Healthy Chocolate & Ginger Chia Pudding (Vegan)

All you need to make this chocolate ginger chia seed pudding are 5 simple, healthy ingredients!

• chia seeds
• raw cacao powder
• ground ginger
• pure maple syrup
• milk of choice (e.g. almond milk or coconut milk)

If you need help choosing a plant-based milk, I have a whole post about cow’s milk alternatives that breaks down the nutrition benefits of each variety!

Feel free to get creative with toppings, too! Some of my favourites include:

• chopped nuts
• coconut flakes
• cacao nibs
• granola

You need to allow at least 2 hours for the chia seeds to soak in the liquid. This causes the chia seeds to swell up and create a “gel,” which is what gives this a pudding-like texture. You CANNOT skip this step!

Chia pudding is best enjoyed chilled – keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it!

Feel free to make a larger batch of chia pudding to keep in the fridge for the week! Simply adjust ingredients to suit your needs – for every 1 cup of milk, you will need 1/4 cup of chia seeds.

If you find that the pudding is too runny for your liking – simply add a few more chia seeds. If it’s too thick – add a splash more milk.

Add toppings just before serving, otherwise they risk getting soggy.

If you’re someone who doesn’t love the texture of traditional chia pudding, you might enjoy it blended.

Blended chia pudding has a much smoother, more traditional pudding texture (you can see from the pictures that there’s no visible chia seeds here).

That said – blending is NOT necessary. If you don’t mind the texture of regular chia pudding, then feel free to skip this step!

Looking for a high-quality blender? This Vitamix is my favourite. I’ve used it almost everyday for 5+ years!

You guys know I love my chia pudding, and for good reason! Not only is it delicious, but it’s packed with nutrition and health benefits, such as:

Fiber: there are 10 grams of fiber in 2 Tbsp of chia seeds, which is about 40% of your daily fiber needs.

The soluble fiber in chia allows the tiny seed to absorb about 10 times it’s weight in water. Soluble fiber is what creates that gel-like texture of chia pudding.

This expanded gel in your stomach slows digestion and absorption of nutrients, which is why chia seeds can play a role in satiety, lowering blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and regulating your digestion.

Omega-3s: chia seeds are one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids (ALA). Omega-3s play a role in heart health, brain health, and in reducing inflammation throughout the body.

Protein: 2 Tbsps of chia seeds provide 4 grams of quality plant-protein. Protein provides the building blocks for your body’s tissues, and also helps to slow digestion and keep you full.

Minerals: chia seeds are a great source of minerals like:

• magnesium
• calcium
• iron
• 2 Tbsps of chia seeds provide 23%, 17%, and 12% of your daily needs, respectively

For chocolate, I love using raw cacao powder, which is rich in nutrients like magnesium, iron and flavonoids (antioxidants).

Raw cacao powder is not the same as your standard chocolate milk powder; it has no added sugars and is cold-pressed, meaning its nutrition is preserved during processing.

I’ve linked my favourite brand here – it’s a staple in my pantry!

Ginger is a warming spice that is known to help alleviate digestive distress like nausea, morning sickness, and feelings of an upset stomach.

Ginger contains both anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidant properties, which collectively can help reduce risk for chronic and inflammatory conditions.