Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe
Posted Jun 18, 2021, Updated Nov 13, 2021
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This is the best chocolate chia pudding recipe! This chocolate chia seed pudding is made in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients in one bowl (or in the blender)! It’s easy to customize to comply with your dietary needs (Paleo, vegan, etc.)! Serve it with your favorite toppings for a healthy dessert, breakfast or snack.
If you’re looking for a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, then you have come to the right place! This chocolate chia pudding recipe is a delicious & nutritious treat.
It is made in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients in one bowl (or in the blender)! Plus it’s easy to customize to comply with your dietary needs (Paleo, vegan, etc.)! Serve it with your favorite toppings for a healthy dessert, breakfast or snack.
Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
Let’s discuss the ingredients in this chocolate chia seed pudding, as well as possible substitutions.
- Milk. You can use any milk in this recipe with great results. I usually opt for unsweetened vanilla almond milk, coconut milk or whole milk.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. Choose your favorite variety, use an extra dark powder for more intense chocolate flavor.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great vegan sweetener and tastes great in this recipe.
- Vanilla. the pure vanilla extract imparts the best flavor – I don’t recommend skipping the vanilla or making substitutions.
- Chia Seeds. No substitute here! You can use black or white chia seeds.
How to make chocolate chia pudding
This chocolate chia seed pudding is made in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients in one bowl or in the blender, we’ll walk through both methods and don’t forget to watch the video.
In the Blender
I often like to make this chocolate chia pudding recipe in the blender for a few reasons.
- First, it’s fast and easy.
- Second, using the blender results in an extra-smooth and creamy pudding without seeds in it (so they don’t get stuck in your teeth)!
- And third, you don’t have to chill the mixture before separating it into jars and chilling.
To make this chocolate chia pudding in the blender simply add all the ingredients and blend until smooth. Then put it directly into glass jars with lids and chill until thick and cold.
Mix it together in a bowl
Making this chocolate chia pudding in a bowl is also very simple. To begin, whisk together milk, honey vanilla and sea salt until combined (it’s easier to incorporate honey if the milk is room temperature).
Next, add the chia seeds and whisk to combine.
Chill
When I make this chocolate chia pudding in a bowl, I like to chill it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken. This way the chia seeds are evenly dispersed in the mixture and will, therefore, be evenly dispersed when it’s transferred to the jars.
Transfer to jars
Transfer the mixture into 2 glass jars with lids, then chill overnight in the refrigerator, or for at least 8 hours until the mixture is thick and cold.
Serve!
Once chilled, serve the chocolate chia pudding plain or with desired toppings. Here are some suggestions:
- Fresh or frozen & thawed berries
- Fresh fruits (bananas, apples, citrus fruits, etc.)
- Nut Butters (like this vanilla almond butter or this homemade peanut butter)
- unsweetened coconut
- Candied almonds
- Cinnamon Sugar pecans
- Honey or Maple Syrup
- Strawberry Sauce
- Chocolate chips or cocoa nibs
- Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc.)
- Dried Fruits (cranberries, apricots, rasins, etc.)
The sky’s the limit with what you can serve in/on this recipe!
FAQs about Chocolate Chia Pudding
Yes! This chocolate chia seed pudding is a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Yes, chia pudding freezes and thaws very well. Just be sure to let it thaw slowly in the refrigerator and do not microwave it.
If you like this chocolate chia seed pudding recipe, try these!
- Make this vanilla chia pudding for another great healthy treat!
- Overnight Oats with Yogurt is another great overnight meal prep breakfast recipe, and try these Chocolate Overnight Oats!
- Peanut Butter overnight oats are one of my favorite easy breakfasts – and it has chia seeds for extra protein and fiber!
- Chocolate peanut butter chia pudding – another delicious healthy dessert!
- Healthy desserts: I’m very into making healthy and delicious desserts like this chia seed pudding! Some of our favorites include: healthy peanut butter blondies, black bean brownies and these fudgy paleo brownies.
- These healthy banana oatmeal cookies are nutritious and delicious!
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Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (whole milk, coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk, etc.)
- 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 TBS honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- Optional toppings: fresh berries sliced bananas, nut butter, extra maple syrup or honey, etc.
Instructions
To make in one bowl:
- In a large bowl, whisk together milk, cocoa powder, honey vanilla and sea salt until combined (it’s easier to incorporate honey if the milk is room temperature).
- Add chia seeds and whisk to combine.
- Transfer to the refrigerator to chill in the bowl for about 20 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken.
To make in a blender:
- Put all of the ingredients in the order listed into the container of your Vitamix (or another high-powered blender).
- Blend starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, until the mixture is smooth.
Chill:
- Transfer mixture into 2 glass jars with lids.
- Chill overnight in the refrigerator, or for at least 8 hours.
- Once chilled, serve plain or with desired toppings.
Video
Notes
To store:
Store this chocolate chia pudding in a glass jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.To Freeze:
This recipe freezes and thaws very well in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Just be sure to let it thaw slowly in the refrigerator and do not microwave it.Ingredient Substitutions
- Milk. You can use any milk in this chocolate chia pudding with great results. I usually opt for unsweetened vanilla almond milk, coconut milk or whole milk.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder. Choose your favorite variety, use an extra dark powder for more intense chocolate flavor.
- Honey. Maple syrup is a great vegan sweetener and tastes great in this recipe.
- Vanilla. the pure vanilla extract imparts the best flavor – I don’t recommend skipping the vanilla or making substitutions.
- Chia Seeds. No substitute here! You can use black or white chia seeds.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photos in this post were taken by Jamie from Dishing Out Health!
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These recipes sound delicious, and I’ll be making them soon.
Thank you for sharing!
I put a tablespoon of pj powder. Reese’s peanut butter cup
Have you ever tried this with liquid stevia as the sweetener?? I am wanting a low carb/sugar option. Thank you!
I have not but I don’t see why that wouldn’t work great!
I tried it and this was fantastic! I used my blendtec (smoothie function) to blend and opted for the maple syrup. Easy. Peasy. Delicious. Healthy! Thank you for another fantastic recipe!