I first heard of chia pudding I was intrigued but it was short lived because it required an expensive, high power blender. Sure, I want one. It just is not in the budget nor could I justify adding it as a needed item right now.
So how do you make creamy chocolate chia pudding without a high power blender?
I thought long about how I could make chocolate chia pudding that was smooth without busting the bank and one day, while grinding flax seeds for these amazing cookies it hit me. Use a coffee grinder.
This little coffee grinder is perfect for grinding up the chia seeds before you get started. This step adds a little time but yields big results. You can find a coffee grinder for less than $20 on Amazon or better yet, pick one up at a yard sale or thrift store.
So after eight months I finally got a chocolate chia pudding recipe I like that is smooth and creamy.
This recipe has so many variations to accommodate a non-dairy or vegan diet as well.
Milk Options
To make a vegan chocolate chia pudding use half of a 14-ounce can of coconut milk and 1 cup of almond milk (sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your preference). Using all coconut milk makes this very thick.
If dairy is not a concern, use raw cow's milk, a total of 15 ounces.
Blender Notes
Because the chia seeds are ground up, a high power blender is not necessary. I have a Ninja at home but in the camper, I have a vintage Sears 8-speed blender I bought for $5 at an auction. Both work well and produce a wonderly smooth chocolate chia pudding.
Smooth and Creamy Chocolate Chia Pudding
1/2 Cup chia seeds
15 ounces of the milk of your choice
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup grade B maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee grounds (optional)
1. Using your coffee grinder, grind chia seeds into a thick powder. Depending on the size of your grinder you may need to do this in two batches.
2. In your blender, combine chia powder, cocoa powder, salt and coffee grinds. Add milk. Pulse once or twice to combine and let stand for about 5 minutes. the mixture will get gloppy and thick.
3. Add maple syrup and vanilla extract and blend until well combined, up to 5 minutes. Scrape the sides as necessary.
4. Check sweetness and consistency. If you want it sweeter add a bit more maple syrup and blend again. If the mixture is too thick, do not add more milk until you have reached desired sweetness as the maple syrup will affect thickness. Add milk as desired a teaspoon at a time until it has reached desired consistency. It will not set much in the refrigerator so your thickness in the blender will basically be the final result.
5. Serve your pudding in these cute glass cups topped with shredded coconut, nuts, or Reddi Wip. (Yes, I said Reddi Whip. Because sometimes you just need to!)
If made with cow's milk the pudding will be fresh as long as long as the milk is fresh. Coconut or almond milk lasts a bit longer.
You can also substitute xylitol or organic sugar for the maple syrup. Basically, whatever you have on-hand however, I have not tried it with honey.
Make On the Go
If you have a small kitchen or you go RVing, this recipe is great because it requires only 5 tools: grinder, blender, spatula, measuring spoon and measuring cup. Clean up is easy. To make this on the go, grind your chia ahead of time and store in a baggie or glass jar.
If you're packing snacks for a day or weekend trip you use these containers to keep several cups on hand. For younger family members my favorite way to serve pudding is in these Squooshi Pouches.
If you're looking for more yummy traditional foods to make for your family check out Traditional Cooking School.
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