Looking for a simple and healthy dessert for your littles one? This chocolate chia pudding is so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Don’t be surprised if your kids keep asking for more.
Made with healthy, wholesome ingredients, this chocolate chia pudding has an intense rich chocolate flavor, creamy and so easy to put together. It’s actually a great dessert for the adults at home too.
My son has a sweet tooth and loves chocolate. Dessert is probably his favorite meal and his eyes lights up at the mention of chocolate. So, I try to indulge him every now and then with healthy desserts. It makes meal times fun and stress free.
This chocolate chia pudding is the sort of dessert that I can give him guilt free. It’s such a great alternative to store bought puddings and dessert where you cannot control the amount of sugar that goes inside. Also, store bought may contain unnecessary ingredients that may not be good for kids when consumed often.
Though I have been calling this a dessert, you can easily serve this for breakfast or as a snack. You can prepare this in advance and serve them on those busy weekday mornings or as an post nap snack.
Let’s see what goes inside this chocolate chia pudding.
Chia seeds –
Did you know chia seeds are an excellent source of protein and are naturally gluten free? They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Chia seeds are also loaded with fiber, calcium, zinc and other vitamins and minerals. The rich fiber content in chia seeds helps kids suffering with constipation. But even though they are healthy and nutritious, due to its high fiber content, it is recommended you not give more than 1 to 2 tsp per day, especially for small children. Start with a small serving and gradually increase the intake depending on how your kid is able to tolerate it.
Dates –
I always have some dates in my pantry. They are naturally sweet, packed with energy making it a great snack for kids who crave sugar and expend a lot of energy. Dates are packed with lots of nutrients that are vital for young children’s growth and development. They are low in cholesterol and saturated fats.
Cacao powder or cocoa powder –
Any good quality cacao or cocoa powder can be used in the recipe. I would prefer cacao as it is healthier than cocoa powder. They are also less processed. But you can use whatever you have in hand.
Milk –
I don’t have any preference on what kind of milk to use in the recipe. I usually use whatever I have on hand. I mostly use cow’s milk or almond milk as that’s what we usually buy. Whatever milk you choose, it will help meet your kid’s mill intake for the day.
Maple syrup –
I like to add some maple syrup extra depending on how sweet I need it to be. You can just rely on the sweetness from the dates or just use maple syrup instead of dates. Both dates and maple syrup provide natural sweetness without any processed ingredients.
Is this recipe vegan?
All you have to do to make this vegan is to use any plant-based milk of your choice instead of cow’s milk. Almond, cashew, oat milk are great options. Also, I would make sure the cocoa powder you
use is vegan as well and does not contain any milk products or is processed in a facility containing dairy.
How do you make this chocolate chia pudding?
As mentioned earlier this is such an easy recipe to make. All you would need to do is gather all the ingredients like chia seeds, milk, cocoa powder, dates, maple syrup and mix everything well. If you don’t want a smooth pudding, I would use date syrup instead of whole dates and leave everything overnight in the fridge to set. But since I am making it for my little one who likes a smoother texture in pudding, I am adding whole dates and I will blend everything together until it becomes smooth. I like refrigerating these overnight so they have the perfect texture and set properly. But you can get away with refrigerating it for minimum 4 to 5 hours.
Variations to this chocolate chia pudding?
- You can add some nut butter for some added nutty taste. Chocolate and peanut butter goes so well. You can also add almond or any other butter of your choice.
- Vanilla extract for some flavor
- Raspberries or strawberries- berries and chocolate are a match made in heaven
- Banana – makes it extra sweet and goes really well with chocolate
- Spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice are all great options. Add little and see how your little one likes it.
Toppings –
Since this pudding is smooth and creamy, you can add some toppings to provide some texture and make it interesting. Before adding the toppings make sure your child can eat them without any fear that the ingredient may pose a choking hazard.
Some toppings I like to add are –
- Fresh berries
- Chopped nuts
- Coconut flakes
- Chocolate syrup
- Sliced bananas or other fruits
- Crushed digestive biscuits
- Crushed cookies
- Chia jam
- Nut butters or granola
- Whipped cream
- Yogurt
At what age can my baby eat this chocolate chia pudding?
Chia seeds can be given to kids as soon as they have started eating solids. But check with your child’s doctor as to amount of serving for your child.
Did you know chia seeds are great as an egg replacement in baking vegan recipes?
If you do a lot of vegan baking, I am pretty sure you will have a big batch of chia seeds in your pantry like me. This chia pudding is something that you can make with all the extra chia seeds you have lying around in the pantry.
Baby & Toddler Chia Pudding recipe
Prep time – 5 minutes
Resting time – minimum 4 hours
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of your choice
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 to 4 dates pitted
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 ½ tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Add the chia seeds, dates, maple syrup, milk and cocoa powder to a blender.
- Blend everything until smooth.
- Divide the mixture and pour them into small containers and place it in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.
- Serve chilled with toppings of your choice.
Notes –
Use the required number of dates or maple syrup according to your child’s sweetness levels.