Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

This Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding has been satisfying all of my chocolate cravings lately because there is nothing better than chocolate that is actually good for you. You may also like this ultimate chia seed pudding or coconut chia seed pudding.

Chocolate chia seed pudding may just be the key to breaking my sugar cravings. For the past few weeks, I have been trying to break some bad habits where I basically reach for a piece of chocolate after every meal. It's a bad habit I started a few years back.

Rather than cut it out completely, I am working on replacing my candy with healthier options like this chocolate chia pudding. It's got everything I crave in a sweet treat but is actually super good for you.

Chia seeds are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats. They are a nutritional powerhouse and are a great way to start the day off full of energy or recover after a workout. 

Additionally now that it is hot in the morning, I love that this is a cool breakfast option. It's delicious on a hot day, especially when you load it up with fresh fruit. I use frozen fruit as well when I know I won't eat it right away. It helps keep the pudding cold until I get to it.

For this twist on a traditional chia seed pudding, we are adding unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate version that will knock your socks off. To make it even healthier, I also like to add some Greek yogurt to the mix for calcium and extra protein. You can leave this out if you need a dairy free or vegan option.

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Variations

There are so many ways to customize this chia seed pudding to your tastes and dietary needs.

• Keto: For a keto chocolate chia pudding, you will want to use full-fat Greek yogurt and swap the maple syrup for Stevia or another no-calorie sweetener. You can also swap out the milk for whole milk or canned coconut milk.
• Greek Yogurt: This recipe is for chocolate chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt. To mix things up, consider using coconut or vanilla Greek yogurt. I also like it with berry-flavored Greek yogurt and it is amazing with coffee-flavored yogurt if you can find it. Regular yogurt works fine as well.
• Coconut Milk: This chia seed pudding can be made with either canned coconut milk or refrigerated coconut milk. Refrigerated coconut milk is similar to almond milk in terms of calories and consistency. If you make a coconut milk chocolate chia seed pudding with canned milk, it will come out much thicker and with a more pronounced coconut flavor. It will also be higher in fat and calories.
• Almond Milk: Almond milk chocolate chia pudding is a great dairy-free option if you choose a dairy-free yogurt as well. You can also leave the yogurt out completely. You can use either unsweetened or sweetened almond milk and the flavored options work great as well.
• Quick and Easy: If you don't want to wait around for the chia seed pudding to set, throw everything into a blender. Then just let it sit for about 10 minutes to thicken. This also is a great way to create a smooth pudding if you don't like the tapioca-style texture of chia seeds. Consider adding some avocado as well for an extra creamy pudding.
• Protein-packed: Add your favorite protein powder to the mix as well. If you are using a chocolate protein powder, you may not need any cocoa powder. You also may not need added sweetener if the protein powder contains sweetener. You can also add peanut butter or almond butter to the pudding directly or on top.

Topping Ideas

There are so many ways to customize this recipe with different toppings. Here are some of our favorite to try:

• Fruit: Add fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, or dried fruit, or pomegranate.
• Whipped cream or yogurt: Use any kind of whipped cream or yogurt to add another layer of flavor to the yogurt. For dessert, it's delicious with coconut cream.
• Nuts and seeds: Add sliced almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut, pistachios, or a swirl of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.

How long can I store chia seed pudding in the fridge?

Chia seed pudding can be kept in the fridge for 5-7 days. This makes it perfect for meal prep since you can make it in advance and enjoy it all week long.

Normally I make the chia seed pudding in individual containers so I can grab it and go. Then I can also mix in different toppings in day to day to create some variety.

Choosing the Right Cocoa Powder

One of the most common complaints when someone makes chocolate recipes using cocoa powder is the bitterness. Many times this is due to the cocoa powder they chose.

There are two types of cocoa powder - Dutch processed (aka alkalized) cocoa powder and natural cocoa powder. Dutch process cocoa powder is less bitter and acidic. In my opinion, it works much better for recipes where there is no cooking involved since it provides a more mellow, less bitter flavor.