When you puree chia seed pudding, it becomes smooth and creamy just like traditional pudding. In this recipe for Mexican Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding, I also added cinnamon and cayenne—because why not? It works for my breakfast shake, and it works really well in this pudding too.
Bonus: you can totally have this chia seed pudding for breakfast. Breakfast pudding! We'll live like kings!
And if you love this recipe, be sure to check out this Mexican Coconut Horchata too!
Recipe
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 196kcal
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup chia seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened almond or other non-dairy milk
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup I used Grade B
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of cayenne optional
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours.
- Transfer mixture to a high-powered blender and blend until completely smooth. If pudding is warm from blending, return to refrigerator until chilled. (Alternately, you can just stir the pudding and eat it without blending.)
Notes
This pudding is thick, almost like a mousse. If you've blended your pudding and decide you want it a little thinner, add some extra milk. Be sure to blend the pudding until completely smooth—if you don't, it will be gritty! A high-powered blender like the Vitamix works best. Any sweetener you like will work in this, and if 1 tablespoon of maple syrup isn't sweet enough, feel free to add more.
Nutrition
Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 6gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 169mgPotassium: 218mgFiber: 12gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 18IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 356mgIron: 3mg
Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
Joy //For the Love of Leaves says
It must be a chis pudding kind of day. I just posted one for raspberry chocolate chip pudding. Great minds think alike!
And I totally hear ya on the staging game... All of my photos DO look the same. Especially with just moving, I don't have all the awesome props or the fun linens, something I'll have to start collecting I suppose.
Your pudding looks delicious! (that sounds like I really weird come on, not what I meant...not that your pudding doesn't look delicious, whatever that may mean....anyway...) I'm definitely making this in the future!
Kiersten says
I almost made raspberry chocolate chia pudding! Well, it's a good thing I decided to go with Mexican chocolate instead. 🙂
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
I am SO with you on this one! I always think, "oh man that picture is awesome" but I would never really sit down and eat a a distressed wood table with tarnished silverware and fruit scattered everywhere, but it's all about your personal style. I love your pictures, they are exactly what I aim for, real and beautiful! : )
Kiersten says
See, we are thinking about these photos way too much, right? 🙂 That's always my second thought too. Who made a mess with the fruit scattered everywhere?! Aren't you going to clean that up before you eat?!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
I love Rikki's tip as well, it will make my life easier 🙂 Your pudding is a nice idea for a mother's day treat.
Kiersten says
It really does! I plan out what I'm making each weekend and then when I'm doing that, I've started planning what dishes I'll use. I have things all over the house (not enough room here!), so I definitely need that time to think about it. 🙂
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
I love that you shared your photography woes, makes me feel better about my same issues! I never would've guessed that about you either, I love your photos and think they are beautiful. You make it look effortless in my opinion.
Kiersten says
It's funny that so many people have responded that they feel the same way. I guess we all have the same hang-ups and challenges about our photography and none of us realize it! 🙂
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Okay I need to make this pudding asap!
marlaa says
Mmmmmm, such a wonderful looking pudding!
Liz says
Kiersten,
This was my favorite post of yours yet! It made me laugh and giggle because I am the same way! Especially with movies. (Though, I can let ludicrous story lines fly IF they, at LEAST, follow their own made up logic. If they contradict their own MADE up terms, I'm OUT!) I am, by FAR, the WORST person to watch a film with, but, the weird thing is, I wasn't always like this! It's a fairly recent thing for me; has that always been a facet of your personality?
Over thinking can be a gift AND a curse, right?? Regardless, unless your readers are all like Monk, I assure you, your recycled props go largely unnoticed. We're all too busy drooling over what's ON/IN your plates/bowls. 🙂
Kiersten says
Yes, I think as I grow older, it's getting a lot worse. 😉 In some ways, I have mellowed with age, but in others, I have become more and more neurotic. My favorite movie as a kid was Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, so clearly I could suspend disbelief at least somewhat back then. Although I was always the kid who yelled at her classmates for coloring cows purple or trees pink, so...
Grace @ Perpetual Nomming says
Yummy! When I saw the first photo, I assumed there would be either avocado or frozen bananas, but having neither of those two completely surprised me!
haha, my mom always tells me to eat breakfast like a king and dinner like a pauper! Pudding for breakfast? I think yes!
PS: you're photography skills are really really great! no doubt about it 🙂
Kiersten says
I keep hearing about avocado pudding, but for some reason I just can't bring myself to try that. 🙂 I guess I can't get over the thought of avocado and chocolate together?
Justine says
I tried the avocado-chocolate pudding thing and it was disastrous. I'm not as skilled a chef as you, so maybe you could make it work, but from my experience, whoever says it's delicious/easy is LYING. (I'm still rather disappointed!)
Kiersten says
My husband tried making it a few weeks back and it literally made him sick. And he was SO excited about it because he loves avocados!
Kathryn says
Oh I can so relate to this! I couldn't find a plate I wanted the other day so I considered putting a slice of cake directly on my backdrop and then I freaked out about the whole idea and how unappealing it would look (even though it looks great when other people do it).
I'm so stealing the spreadsheet-prop-tracking idea though, genius!
Love the idea of this rich, creamy pudding especially with all that spice in there too!
Kiersten says
Ha! I had thought thought cross my mind recently too, with pizza. "Can I just put this right on the table? I've seen other people do it..." And then immediately my brain kicks in with, "Who eats pizza right off a table?! That is wrong!"
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Oh wow, this sounds amazing!
Genevieve says
I can't wait to try this technique! I've made chia seed pudding before, but I couldn't really get over the texture. Your pudding looks so smooth, creamy and fluffy though!
Janet says
Your pictures look great! I believe we are all creative in some way and at differing degrees. It may take some time to figure it out but learning along the way can be fun and tiring at the same time.
Thanks for the recipe. I saved it and will try and make it sometime soon 🙂
Kiersten says
Yeah, for a long time I didn't see myself as creative at all. I come from a family of artists and because I can't paint or draw, I always figured that gene had somehow skipped me. But as I got into food blogging, I started seeing food as an outlet for my creativity and I found that I loved photography too. So you're right, I think we're all creative, just not always in the traditional sense of the word. 🙂
Nicole says
I love the idea of blending chia pudding so it's smooth! I wish I liked chia pudding the way it should be, but I can't get past the texture. I'll have try this soon!
Also, I share your photography woes. Hopefully in this case, practise makes perfect 🙂 All the best with your new cookbook project!
Kiersten says
I loooove that slimy chia seed texture, but I hear from people all the time that it squicks them out and I totally get why it would! 🙂
mjskit says
That's the word I've been looking for - practical! I'm with you - staging is quite difficult and why would I want ice cream melting all over the countertop? 🙂 Well, I think you do a beautiful job! Now this is what I call a creative method for making a delicious pudding! If I had the almond milk, I'd be jumping up right now and putting this together for tomorrow's dessert. What a great idea! Love your recipe!
Kiersten says
I know! When I see ice cream melting, it makes me sad for all that deliciousness going to waste. 😉
Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian says
Fantastic post Kiersten, I sooooooo relate. I've never noticed duplicate props in your beautiful photos though! And I do love your props. I often get bowl-envy while admiring your pics 🙂
Kiersten says
I stock up a few times a year when I have coupons or when there are sales. 😉
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
I am terrible at staging photos, I feel your pain. I have come a long way in my photography but still have so much to learn. I always think your photos are gorgeous and I can't wait to see your cookbook.
Kiersten says
Yeah, I love the act of taking pictures, but setting up the shots will always be a struggle for me, I think. Some people are such naturals when it comes to staging!
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
I love the idea of blending the chia pudding, I will have to try that! But first, I've been a little behind the times and stopped short when I saw 'cookbook,' had to go back and read about that. Much congratulations! You really put the work into your blog and it's fantastic to see your projects branching out and growing! Last and least-- you are way ahead of me on props, I have to admit that I haven't bought anything specifically for my blog, how behind the times is that? And about your realistic, literal quality, my mom is the same way! She won't see a movie if it "isn't something that could have happened." I guess I have a pretty willing suspension of disbelief: I'm usually happy to go along for the ride.
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂 And I'm with you, it took me a while to start buying props just for my food photos too. But after a while, my scratched up melamine plates just weren't cutting it anymore!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't enjoy a movie unless it's realistic. 😉
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I don't post recipes nearly as often as you do and I still run out of ideas and inspiration on what to do. Your photos are so crisp and beautiful and never fail to make my mouth water!
Kiersten says
Sometimes I have SO many ideas, and then there are times when I feel like I can't come up with anything!
Stephanie @ henry happened says
I was just talking with someone about making chia seed pudding so thank you for reading my mind 🙂 I think your staging is always great, I don't know what you're talking about! The photos always look very "Kiersten" - you have your own style!
Kiersten says
I guess I just want to take those photos with lots of stuff going on. Dishes everywhere, flour spilled all over. But I don't want to make the mess required to do that. I think that's my issue in a nutshell. 🙂
Erika says
Bahaha you are hilarious!! My thoughts exactly on spilled food--who's going to clean that up?! I certainly don't want to make food, spill it all over, photograph it, and then clean it up. Nope. For what it's worth, I think your photography looks gorgeous as is, clean-looking props and all 🙂 I'm actually in awe that you take SO many photos, not only for your recipes but also for your What I Ate This Week posts and they all look great!
PS. I've been wanting to try chia seed pudding for a looong time but haven't because I was worried it would just be a flop...this, however, is inspiring me to go make it right now!
Kiersten says
Yes! I just want to take my pictures and eat because by the time I'm finished with the photos, I'm starving. I don't want to clean up! (And I'm so OCD that I totally HAVE to clean up before I start eating.)
I had chia seed pudding on my to try list for months before I actually tried it. And now I am hooked. I bet you will be too!
anne @craving something healthy says
This is such an awesomely hilarious post! I can totally relate to your OCDness. I think your photos and styling (and writing) are always fabulous!
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Kathy says
Sooooo excited to try this, it's the receipe I've been searching for! My family doesn't like the consistency of regular chia pudding and I haven't quite come to terms to tring the recipes that call for avocados. Love all your posts.
Kiersten says
Ha! Me too. I know people say it just tastes like creamy chocolate pudding and not avocados, but it's the IDEA of it. 🙂
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
Wow, that looks amazing! I'm going to make this baby and not share, lol.
dixya| Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i dont have enough prop nor creativity when it comes to taking pictures and all that..however on a different note - i need to make this pudding ASAP!
Kiersten says
It's hard! I'm not terribly creative either and I really have to force myself.
Anna says
The pudding looks fantastic - best breakfast ever! But I just had to laugh at your description of food styling, I am exactly the same. I felt like it was a big step a couple weeks ago when I actually drizzled icing all over a loaf that was sitting on a tea towel for a picture, instead of on a rack over wax paper for easy clean-up. Make-work photography impresses me but also isn't me 🙂
Kiersten says
HA I do that too! I'll line the surface with wax or parchment paper first, which doesn't photograph nearly as well. High fives for OCD food styling. 🙂