Simple, 5-ingredient chocolate chia pudding you can guiltlessly enjoy for breakfast. Itโs thick, creamy, loaded with nutrients, gluten-free and vegan friendly.
How to Make Chia Pudding
When soaked in liquid, chia seeds double in size and get a gel-like consistency. This is what makes it so easy to make chia pudding. All you need to do is:
- Mix chia seeds, plant milk, nut butter, agave syrup and cocoa powder.
- Let the pudding sit in the fridge for 3-6 hours (depending on whether or not chia seeds are ground).
- Serve with your favourite toppings.
Should Chia Seeds Be Ground?
Unlike similar seeds that are rich in essential fatty acid, such as flax seeds, chia donโt have hard shells, which makes them easily digestible without grinding. So, why does this recipe call for ground chia seeds, then?
I wanted this chocolate chia pudding to have the perfect creamy texture of an actual chocolate pudding, and to have the feel of a proper dessert, and not dessert for breakfast. This also means you can easily not grind the seeds, and the flavour and health benefits of this chia pudding will stay exactly the same, but youโll be missing out on the amazing smooth consistency.
Variations of Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Replace almond butter with your favourite nut butter. I wouldnโt recommend omitting it altogether, though, because it does play an important role in the creaminess of this pudding.
- You can use more or less cocoa powder, depending on your chocolate cravings.
Is Chia Pudding Really Healthy?
Chia seeds are the highest known whole-food source of Omega-3 acids, and are a very good source of fibre, calcium, iron and manganese. They typically contain about 20 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 40 percent carbs. They truly are natureโs perfect food.
But, that doesnโt automatically make any chia pudding healthy as well. It all depends on what the pudding is made with, as with certain add-ins and toppings, a single serving of chia pudding can end up having way over 500 calories.
This simple recipe calls for nothing more than plant milk, agave, nut butter and unsweetened cocoa powder, creating that perfect balance of healthy and delicious.
More Make-Ahead Breakfast Ideas
Chocolate Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- ยผ cup (40g) chia seeds
- 1 cup (250g) plant-based milk
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- Toppings: sliced banana, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, maple syrup or nut butter
Instructions
Ground Chia Option
- Add all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until perfectly smooth. Transfer the mixture into two serving bowls, and cover with a lid or cling foil. Let it soak in the fridge overnight, or for at least 3 hours.
Whole Chia Option
- Add all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk until perfectly combined. Transfer the mixture into two serving bowls, and cover with a lid or cling foil. Let it soak in the fridge overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
- In both cases you can leave it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days, as a quick breakfast option.
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