guilt-free sweet treat | Mexican Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

Lately I have had my fill of failed healthy recipes found on Pinterest. Bland, mushy sweet potato fries followed by utterly disgusting buffalo cauliflower. Both promised to be life-changing and both proved to be just plain bad.

Third time must be a charm because the popularly pinned ‘Mexican Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding‘ actually tastes quite good!!!

I’ve put ground chia seeds in my green breakfast smoothies for quite some time but I had never made anything using the whole seeds. An ingredient freshly famous for adding omega-3 and fiber to your diet, the teeny tiny seeds plump up when mixed with liquids creating a gelatinous texture great for sticky jams, thick smoothies and … creamy puddings!

This sweet treat was crazy easy to put together. The only letdown is the lengthy waiting time – the pudding takes at least 8 hours to set – other than that, it’s a cinch to prepare and a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth and health-conscious lifestyle.

{ Mexican Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding recipe } by Oh My Veggies blog

Step 1 – Combine the following ingredients into a mason jar {with a lid!}, shaking to combine.

1/3 cup Chia Seeds
1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
2 T Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 T Maple Syrup {agave works too}
1 t Ground Cinnamon
1 t Cayenne

Step 2 – Refrigerate for 8 hours or more. {Want to know a secret? I forgot about mine and left it for almost a week.. still worked out and tasted great!}

Step 3 – Blend in a high-powered blender until smooth. I had to add about 1 T of unsweetened almond milk to get mine started.

This recipe actually tastes like a regular chocolate pudding! The texture is light, creamy and only slightly gritty – and that probably could be avoided by blending for a longer period of time. I love the chocolate taste because it isn’t overly sweet and the subtle kick of cayenne wakes up the flavor, which is fun. I topped the pudding with good ole maraschino cherries – it’s Valentine’s week so cherries and chocolate just seemed right. {Yes, fresh cherries or strawberries would’ve been a healthier choice here – but look, I am not going to the store for one ingredient. Sorry friends. And husband.}