with the coconut, walnuts and banana – yum!
Chocolate and chia, you just can’t go wrong
Totally agree! :)
Hi Lisa, can you use normal full fat milk?
Yes, you can use any type of milk. :)
WOW! I just made this, and it is delicious! I used canned coconut milk, so it is rich and decadent!
Yay! So happy you loved the recipe Julie. :) x
Did you use the low sugar milk? Like there is 30 60 90 calorie almond milk? If it has a higher sugar count can I leave out the maple syrup?
I don’t want to waste the milk or chia seeds
Hi Linda – I usually use unsweetened milk for this recipe and add the syrup. The syrup just acts as a sweetener in this recipe, so you can add or omit as much as you like depending on either how much sugar you want to consume or if you just prefer desserts sweeter. But yes, if you have sweetened milk on hand, then you probably don’t need to add syrup or maybe just add 1 tbsp. Test it out and see what you like best! :)
OMG. You knocked it out of the park — again! Sending to all my friends!
Awwww, thank you, Michelle! I appreciate the kind words and I’m so happy you loved the pudding! :)
Soo delicious! Had leftovers for breakfast this morning with sliced banana and a dollop of nut butter! Divine!
Wow, that does sound delicious! Thank you for the kind comment, Charlene! So glad you loved the pudding :)
Looks amazing! The pro tip: does it matter in which step it goes in the blender? Blend it up first and then follow the recipe? Or is it better to make the pudding and blend it when it’s ready the next day?
Hi Johanna – I would recommend blending after the pudding have had time to gel or right before serving.
Guess what we are having tomorrow – again?! Eldest son – hmmm, just needs kirsch cherries and make it into Black Forest gateau. Middle son – love it. Daughter – can I have this for breakfast every morning as it tastes better than coco pops. Husband – why did you make small portions? So, made more for tomorrow. On Friday, will make this trifle with kirsch cherries, success once again Lisa!
Omg, now I want to make it again with kirsch cherries!! That sounds amazing! And love the feedback from the family – that’s hysterical. Lol!
Have been wanting to try chia seed pudding for a while but the texture puts me off, so I’m excited to read you recommending to blend it (for those of us with texture issues!) At which point would it be best blended, eg pre or post gelling stage?
Hi Shiv – I would recommend to blend after the gelling process and right before serving. Let me know how it turns out! My family devoured the chia seed pudding over Mother’s day! :)
LIsa!!!!! You just keep getting better and better with guilt free indulgence! Guess what I have waiting in the fridge for tomorrow pudding?! Smells divine and I had a spoonful! Yummmmmmmmmmmm! This is so going to be our staple go to pudding throughout the warmer weather days. Oh!!!!
Aw, thanks Dot! I’m all about the super simple and chocolately desserts. And you can’t beat how easy this one is to make! ;) Hope you and the family enjoy heaps of it! x
I love chia pudding! Looks so delicious and perfect for summer parties!
It’s the best, isn’t it? :) And you can’t go wrong with this creamy chocolate version! Hope you enjoy it Natalie. :)
I can’t tell you how much I love trying your recipes. I just discovered you and I just love that you use your vita mix and all the healthy food you make look and taste great . Thank you. May God bless you as you continue to bless us.
Denise Ehrman
Thanks so much Denise! I’m thrilled you love all my healthy recipes. :)
Sooooo yummy!! Had to have chocolate and it definitely hit the spot. I added coconut whip and strawberries.
Awesome! Coconut whipped cream is the perfect topping for this recipe. I’m glad you enjoyed it Jenn!
This recipe looks amazing (as usual)! I’m going to make it this morning so that I have a healthy afternoon snack! Curious, though… do you think ground up chia seeds will do the job? I opt for ground in my kitchen because I have heard that you get even more nutrients out of them this way! I’m just not sure if they would still get up, but I don’t see why not? Thanks again for an amazing recipe!
Hi Brittany – Thank you for the kind comment! I haven’t tried chia pudding with ground chia seeds but I don’t see why it wouldn’t still gel. Test it out and let me know how its goes. :)
A total unique combination to making this delicious Pudding. A must try out option for sure.
It’s so delicious Veena! You’ll love it :)
These pictures are amazing and the recipe looks even better! So creamy and so chocolatey, my favorite combination!
Thanks, Beth! Yep, it’s both creamy and chocolatey! You’ll love it :)
Really great! I like chia because it’s healty, but I never tought about using it with chocolate. I guess I’ll try it! Thanks for sharing!
I love regular chia pudding as well, but this chocolate version is great for a quick and easy dessert. Give it a try, I think you’ll love it!
I love chia pudding but this chocolate chia pudding takes sounds even better. Perfect healthy dessert for my sweet tooth.
It’s a much better alternative when it comes to dessert, that’s for sure. ;) Hope you love the recipe Sharon!
What a beautiful looking pudding. Chia adds so much more texture and goodness to the chocolate pudding.
I agree! I love the added texture and it’s still super creamy. :) Thanks Sonal!