Chocolate Chia Bowl

Last updated on April 16th, 2023 at 10:06 am

Made with whole ingredients and no added processed sugars, this chocolate chia bowl is wickedly good for you.

Make it in 5-minutes the night before, and have breakfast ready for the morning. Sweet.

This recipe was originally published on December 2, 2020 and updated on April 5, 2023 with new hero images, process images, recipe substitutions and step-by-step images.

Why You'll Love this Chia Bowl

It's a healthy way to get your chocolate fix - this pudding is full of chocolate flavour but is made with whole ingredients
Make it ahead. A chia bowl is easy to prep the night before so you have breakfast ready to go first thing in the morning
It's so quick. This recipe only takes around 5 minutes to prepare
Our chia bowl is both vegan and gluten-free - chia seeds are naturally vegan and gluten-free
It's adaptable - swap out the nut butter, add a banana throw in a hint of cinnamon.

Chia seeds are a great little powerhouse to keep in the kitchen. They are small but nutritionally mighty and a little goes a long way.

Besides using them in puddings, I use chia seeds to thicken sauces like in my tomato spaghetti with olives and lemon and my vegan mushroom pasta. They are that versatile. I always have a jar in my fridge for a quick and easy protein boost.

Are Chia Seeds Really Healthy?

Totally! Chia seeds are a considered a superfood because they are loaded with nutrients and offer health benefits. Some of those benefits include:

They are high in antioxidants essential to a healthy diet
Chia seeds are largely made up of fibre. In fact, almost all the carbs in chia seeds are fibre.
Chia seeds are a good source of high quality protein to help you feel fuller for longer. They contain all 9 essential amino acids making them a complete protein. These acids cannot be made by the body.
They are high good fats, like omega 3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids! Two tablespoons of chia seeds (28 grams) contain around 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber, 7 grams of unsaturated fat, 18% RDA for calcium, and trace minerals including zinc and copper.

Source: Harvard School Of Public Health

Healthline : 11 Proven Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Ingredients and Substitutions

This chocolate chia pudding has easy to find ingredients with a little spice thrown in.

Chia bowl ingredients in a grid with labels.

Chia seeds. White, black or a combination works here.

Coffee. Coffee enhances the flavour of the chocolate but you can skip it if you don't like coffee.

Dates are a natural sweetener and they help to thicken this chocolate chia pudding but if you don't have any you can add 1 or 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. If your dates are a little "aged", give them a quick soak in warm water before bending them.

Almond butter. You can swap out almond butter for a seed butter or cashew butter. I wouldn't use peanut butter as it will change the flavour completely.

Salt. Always. Just a touch.

Vanilla. For a little depth of flavour.

How to Make A Chia Bowl

You'll find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Honestly, making this chocolate chia pudding is child's play. In 3 easy steps this decadent but healthy bowl is ready for breakfast.

Two images with chocolate pudding in a blender.

Two images of blended pudding in a blender and jars. — 1200

Step 1: Blend the ingredients, except the chia seeds, in a blender.

Step 2: Add the chia seeds and pulse to break them up a little

Steps 3 and 4: Pour the pudding into a jar or bowl and refrigerate for a few hours before serving with fresh fruit and dark chocolate shavings.

Pulsing the seeds with the other ingredients breaks them down a little making the finished pudding smoother and creamier. Blend just a little or you'll end up with gluey pudding.

Close up of chia pudding texture with sprinkles.

Optional Add-ins for Your Chia Bowl

The first time I made this chocolate chia bowl, I made it with a Mexican vibe. It goes a little something like this -

A tiny touch of cinnamon (a quarter teaspoon) and the smallest pinch of cayenne pepper recreates the warning flavours of a Mexican hot chocolate.

You could also try -

Add a banana for potassium and a flavour twist

Swapping the almond butter for peanut butter for a Reese's vibe.

FAQs

What kind of milk can I use?

You can use soy, almond, cashew, coconut...any dairy-free milk you like.

How long will this chia pudding last?

Chocolate chia pudding can we stored, covered, in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. This means you can make a larger batch and enjoy it throughout the week.

I like to give my pudding a quick stir before serving.

Can I freeze chia pudding?

You can! You could freeze individual serving sizes in sealed freezer-proof container and freeze for up to 2 months. Pop each in the refrigerate to thaw overnight (6 - 8 hours) to serve.

The pudding looks running before I put it in the refrigerator?

That's OK. The chia seeds are going to absorb a heap of that liquid and turn in to a thick and wonderful chia pudding.

Bowls of chocolate pudding on a wooden table.

Looking for more simple breakfast ideas?

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