This gut-healthy Chia Cocoa Pudding is naturally sweetened and takes just 5 minutes to make. Plus, you need only 5 ingredients. This easy recipe is meal-prep friendly and can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Serve it for breakfast, as a midday snack, or in place of dessert. Vegan and gluten-free.
The best thing about this blended Chia Cocoa Pudding recipe is that it's ready to eat immediately. No more waiting for the chia seeds to gel.
Plus, it's naturally sweetened with dates, which are loaded with gut-healthy fiber. However, feel free to use maple syrup instead for a sweeter chia pudding. Drizzle with maple syrup for serving, or substitute the dates with maple syrup when blending.
The beauty of this 5-minute recipe is that the flavor possibilities are endless once you have the right chia seed-to-liquid ratio.
You might also enjoy my longevity anti-inflammatory energy balls, these Frozen Yogurt Bars, as well as my healthy Nutella recipe.
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👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- Chia seeds may help with weight loss, as they are rich in fiber, which adds bulk to your meals and hence prolongs their satiety value. Plus, they slow down digestion and delay the release of glucose in the blood. This is for ground chia seeds. For maximum benefits, chia seeds should be blended.
- Use almond, soy, oat, or any milk for this Chia Cocoa Pudding recipe. Soy and oat milk are creamier, while almond milk is lighter. Coconut milk adds a rich, tropical flavor but is higher in saturated fats. Rice milk is allergen-free, and hemp milk offers omega-3s with a nutty taste, though it may be harder to find.
- Dates are nutrient-rich, providing fiber for digestion, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. For this Chia Cocoa Pudding, I used Medjool dates for their caramel-like flavor and soft texture. You can also use more Deglet Noor dates, which are smaller with a firmer, milder sweetness.
- Cocoa powder - regular cocoa flavanol consumption may have positive effects on facial wrinkles and elasticity. Use a high-flavanol brand.
- Optional anti-aging barberries and hemp hearts for serving. Barberries boost AMPK, an enzyme that induces autophagy. Autophagy is the natural process by which cells clean out damaged or unnecessary components to maintain their health and functionality. Barberries also help combat acne!
All longevity ingredients can be purchased using the link below. See the recipe card for quantities.
🍓 Substitutions
- Cocoa powder - omit as desired, or substitute with protein powder
- Medjool dates - Substitute with more Deglet Noor dates, or use maple syrup instead as desired.
- Nondairy milk - use almond, soy, oat, coconut, cashew, or hemp milk
- Hemp hearts: Add for serving for more protein
- Barberries: Top with barberries for their anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and acne-fighting benefits.
- Strawberry Powder: Add about 1 ½ tablespoons for natural sweetness and a boost of fisetin, which helps slow aging by reducing cellular senescence.
Make my Banana Chia Pudding in just 5 minutes. It's naturally sweetened and tastes incredible.
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Nisha's Longevity Ingredients
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📖 How to Make Chia Cocoa Pudding
For the full recipe with quantities, scroll down to the bottom of the post. This is an overview.
Step 1. Blend the milk, chia seeds, dates, cocoa powder, strawberry powder 9if using), and vanilla in the canister of a high-speed blender. Blend on high until the chia seeds are fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides as needed. Serve immediately or chill before serving.
Step 2. Do NOT top with bananas like you see here! Cocoa powder is packed with flavanols which may lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, and promote heart health. Bananas contain polyphenol oxidase which breaks down flavanols so you get less!
I prefer to add anti-inflammatory barberries, and hemp hearts for more protein.
✔️ Expert Tips
- Consume chia seeds in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, remember to drink plenty of fluids when consuming them, as they tend to absorb liquids and may cause digestive discomfort if consumed in excess without sufficient hydration.
- Chia seeds are incredibly versatile. Sprinkle them on cereals, add to smoothies, use them as an egg substitute in baking, or mix them into yogurt or puddings.
- Do not use expired chia seeds. They do not gel very well. Check the 'Use By' date before using them to make this Chia Cocoa Pudding. I store mine in the freezer or refrigerator.
- Do not reduce the quantities listed in the ingredients. The recipe requires a certain volume to blend well.
- Use whole dates. Remove the pits yourself for this recipe. Whole dates are more flavorful than pitted dates. I freeze mine for a delicious healthy treat. I soak the frozen dates in hot water for a few minutes before removing the pits for this recipe.
- Storage: Refrigerate before serving for the best-tasting Chia Cocoa Pudding. Store any remaining chia pudding in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
Chia pudding is very healthy. It is made with chia seeds which are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, antioxidants, and fiber. One tablespoon of dry chia seeds has about 60 calories, 5 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. Chia seeds might be better at turning glucose (a type of sugar) into a slow-burning energy source, helping you feel full longer compared to flax seeds. This could be because chia has thicker fibers that take more time to digest.
In this study, ground chia seeds were shown to help overweight women reduce their waist size.
Almond milk tends to be lower in calories and saturated fats than cow's milk, fortified with nutrients, lactose, and dairy-free, vegan-friendly, and versatile. However, it is typically lower in protein than other nondairy milk alternatives, unsuitable for individuals with nut allergies, and does not contain some essential nutrients.
I prefer soy milk which is higher in protein and contains spermadine, which boosts autophagy, keeping us younger!
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📖 Recipe
Chia Cocoa Pudding
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Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk soy milk, oat milk, or milk of choice
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 4 to 5 pitted Medjool dates (preferably frozen)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (optional)
- 1 ½ tablespoons freeze-dried strawberry powder optional
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract optional
Optional toppings (per serving):
- Dash of hemp hearts
- 2 teaspoons barberries
Instructions
- Blend: Transfer the milk, chia seeds, dates, cocoa powder, strawberry powder (if using), and vanilla to the canister of a high-speed blender. Blend on high until the chia seeds are fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides and add more milk as needed.
- For serving: Serve immediately or chill before serving. Top with barberries and hemp hearts as desired.
Notes
-
- Buy the ingredients here.
- Do not use expired chia seeds. They do not gel very well. Check the 'Use By' date before using them to make this Chia Cocoa Pudding. I store mine in the freezer or refrigerator.
- Medjool dates - Substitute with a larger quantity of Deglet Noor dates, or use maple syrup instead as desired.
- Nondairy milk - use almond, soy, oat, coconut, cashew, or hemp milk
- Do not reduce the quantities listed in the ingredients. The recipe requires a certain volume to blend well.
- Storage: Refrigerate before serving for the best-tasting Chia Cocoa Pudding. Store any remaining chia pudding in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
K P says
Yum! I added a pinch of salt and a dash of maple syrup. Thank you!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So glad to hear! Thank you.
Nancy says
Excellent combination of flavors!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you so much!
Tara says
Hi, sounds absolutely delicious! Is this for one serving?
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you, and yes!
Sharma says
So delicious and easy! I Love the convenience of having this on hand when I am in a rush in the mornings or when I am craving something sweet!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Glad you enjoyed this chia pudding! It satisfies my sweet cravings too!
Joanna says
I love your recipes! Everything I've tried so far has been amazing, including this pudding. It tastes like an indulgent dessert! I doubled the dates amount (Im using small rutab dates) and threw a bunch og freeze-dried sour cherries. It turned out incredible. Thank you for sharing <3.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you. I love the addition of freeze-dried cherries here!
Meg says
So delicious. It feels like a dessert I can justify anytime of day. Thank you!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
I love that! Thank you:)
Nancy says
Simply amazing. I made 2 substitutions as the first I did not have any non-dairy milk so I used 1/2 cup cashews with 2 cups of water. Second substitution was I didn’t not have any barberry so I used goji berries. The taste was amazing ! Best chocolate pudding. Thank you.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So happy you enjoyed it! Perfect substitutions.
Victoria says
What cocoa powder do you use?
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
CocoaVia see https://cookingforpeanuts.com/links/
Sara says
Can you swap date syrup for the whole dates?
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Yes to taste.
Michelle says
Delicious! Me and my 8 year old both loved it!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Awww that's fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Wes says
It's chilling right now, but I tasted it off the spatula. Very chocolatey. I didn't have any non-dairy milk on hand, but since I was using the Vitamix, I just used 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons hemp seeds. I'm excited to try it. It is very creamy.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
I imagine it is very strong without the nondairy milk. It is much better with it.
Wes says
It actually was perfect after chilling. I make hemp milk with about 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds to 1 cup of water, so I figured that would replace the plant milk. I've made it two times since the first time.
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So glad to hear! Hemp milk is great!
SUSANNE says
Hi Nisha! I made this recipe this morning and let it sit in the fridge for about 4 hours. It is absolutely delicious and very satisfying. I only changed 1 thing - I didn't have any dates so I used a tiny bit of date syrup. I didn't use much because I didn't want it to be too sweet. Thank you so much for the recipe! - Susanne
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Love date syrup. So happy you are enjoying it. Thank you.
Saranya says
Can we use dairy milk?
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Yes. Though some studies suggest that dairy hinders the absorption of the flavanols in cocoa powder.
Eleanor says
So good I ordered smaller Mason jars just for this recipe!!!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Yayy so happy you are enjoying ti. Thank you.
Gina Zalewski says
All I can say is WOW!! I have a horrible sweet tooth and this was completely satisfying and healthy? Like WHAT? Total win win! Thank you Nisha !!! Not only this recipe but SO MANY MORE I’ve enjoyed! You are just amazing! Keep up the GREAT WORK! It’s been rough getting off sugar but this recipe has me on the way!!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thanks for your lovely comment. Truly appreciate you taking the time to write it.
sharan says
Any recommendations for dried strawberry powder and barberries, I did not find in local stores? I am new to your channel and started following many recipes and most of the ingredients are new to us, so it would be better if we provide the links for the ingredients you use or recommend. Thanks
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Hi. All the ingredients are linked in the substitutions, ingredient section, and thee recipe card. You can also find them all here https://amzn.to/4blp9NB.
Hope this helps.
Kdc says
Yum!!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you.
Mary Doyle says
Just made it OMG it so delicious 😋
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Yayyy. I just had the leftovers! Glad you enjoyed it.
Rafaela M. says
This looks delicious!! What milk brand do you buy/use?
Thank you for all the awesome recipes!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
I use unsweetened soy milk.
Lynne says
This is very yummy! I saw it yesterday on your YT shorts and managed to track down the strawberry powder locally. Breakfast today and yep, its a goody with just enough of that strawberry flavour coming through against the chocolate. I wonder if you could add some protein powder to boost the nutrients for brekkie without undermining the consistency too much; probably need more milk but I think I'll try that next time. I definitely also think it would make a good plant-based pudding - uber quick!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So glad you found some strawberry powder! I love the chocolate strawberry combo. You can add protein powder but will need more milk. Enjoy! Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed it!
Julie Kaddu says
Hi Nisha,
Can I substitute cocoa powder for cacao powder? And what can I substitute barberries for? I live in England and cannot source them.
Thank you
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Yes absolutely! Use unsweetened dried cranberries instead of barberries.