Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe

I’ve recently gotten hooked on this chocolate chia pudding where i mix almond milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, a pinch of salt and chia seeds the night before, then wake up to a creamy breakfast that i can easily jazz up with fruits or nuts, making my mornings a tad less rough.

I love prepping my overnight chocolate chia pudding. I use unsweetened almond milk, chia seeds, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla and a pinch of salt which gives me a balanced mix of fiber, omega fats and antioxidants.

Its perfect fuel for busy mornings and tastes great too.

Ingredients

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or your favorite milk)
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey if you prefer)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

How to Make this

1. Pour 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk into a bowl or a jar, then add 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Mix it well until the cocoa powder is fully dissolved.

2. Add 1/2 cup chia seeds into the milk mixture and stir really well so they spread out evenly.

3. Put a lid on the bowl or jar so nothing gets in and let it sit in the fridge overnight or for at least 6 hours.

4. In the morning, give the pudding a good stir because sometimes the seeds tend to clump together a bit.

5. If the pudding seems too thick, you can add a little extra almond milk until you like the texture.

6. Taste it and if you think it needs a bit more sweetness, you can stir in a tiny extra amount of maple syrup.

7. Then, spoon it into bowls or glasses and you can top it with fruits, nuts, or anything else you like for extra flavor.

8. Enjoy your easy, chocolatey, and satisfying overnight chia pudding!

Equipment Needed

1. Measuring cups to measure out the almond milk, cocoa powder, and chia seeds
2. Measuring spoons for the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt
3. A bowl or a jar that has a lid so you can mix everything and then store it in the fridge
4. A spoon or whisk to stir the mixture well
5. A refrigerator to let the pudding sit overnight or for at least 6 hours
6. Serving bowls or glasses to spoon the pudding into when it’s ready

FAQ

• Q: Can I use a different type of milk?
  A: Yeah, you can use any milk you like – cow, soy, oat, whatever works for you.
• Q: Is it okay to use honey instead of maple syrup?
  A: For sure, you can swap out maple syrup with honey if thats what you got on hand.
• Q: How long does it need to chill?
  A: You need to let it sit in the fridge overnight, or at least for 6-8 hours so the chia seeds absorb the milk.
• Q: Do I need to stir it after mixing?
  A: It’s a good idea to stir it a couple times in the first hour so the chia seeds don’t clump up too much.
• Q: Can I add toppings to the pudding?
  A: Definitely, try adding fruits, nuts, or even a little extra cocoa powder to make it more interesting.

Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Unsweetened almond milk: You can use regular whole milk, soy milk or oat milk instead if you don’t have almond milk around.
• Chia seeds: If you can’t find chia seeds, try using ground flax seeds, but you might need to adjust the amount a little bit.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: You could use dark cocoa powder instead, or even a bit of hot cocoa mix if you like, just keep an eye on the extra sugar.
• Maple syrup: You can swap out maple syrup for honey, agave nectar or even coconut nectar, but the flavor might change a little.
• Vanilla extract: If vanilla extract isn’t available, almond extract can be a fun twist, though use a little less since the flavor is stronger.

Pro Tips

1. Try stirring the cocoa powder in the milk really well before adding the chia seeds so you dont end up with a bunch of clumps. Even if you think its well mixed, sometimes the cocoa can hide in spots and make the pudding taste a bit uneven.

2. After you add the chia seeds, give the mixture another good stir before putting it in the fridge. Sometimes the seeds stick together and its a bit easier to break up the clumps when it hasnt sat for too long.

3. If the pudding is too thick when you wake up, just pour in a splash more almond milk and stir it up. Its cool to adjust the texture to what you like best without messing up the flavor.

4. Experiment with extra toppings like sliced fruits, nuts or even a drizzle of extra maple syrup. A little extra flavor on top can really take an already tasty pudding to the next level.