Chocolate Chia Protein Pudding

This Chocolate Chia Protein Pudding is light, smooth, thick and creamy just like delicious chocolate mousse. It takes just 2 minutes to prepare so before you know it’s you’ll be digging into this protein-packed, nutritious chia pudding that’s sure to be a new favourite!

You will love the thick and creamy texture of this pudding and the taste is amazing too. It’s one of my favourite treats!

Wake Up to Chia Pudding

Who doesn’t want to eat chocolate chia protein pudding for breakfast? I love waking up to this decadent, smooth and creamy pudding! It makes hopping out of bed first thing in the morning a breeze!

With the addition of vegan chocolate protein powder, this chia pudding is very high in protein and with the added fats from the chia seeds and topped with sliced fruit for carbohydrates, you have a nicely balanced breakfast.

The thing I love most about chia pudding is there are endless varieties so you never get bored. This version is really quick and easy and makes a delicious, healthy dessert, or a quick breakfast or snack anytime. Simply blend it and stick it in the fridge to set.

The pudding itself is super creamy and thick, thanks to the magic powers of chia seeds but the best thing about it is it’s the perfect vessel for all your favourite toppings!

Topping Ideas

Add more healthy fats with nuts, seeds and nut butters:

• chopped nuts: try walnuts, pecans, almonds or cashews
• cacao nibs or dairy-free chocolate chips
• shredded coconut or toasted coconut flakes
• peanut butter, almond butter or tahini
• seeds: try pepitas, hemp seeds or sunflower seeds

Add more energizing carbohydrates:

• raisins or chopped dates
• fresh or frozen fruit: try sliced strawberries or banana, blueberries, raspberries or chopped mango
• dried berries: try goji berries, chopped apricots or mulberries

Add-In Ideas

This pudding is nutritious on it’s own but you can add even more antioxidants, vitamins an minerals by adding optional superfood powders to the recipe. These superfood powders are potent so you only need a small amount, try 1/2 – 1 tsp to start and only use 1 or 2 at a time.

You shouldn’t taste them in the recipe if you just add a small amount. A couple of good combinations to try are maca and lucuma, turmeric and ginger, maqui berry and camu camu or chaga mushroom and raw cacao.

• lucuma powder – high in beta-carotene, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium, tastes great
• maca powder – hormone balancing, mood boosting, rich in vitamin B, C and E, calcium, iron and magnesium, promotes sexual function
• camu camu powder – high in vitamin C, boosts immunity, high in antioxidants, helps balance mood, supports health nervous system
• maqui berry powder – high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, supports cardiovascular health, boosts metabolism, anti-bacterial properties, reduce risk of chronic disease
• spirulina or chlorella – high in antioxidants, iron, chromium, beta-carotene and more
• turmeric, cinnamon, cardamon or ground ginger – high in antioxidants, reduce inflammation, promotes healthy blood sugar levels
• chaga mushroom powder – boost immunity, provides energy, promotes cardiovascular health, liver health and healthy blood sugar levels
• ashwagandha powder – reduce inflammation, stress, prevent cancer and diabetes, regulate immune system
• raw cacao powder – high in antioxidants and phytochemicals, protein, calcium and magnesium

Notes

Sweetening: You can leave out the additional sweetener as the protein powder does add some sweetness but I usually add 2 packets of stevia to mine, alternative you can add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, raw honey, brown rice syrup or agave for added sweetness.

Blending: If you don’t have a blender you can make this recipe without one. To make without blending, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined and refrigerate until set.

I much prefer this recipe blended though as the result is a much smoother, creamier pudding.

Protein Powder: I make this recipe with Vega Chocolate Performance Protein and I haven’t tried it with anything else. Any pea protein-based protein powder should produce the same result.

I like the texture and flavour of Vega for this recipe. I used a whole scoop, or one single-serve packet (44 g) but you could always reduce the amount used if you prefer. If you use less, just reduce the amount of liquid used. I do not recommend whey protein for this recipe.

Liquid: I like to make this recipe with homemade nut milk or store-bought almond or cashew milk. It can also be made with light or full-fat canned coconut milk which is amazing but a little bit high in calories to be eating day-to-day.

If you’re making this for a special dessert, go ahead and use the full-fat coconut milk! If you’re really in a pinch, you can also make it with water but my go-to is store-bought unsweetened almond milk.

What to Make Next

• 2-Ingredient Vegan Protein Cookie Dough
• Vegan Protein Brownies
• Baked Berry Protein Oatmeal
• Vegan Apple Oat Protein Muffins
• Vegan Pumpkin Protein Pudding

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