Shhh…I’m supposed to be unpacking right now. Don’t tell anyone you saw me here!!
Last week turned into blender week. My Vitamix was one of the only kitchen things I refused to pack in a box. For the record, I moved it very carefully in my clutched, loving embrace! Before packing up the kitchen, I made a double batch of this soup so I had some healthy food ready for quick meals. I’ve been relying a bit too much on prepared foods lately. Once we’re moved in and settled I’m going to get back to more home cooked meals. One thing at a time, I suppose!
To energize myself during the endless packing sessions I threw together this chocolate chia pudding. Ok, ok, I made it 4 times in the span of 6 days. I love this stuff. It only requires a few ingredients and it satisfies all those creamy chocolate cravings in a healthy way sweetened only with dates. This pudding reminds me of chocolate cake batter – creamy, chocolaty, with a hint of vanilla. Not only is it tasty, but it’s packed with over 10 grams of fibre and 7 grams of protein per serving, as well as loads of iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Now we’re talking!
Chia pudding is great and all, but the hardest part is waiting for it to chill and set, don’t you think?
Thanks to my chocolate impatience, I came up with a method that gets around this pesky waiting time using almond milk ice cubes. I’ve used coffee ice cubes in smoothies in the past (very tasty) and I thought, why not use almond milk ice cubes in this pudding so I can enjoy it instantly? Yes!
Of course, you do have to plan ahead and freeze the ice cubes in advance (hence the name “almost instant”), but if you keep a tray of almond milk ice cubes in the freezer you’ll be set for any chia pudding craving in the future. If you are like me last week, one tray of ice cubes will set you up for a whole week…ha. I’ll be keeping a tray of almond milk ice cubes in the freezer at all times now. Mark my words!
{Almost} Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding
Yield
1.5-2 cups (serves 2)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Chill time
8 hours
Total time
This chocolate chia pudding is decadent-tasting yet healthy at the same time. Packed with protein, fibre, and omega-3 fatty acids this is a pudding you can feel good about! When blended with the almond milk ice cubes it's a treat you can enjoy immediately without waiting for it to chill. The texture is a cross between a smoothie and a pudding. It will thicken up even more if you put it in the fridge for a few hours. I recommend using a high-speed blender for best results since the dates, chia seeds, and ice cubes are challenging to blend super smooth. Adapted from my healthy chocolate chia pudding.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 4 large almond milk ice cubes (see note)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 5-6 pitted Medjool dates, to taste
- 2-3.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, to taste
- pinch fine grain sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
Directions
- Fill an ice cube tray with almond milk. Freeze until solid. You can use leftovers in smoothies or for more pudding in the future!
- To make the pudding: Add 3/4 cup almond milk into a high speed blender. Now add the rest of the ingredients, including the almond milk ice cubes.
- Blend on the highest speed until super smooth. Enjoy immediately or chill in the fridge where it will thicken up even more.
Tip:
Add the cocoa powder to taste. Some brands will be more pungent than others. 3.5 tablespoons of cocoa powder is great with my brand (camino) however you may need to use less depending on what kind you use. My advice is to add the cocoa powder slowly to taste.
You will want around 12 tablespoons of almond milk ice cubes added to the pudding. For my tray, this equaled 4 large cubes.
You can skip the almond milk ice cubes and simply add a splash more almond milk. Chill in the fridge the old-fashioned way.
If your dates are firm, I suggest soaking them in hot water for at least 30 minutes before you begin. Drain well.
To turn this into a chocolate "frosty" add more ice cubes to make it super icy.
To make this nut-free, use a nut-free non-dairy milk of your choice.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
New Oh She Glows Cookbook reviews and giveaways to share:
Joann @ Woman in Real Life (review, recipe)
Louise @ Life Is Good (review)
Mandy @ Mandy’s Healthy Life (review)
Monique @ We R Addicted (review)
Karissa @ Vegan a la Mode (review)
Liz @ The Sixth Letter (review)
Nikki @ Tolerant Vegan (review + giveaway)
Erin @ Olives for Dinner (review, recipe, giveaway)
Alexis @ Hummusapien (review)
Emily @ Puppies and Peanut Butter (review)
Marleah @ Marleah (review)
The Oh She Glows Cookbook hits Target
I have another fun retailer announcement to let you know about. The OSG Cookbook hits shelves across US Target stores today! You can find it on their website too. Don’t forget, it’s already in Target stores in Canada too. Be sure to share your recipe creations & book pictures on social media using the hashtag #osgcookbook. Bon Appétit!
This recipe sounds delicious! I have a bad reaction when I eat chia seeds though and wonder if you can make this without them?
the chia seeds really help thicken it up a lot, but you could probably sub a bit of avocado to make a chocolate avocado pudding? You’d have to play around with the recipe a bit!
That looks absolutely delicious! My blender is in storage at the moment and it’s killing me! I’m definitely going to make this once I’ve got it back!
Charlie x
impulsory.net
This pudding is so, SO amazing. I loved that I had all of the ingredients and that it provided me with instant gratification :) I added a spoonful of peanut butter, too. YUM. Thanks Angela! You’re such an inspiration.
Okay I need to buy an ice tray and try this!
orrblog.net
I am insanely jealous that you have a Vitamix – I want one so bad!
Your photography is always so amazing! I just received a Canon T5i as a gift and am a littler overwhelmed. What program are you using to insert the beautiful text on the photos?
I adore chia pudding but definitely hate the wait time – what a great solution! This will also be perfect for summer when it’s sweltering hot… at least, I hope it will be. Based on this winter, I’m not getting my hopes up.
We made this yesterday – fantastic! Since I didn’t already have frozen almond milk cubes (or own ice cube trays to start any), I used all milk, and let it set in the fridge while we ate dinner, and the pudding was perfect when it was time for dessert. The kids love the dark chocolate Silk almond milk, so we always have it on hand. I used 1 cup of regular almond milk, and 1/2 cup of chocolate almond milk. We added sliced banana slices to the pudding while it was setting up. Love – Love – Loved it! They were licking their mugs. We will definitely make this again!
Sounds heavenly. Love that little yellow spoon, too!
I can’t wait to make this! Last week, I was having serious chocolate cravings and made your original Chocolate Chia Pudding recipe 3 times! But on one night I was too impatient to wait for it to fully thicken and ended up just drinking it haha. Wish I would have had this recipe then although it is still pretty delicious in drink form :)
Thank you for linking to my cookbook review too!! Good luck with the moving process :)
This looked amazing and I was really excited to try it for dessert last night. Mine turned out a little bitter. I added 2 additional dates and it was better but still not great. I tossed it. Perhaps it was my cocoa. I used a dutch processed baking cocoa. Anyone have thoughts I what went wrong?
I absolutely love chia seeds! I used to make myself chia seed pudding all the time and I even got my sister hooked onto it! I never thought to add dates, to freeze the milk, or to blend it the combination! I usually just combine everything and let it sit until it thickens up! I can’t wait to try making the pudding this way!
Hi Angela,
This is mostly out of pure curiosity, but can you do a post talking about how you are changing (if you are changing) your diet during your pregnancy? My boyfriend and I are slowly working our way to a more vegetarian diet, and while I’m not pregnant now nor will I be any time soon (that’s the plan, anyway), it’s something that’s in the back of my mind. I’d love to read about your approach!
This pudding will be happening in my kitchen as soon as the almond milk ice cubes freeze! I have been gradually including chia seeds in my diet, and I like that this recipe has them blended instead of floating….still getting used to their textural issues when they are whole.
I made this pudding. The texture was great. However, it was bitter with a strongly bitter aftertaste. How can I get rid of that? Thank you!
Thanks for reminding me about that soup. I have the indgredients. Even though it’s hot in Georgia I’m a soup lover. Still loving your cookbook btw!
Can’t wait for more posts about your pregnancy journey. So excited for you guys.
this looks delicious! I’m always trying to find ways to spice up a standard chia pudding and this is perfect X
tamsinamy.blogspot.co.uk
This is the best chocolate chia pudding I’ve tried yet. I only did 2tbsp chocolate and it’s perfect. I’ve tried others and always threw them out. Thanks for making a good one- as always! Loving the cookbook as well and have a few friends cooking from it too so we can share our fav recipes. Congrats on both target and Costco, two of my favorite places to shop.
Good luck with the move. Thanks again.
Yum! This looks delicious! I love chocolate! I love chia! The two together make a great combination! So excited to make this! :)
I LOVED this chia pudding! Made it yesterday and my two little kids love it also! I have been loving trying the new recipes in your cookbook too. I am making the gluten free brownies again today! My husband requested them a second time which is a big deal because he usually is very picky about his brownies. I have also made the lemon tahini dressing 3 times and am going to make the granola today. Your cookbook is my favorite by far!! I am going to give your cookbook to my mom for mother’s day. Thanks for writing your cookbook! It truly is a gift!!
Ahhh…I too made a double batch of that soup!
I just got your book and it’s beautiful!!!! I am so excited to try everything! I’m seriously considering a recipe a day until I finish!
That looks great! I cannot eat chocolate. Urggggg
Would you recommend adding anything if I left the chocolate out?
Thanks
I just made this and it was so good. I only discovered this blog about 2 weeks ago and I have been making so many things. I bought the cookbook too and can’t wait to try more recipes, they all sound so good.
Hi Angela, I made your smooth chocolate chia seed pudding this morning before my boys left for school.Omg, this is so perfect for them b/c I stopped buying JELL-O pudding snacks a few years ago and they are always bugging me to buy it. So, they liked it but I just need to tweak the sweetness a bit but other than that they like it!
I saw this just as I was going to bed and you made me want a midnight snack!
I can’t believe I almost missed your pregnancy announcement! I have been following your blog from nearly the beginning. I am so so happy for your growing family. This little one is sure going to be spoiled with awesome food and lots of love :)
Can’t wait for my copy of your cookbook to arrive here in Australia!
Hi Angela,
We love your website and your cookbook is absolutely beautfiul. We love it so much we are doing a give away to our fans for a copy of it on our site selfmadesimple.com.
Hello there! I’m a newbie here! What a beautiful site and as a side note…just love the name! As someone who has just given up man-made sugar, in addition to no gluten, dairy…Oh how I miss chocolate! Thank you for this recipe! I cannot wait to try. I also look forward to trying out many more recipes from your blog,.
Just made this and it is completely awesome! Sooo good!
For those who want to try a nut-free milk, hemp milk might work. It’s super creamy and yummy. I used almond, but will try hemp next time.
Also thinking of using raw cacao next time for an even richer chocolate flavor.
My friend added a little maple syrup to hers to make it sweeter. I loved mine as is.
And…when you compare the cost of making this to the cost of buying those little chia pods or chia puddings in the store, this is perhaps half the cost, maybe less. And we use fewer resources (ie, no plastic cups). Good deal all around.
This looks amazing! I made the donuts from your book over the weekend (in a muffin tin) and want to dip them in this :) I think it might be awesome.
This is so smart, Angela! I want to love chia puddings but the texture always bugs me. This blended version with frozen almond milk cubes sounds like the perfect solution! Good luck with your move!
Hi Angela, I also ordered your book and love it. This recipe looks great and I’m defenitly going to try it. What did you put on top, coconut and…..????? Just one question. When I discovered your website I printed several of the older recipes and when I print them they have a nice picture with it, witch I love, Because a pretty picture of a recipe motivates me to try it even more. The new recipes don’t come with a picture when I print them, May I ask why this is?
Linda from Holland
Ooohh.. I like how you freeze almond milk. I never thought about doing that. I’m definitely going to give that a try. What an awesome tip! Thanks for sharing! :)
If you have a coffee grinder, you can grind the chia seeds prior to adding them to the mixture. I have been doing this for the past couple of weeks!
Chia seeds have been all the rage lately, and now I finally see what all the fuss is about. This chocolate chia pudding looks amazing! Thanks for sharing- I can’t wait to try it!
I love this recipe!! And it’s especially good with a little bit of peanut butter on top! :-)
My husband bought me your cookbook for my birthday, and he has made more recipes out of it than I have! He made your chick pea salad last night and was excited to take it to lunch today. I made the apple pie oatmeal yesterday morning and it was fantastic. I can’t wait to make more of the recipes and my husband has started giving me a priority list of recipes I need to make first! Great work.
I am also looking forward to your future posts on pregnancy related topics. I’m 18 weeks and am not vegan, but am trying my best to incorporate healthy recipes and snacks the best that I can.
Thank you so much for sharing! This pudding tastes absolutely divine :).
I love love love chia seed pudding and you know what I love even more. . . CHOCOLATE chia seed pudding! EHHH I’m soo excited to try out this recipe. There is nothing worst than having an instant craving for it and having to wait and wait for it to sit in the fridge. LAME! Going home and trying this out stat! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
ashleydenaexo.blogspot.com/
I am so excited to try this. To date, I have been enjoying a banana/avocado chocolate pudding which I do like… but this looks amazing. I have been introducing more plant based meals to my family, but my 14 year old is not a willing participant in many of my endeavours. Perhaps this pudding might tickle her fancy. BTW… I adore your sour cream recipe!
Just bought a batch of chia seeds yesteday. Now I know what I’ll be doing with them. Can’t wait to taste the pudding :)
I made your granola from the Oh She Glows cookbook almost two weeks, and my roomie and I have been munching on it ever since. It is so good! In fact, we love all of the recipes so far. I have even made some of them to friends and family and they were head over heels too.
Freezing almond milk – what a great idea! Sometimes it’s the simplest things that you never think of….
Got my cookbook the other day (from Amazon all the way to Australia). Have spent only a brief moment drooling over the photos and recipes, but I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. Congratulations – you’re such an inspiration!
Robyn xx
I am always craving a vegan milkshake! I make mine with frozen bananas and throw in some chia seeds, it adds a lot of creaminess and bulks up the texture. One time I threw a couple spoonfuls of almond butter….heaven. Congrats on baby, Angela :)
Hi Angela,
I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months and am completely hooked! I was and am not a vegan, but I’ve been making your recipes pretty much every day (also those in your cookbook!) Everyone loves them. I’m just having your chocolate pudding, and it is absolutely heavenly. I made it ‘the traditional way’ yesterday, and it comes very close to real Belgian chocolate mousse. Absolutely great. Thank you so much for sharing all of this; it’s greatly helped us finding a healthier lifestyle. Very happy so many of your recipes are without gluten and have a nut-free option, too. Keep up the great work! I hope your a happy pregnant woman :-)
PS My boyfriends keeps joking he wants a meet and greet with you when we travel to America this summer – he keeps on saying you really changed our lives, which is absolutely true :-)
*sorry about the typos…!*
I’m so happy to hear this Josine! Thanks for your feedback. :) I would love to meet you sometime! Will you be traveling to Canada too?
Aaaw that sounds great! We are still planning our trip – who knows! If we’re going to be anywhere near Toronto I’ll let you know :-)
This sounds so awesome and so heathly!! Thank you for putting up such awesome recipes like this one. Now I can get my Chocolate fix on every day!! This sounds like a great after workout snack too!! I love your site so very much!!! thanks for all you do!!!
This was so delicious! It is a really nice change from the usual chia seed puddings, which I want to love, but just don’t. This was so creamy and decadent. It reminded me of the pudding from my youth, but way better. I bet kids would go crazy for this!
This sounds amazing! I have Giddy Yoyo’s cacao powder (that I’m addicted to), so I can’t wait to try that out in this!!
Hi, I made this recipe and I just want to know how do you get it super smooth. No matter what I do the seeds remain. I cant afford the vitamix does this mean this recipe is doomed for me? BTW every recipe I try I love. You inspire me!
Hi Angela,
I’ve been following your website and your recipes for a while now, and I’d love to buy your cookbook. The only problem is that it is appearently not available in the belgian iTunes store… Is it a problem that can be solved ;)? Do I have to change my settings in iTunes, I absolutely have no clue?
All the best and the best wishes for your expanding family!
Johanna
I can’t wait to make this. I think I will make it tomorrow night. I need to freeze the almond milk cubes. I have to tell you, that I love love your cookbook. I made the cream of tomato soup tonight with the roasted chickpeas. It was so yummy!!! My whole family loved it. Can’t wait to try more recipes.
Just wanted to say your recipe looks great…Thanks for being so kind.
The medjoo dates are sooo expensive in my country, what can I use instead? Please help me, this looks so delicious! I love your blog!