Chocolate Chia Pudding Vegan and Paleo

Chocolate Chia Pudding is a healthy dessert with all natural sugars that whips up in 5 minutes. Top with your favorite fresh fruit, seeds or nuts to make it your own!

If you’ve been following along with me for awhile, you know my favorite meal is dessert. Well, I’ve been making a concerted effort to reduce my sugar intake. Even though I stick with natural unrefined sugars when I make my plant-based desserts and treats, I still probably enjoy them a little more than I should!

I find any excuse I can to sprinkle some chocolate in my recipes. For a healthy morning breakfast I’ve made my Chocolate Smoothie Bowl and my Brownie Oatmeal!

I’ve been sticking to natural sugars in the form of fruits and trying to cut out all other forms of sugar, but I was getting some sugar and chocolate cravings, and knew a piece of fruit just wasn’t going to cut it!

This Chocolate Chia Pudding uses a ripe banana for natural sweetness, chia seeds to create a pudding like texture, unsweetened almond milk for creaminess, and cocoa powder to give it that chocolate flavor.

Why You’ll Love this Chocolate Chia Pudding…

• 5 minutes to make.
• All natural ingredients
• Healthy chia seeds provide added nutrients
• Naturally sweetened with banana
• 5 ingredient recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 4 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 banana (ripe and turning brown)
• 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
• Toppings of choice

Maple Syrup or Banana

If you want your pudding sweeter you can add the optional maple syrup. I would add 1 tablespoon, taste, and add an additional tablespoon if you’d like it sweeter.

Using a ripe banana that’s turning brown will add more sweetness to the pudding. I found that using one ripe banana was just right, but when I made a batch for my kids they wanted it sweeter, so I added a touch of maple syrup for them.

You can also substitute maple syrup for the banana if you don’t have a ripe banana ready.

Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

• High Speed Blender
• Spatula
• 2 small jars

I used my Vitamix to blend this pudding and it turned out perfect! I recommend using a high speed blender such as a Blendtec, Nutribullet, or Vitamix to get a smooth pudding like consistency. A stand mixture won’t completely blend the chia seeds.

However, if you don’t have a high speed blender, but you do have a coffee or spice grinder, you can first grind the seeds in the coffee grinder and transfer to the blender.

How to Make Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding – Step by Step

Step 1: Combine almond milk, chia seeds, banana, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract in a high speed blender.

Step 2: Start on the lowest setting slowly increasing the speed to high. Blend until the chia seeds are completely incorporated and unnoticeable. You may need to scrape the sides down to incorporate all of the chia seeds.

Step 3: Pour into two small jars. Enjoy straight from the blender, or refrigerate for 2-3 hours to thicken and cool. Top with your favorite fresh fruit, seeds, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts.

Top Tips for Making the Perfect Chia Pudding

• Use a high speed blender or grind chia seeds in a coffee grinder before transferring to a standard blender.
• Blend until chia seeds are completely incorporated.
• Use 1 ripe banana or 2 tablespoon of maple syrup. Taste test before adding both.
• Enjoy straight from the blender. It will have a nice thick consistency. Or refrigerate to cool and thicken further.
• Recipe makes two servings. Split between two small mason jars.
• Enjoy plain or with your favorite toppings!

How to Serve and Keep

I like my pudding cold and thick, so I refrigerate mine for a few hours. Serve in two small mason jars around 4 ounce each. Top with fresh fruit, chocolate chips, a sprinkling of chia or pumpkin seeds, or chopped nuts.

I topped mine with banana slices and a sprinkling of chia seeds.

Cover and keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. Makes for a tasty breakfast too!

Check out these other healthy vegan desserts!

• Vegan Blueberry Cake
• 10 Healthy Plant Based Desserts
• Vegan Cookie Dough Balls
• Vegan Shamrock Shake
• Vegan Vanilla Pudding

If you’ve tried this Chocolate Chia Pudding, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!