5-Minute Chocolate Chia Pudding

Delicious light and decadent chocolate chia pudding! It takes just 5 minutes to throw together for a wholesome vegan dessert. Gluten free!

For the past 13 years, I’ve been living the vegan lifestyle. 13 years!

When I first went vegan, there were only a handful of brands making vegan products. That meant very limited options for non-dairy yogurt, ice cream, milk, etc. Despite the market’s limitations, there was one brand that had those early vegans covered: Silk.

And over the past 13 years, Silk has been improving and expanding their products, making them one of the leading brands (and among my favorite) for non-dairy alternatives. So, as you can imagine, I was excited when I first learned of Silk’s newest product: Silk’s Oat Yeah Vanilla Oatmilk– an ultra-creamy, soy- and nut-free alternative that you can find at your local Albertsons stores. By using oat milk, this incredibly decadent chocolate chia pudding also becomes dairy and soy free for a rich vegan dessert that nearly anyone can enjoy.

Now, let’s take a closer look at this recipe.

What is Chia Pudding?

Chia pudding is a treat that is decadent enough for dessert and yet wholesome enough for breakfast. It is made by combining chia seeds with milk, a sweetener, and your choice of flavors. The chia seeds can either be blended in with the pudding for a creamy custard-like pudding or whisked together by hand for a pudding that is similar in texture to tapioca pudding (such as this Peanut Butter Pudding).

When combined with liquid, chia seeds become gelatinous—creating a natural custard-like texture. This is why, over the years, chia pudding has become wildly popular.

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Benefits of Chia Pudding

Chia pudding is delicious and easy to make! It is filled with some of the best superfoods such as chia seeds and cacao powder for a dessert that is high in fiber, protein, omega-3s, and more. By using Oat Yeah Oatmilk, we are adding extra protein to our chia pudding and providing a healthy amount of calcium and B12 to our daily intake.

Now that’s a good deal!

This recipe can be eaten for breakfast, a midday snack, or a wholesome dessert. Because this recipe is vegan, gluten-, refined sugar-, nut-, and soy-free, it’s one that nearly everyone, despite food allergies, can enjoy.

Recommended Ingredients and Equipment

There are only a handful of ingredients in this Chocolate Chia Pudding. Because of that, each ingredient is key and we must choose the highest quality.

Here is everything you need.

• Non-dairy milk – I recommend Silk’s Oat Yeah Vanilla Oatmilk for a creaminess that rivals dairy milk in taste and texture. Oat Yeah is also Vegan Action-certified and free of nuts, soy, carrageenan, and artificial colors and flavors for a chia pudding that anyone can enjoy.
• Chia Seeds – It goes without saying that chia seeds are essential for chia pudding. Chia seeds are packed with protein, fiber, and omega-3s.
• Cacao Powder – You can use cocoa powder for this recipe, but I recommend raw cacao powder. It provides the same chocolate taste while being packed full of antioxidants, calcium, iron.
• Medjool Dates or Maple Syrup – I recommend either type of unrefined sugar for this recipe. Dates are high in fiber and antioxidants for a completely natural sweetener. However, maple syrup is lower on the glycemic index and, with maple syrup, you can make this pudding without a blender.
• Vanilla Extract and Salt – Both vanilla extract and salt add a deeper, more complex flavor that balances out the sweet and bitter.

Recommended Equipment

You don’t need much when it comes to this reicpe. You simply need some 6 or 8-ounce jars, a mixing bowl, and a few kitchen utensils. (<<affiliate links)

Check out the full list of my recommended kitchen tools and gadgets.

Where I Buy Oat Yeah!

For most of these ingredients, I end up buying them online. However, I get Oat Yeah at my local Safeway and Albertsons stores. You can find the Oat Yeah in the refrigerated section next to the other non-dairy milk. Albertsons carries all three varieties: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Plain.

Look for this milk carton:

How to Make Chocolate Chia Pudding

Now that we have our ingredients sorted, let’s take a look at how to make this Chocolate Chia Pudding. The good news is, it’s one of the easiest recipes you can make.

Serving and Storing

Serving – The chia pudding needs at least 2 hours to set up in the refrigerator. For best results, let chia pudding set up overnight. Serve the pudding for breakfast, a midday snack, or dessert with fresh berries, coconut whipped cream, and cacao nibs.

Storing – Store leftover pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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More Chia Pudding Recipes

• Matcha Chia Pudding
• Peanut Butter and Cacao Chia Pudding
• Strawberry Chia Pudding
• Tropical Green Chia Pudding
• Coconut Chia Pudding