Recipe: Chocolate Chia Pudding

The other day I was having a sweet tooth attack after dinner, but it was late and I didn’t feel like getting too crafty in the kitchen.  This pudding was perfect.  Be wary of the “pudding” in the title.  If you’re used to the texture of store bought, sugar and chemical laden pudding, this will NOT fit the bill.  However, it’s cold, creamy, chocolatey, and super healthy at the same time.  So, you can eat a Huge bowl and not feel too guilty about it.

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk or coconut water

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup  cocoa powder

2 dates

1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted)

2 Tablespoons chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate to keep the sugar content down) or 1 square of dark chocolate (I like 85% cacao Ghiradelli bars)

dash of sea salt

Since I was being super lazy, and it’s super easy, I just used my magic bullet blender to create this in minutes.  Then I jumped in the shower while it set in the fridge, grabbed it after my shower and ate it in bed with the hubs.  Perfect.

First, grind chia seeds into powder for about 10-20 seconds.  In blender, or magic bullet blender (or mix by hand, but it won’t be as creamy), add milk, coco powder, dates, melted coconut oil, and salt.  Combine well.  Add chia seeds and chocolate chips until fully mixed.  The chocolate chips will get broken down into teeny chunks and add a slight crunchy texture.  If you don’t want this, you can alternatively melt the choc chips with the coconut oil and then add to the blender, or add them at the beginning and blend like crazy if you have a powerful blender.  Totally up to you, my recipes are always just guidelines.

Place in the refrigerator and let sit for at least 30 minutes to thicken.   Put a spoon in it and enjoy!

As always I’m looking to clean up my recipes and ADD as many health benefits as I can.   Chia seeds are a wonderful way to fill up with fiber, they are high in omega 3s which our bodies do not make and are almost always lacking in, they are high in antioxidants, balance your blood sugar and help sustain energy.  They are a dieters, fitness, and athletes tool of choice!