I know what you’re thinking. Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding. Really? I am saying: “Heck – yeah!”. This pudding is not only super delicious, decadent, and feels indulgent. But the ingredients are also pretty darn good for you 😉.
I created this recipe on the backbone of one of my friends telling me about a recipe inspiration she had. She talked about combining persimmon with cocoa powder. I thought it was a brilliant idea, went into the kitchen and gave it a try. Never in a million years, could I have imagined the outcome that came from this pudding 😍.
This Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding. It feels like a “proper” chocolate pudding. It tastes like a proper chocolate pudding – super sweet and really creamy. You don’t taste the chia seeds (I sometimes find their mucilaginous consistency a bit overwhelming). It is just absolutely delicious. You cannot go wrong with this one! Want to know the best part? It is super easy to make. Just throw a few ingredients into the blender and then put it into the fridge. Wait for it to firm up for about 30 minutes and you’re good to go. It is really that simple. It is really that delicious. OK – I think you can tell how excited I am about this recipe 🙌🏻.
Why is this Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding good for you?
Persimmon
You might be thinking: “What is a persimmon?”. I did not know these fruits for the longest time either! It is a red fruit which kind of looks like a tomato. Persimmons are originally from China and they have a super sweet, honey-like flavor. Once you are hooked on persimmons, you don’t want to go back. They are really good and super delicious. The kind that you see most often are either the Hachija or Fuji variety. However, the Hachija variety contains a lot of tannins and needs to be fully ripe before it can be enjoyed. The Fuji persimmon, on the other hand, can also be enjoyed if not fully ripe. Persimmons are high in Vitamin A, as is the case with most red fruits and vegetables. They also contain Vitamin C, E, and K, as well as a bit of potassium, copper, manganese, and magnesium.
Vitamin A is not only great for our immune system but also for our eye health. It protects our eyes, especially in relation to age-related eye diseases. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, which is great for our immune system and has strong anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, Persimmons also have a lot of plant compounds that act as antioxidants in our body. They contain flavonoids, which are great for reducing your risk of heart disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, as well as potentially lung cancer.
Chia Seeds
Mighty, mighty Chia. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful these little seeds truly are. Chia Seeds are a great source of fiber, fat, and complete protein. The fiber in chia is what provides the mucilaginous (=gel-like) consistency when brought together with liquid ingredients. This is why Chia Seeds also make an awesome vegan egg replacer. Additionally, the fiber in chia may help with having improved blood sugar control. Your food gets digested more slowly and therefore does not spike your blood sugar levels as fast. It also promotes a healthy bowel which can reduce your risk of diabetes, constipation, and help with better elimination. There are studies that have shown that chia seeds may lower your blood pressure levels, particularly in people that already have higher blood pressure. However, more research needs to be conducted in order to cement that initial observation.
Almonds
Almonds are an excellent source of Vitamin E and unsaturated fat. They are also a great source of protein and fiber. Almonds are a fantastic source of antioxidants which are mainly concentrated in the brown layer of the skin. The unsaturated fat may improve cholesterol levels and may decrease your “bad” cholesterol levels. In addition, an antioxidant called “polyphenols”, also found in the brown skin, may prevent the “bad” cholesterol from oxidizing. This has so far been proven in test-tube studies, but further research needs to go into it. It is also suspected that vitamin E accelerates this effect. Pretty cool, huh? In summary, almonds are a true powerhouse and a great, yummy, addition to your diet.
How can I adjust this Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding to my dietary requirements?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and paleo depending on the type of protein powder you are using (please also see the “Notes” in the recipe section for that). Due to the almond butter used, this recipe is not nut-free. However, you could change the almond butter for sunflower seed butter if you want a nut-free version. You may have to adjust the sweetness of the pudding and potentially add a tad of your go-to sweetener.
And there you have it for this week 🤗! I’m super, super excited about this recipe. If you want to have more inspiration for healthy chocolate recipes, you can find my Chocolate Banana Pancakes. There is also an awesome Orange Chocolate Granola on the blog, as well as one of my all-time favorite recipes my Homemade Hot Chocolate. Please let me know in the comments below how you are finding the recipe – or connect with me over on Instagram 🥰!
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Course: DessertCuisine: EuropeanDifficulty: Super easy2 – 3
servings10
minutes30
minutesThis Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding is super healthy, and absolutely delicious! Make it in minutes and feel like you are having a decadent treat!
Ingredients
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup (240 ml.) non-dairy milk
1 persimmon
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 scoop chocolate protein powder*
½ tsp cinnamon
A pinch of salt
How to
- Add the chia seeds to a blender and blend until smooth. Add the other ingredients, starting with the non-dairy milk (else the chia seeds will stick to the bottom and not become part of the pudding). Blend on high until super smooth. Transfer to small serving dishes and let cool in the fridge for ca. 30 minutes. ENJOY!
Notes
- * Choose a protein powder that is in line with your dietary requirements. Vegan if you are vegan, collagen-based if you are paleo. You can likely also omit if you do not want to add one.
