Chocolate Chia Pudding Breakfast Bowls will become your new weekday staple! This healthy breakfast pudding is sugar free, paleo, vegan, and packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Top with fresh fruit, coconut, nuts and seeds or nut butter (or a little chopped dark chocolate!) for a breakfast that tastes more like dessert.
Is Chia Seed Pudding Good for You?
I recently updated my Whole30 Breakfast Chia Pudding, because in January, it becomes crazy popular.
While it’s a great option for those with dietary restrictions, it’s also just delicious and great for anyone looking for a healthy breakfast that can be prepped ahead.
Chia seeds are rich in nutrients. They are high in omega 3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and fiber. A serving of this pudding contains half of your daily fiber requirement and 7 grams of protein. You can up the protein by topping this pudding with hemp seeds, nuts, or nut butter.
Can you Make Chia Seed Pudding with Almond Milk?
You can make chocolate chia seed pudding out of pretty much any liquid! I use coconut milk in this recipe because coconut milk is delicious! I love it’s creamy and rich flavor.
To lower the calories in this recipe, definitely try using unsweetened almond milk. For a protein boost, if you are not lactose intolerant, regular dairy milk will also work.
I mix coconut milk with water because all coconut milk is too rich for me, but you could use all coconut milk to make an extra decadent dessert pudding.
Tips for Chocolate Chia Pudding
- No Blender? No Problem!: If you want to make chocolate chia seed pudding without a blender, sub 1/4 cup date syrup or honey in place of the dates. Use a whisk and mix quickly as you add the chia seeds. You will need to let them sit, and whisk again, and repeat several times prior to refrigerating your pudding. This method works fine (and I use it often!), but it’s more difficult to get a smooth texture because it’s hard to prevent the chia seeds from sticking together.
- Make it Paleo: As written, this chocolate chia pudding recipe is paleo.
- Make it Vegan: As written, this recipe is vegan.
- Top this pudding with delicious toppings, like fresh fruit, coconut, chopped nuts, nut butter, or even my Raspberry Chia Seed Jam or Strawberry Chia Seed Jam.
Other Chia Seed Pudding Recipes:
- Vanilla Chia Pudding, from iFoodReal
- Keto Chia Pudding, by Blissfully Low Carb
- Cookie Dough Overnight Chia and Oats, by Sunkissed Kitchen
- Whole30 Breakfast Chia Pudding, by Sunkissed Kitchen
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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Breakfast Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 cup water*
- 1 3/4 cup coconut milk canned, full fat
- 4 ounces dates soaked in hot water and drained
- 6 tablespoons cocoa powder natural
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4 cup chia seeds
Topping Suggestions
- fresh fruit
- nuts
- unsweetened coconut
- nut butter
- chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Soak pitted dates in hot water to soften. After they've soaked for 1-2 minutes, drain well and set aside.
- In a blender, add water (start with 1 1/4 cup), coconut milk, cocoa powder, dates, and vanilla. Process on high until the dates are smooth and a rich creamy chocolately mixture has been created.
- Add chia seeds, and then pulse to mix in. Do not overblend. The idea is not to blend the seeds, just to mix them in.
- This can be made in a bowl and stirred, but chia seeds gel and stick together quickly, so I find it easier to get them to separate in a blender.
- Allow chia seeds to soak for about 5 minutes, and then pulse again. Repeat 1 more time for the best textured pudding.
- Pour chia pudding into a sealed container, and allow to soak at least 1 hour. If your pudding is too thick, add more water to thin out until the desired consistency is reached.
I’ve never made chocolate chia pudding before but it looks so delicious, I need to try this asap!
It is delicious — such a great texture! If you like tapioca, this is so similar.
This looks amazing. I love all the colors and textures you have here!
Love your photos and the pudding looks and sounds delicious!
It is delicious! Thank you 🙂
This looks like a scrumptious breakfast! Love the spoon too.