[VIDEO] Chocolate Shell Chia Pudding

Chocolate Shell Chia Pudding

Have you tried making chia seed pudding?

It’s a great way to easily get all the benefits of those little chia seeds.

This is an EXCELLENT recipe to try out, because it’s super creamy and indulgent tasting, with a crisp chocolate shell topping that’s reminiscent of childhood ice cream desserts!

Takes just a few minutes of hands-on time to prepare and it’s packed with a decent amount of protein and nutrients for a quick, on-the-go breakfast treat!

Throw a batch of these together the night before, cover, and set in the fridge overnight, then enjoy anytime the next day!

We REALLY love these for breakfast, snacks, and/or dessert at our house!

What’s your favorite way to eat chia seeds!?

Some researchers believe they are one of the MOST nutritious foods you can eat.

They are packed with good-for-you fats and fiber, with a very mild taste.

Because of their incredible fiber content, they’ll keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours after eating. Just 1 ounce (28 grams) contains 11 grams of fiber!

They are a good plant-based source of protein, may help with weight loss, and can help lower triglycerides, blood sugar, inflammation, and belly fat. They might also help raise your body’s good HDL cholesterol level.

They also appear to help reduce blood pressure and they contain micronutrients that support bone health.

Chia seeds are easy to add to your diet – sprinkle them on salads, make a pudding by soaking them in liquid like our recipe below or use them as a thickener in recipes. They also are a great addition to smoothies.

REFERENCE:

• Healthline 11 Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
• CleanFoodCrush – Health Benefits of Chia, Hemp and Flax Seeds

The sweetness factor is such a PERSONAL preference, so please consider this when adding in the raw honey or maple syrup. Depending on your taste, you may want a bit more or less.

When shopping for ingredients:

Look for a higher percentage of cacao for the chocolate chips, and always read the ingredients.

Lots of questions about chocolate brands – I like to visit the specialty (nicer) chocolate section at the stores and find a really high quality, (often organic) dark chocolate bar on SALE – so

I’m always trying something different because I shop the sales.

A high-quality dark chocolate bar works great too! I’ll often find a beautiful organic dark chocolate bar on sale, then chop it up to use for things like this.

I like to buy the highest quality I can find when it’s on SALE! I’m always keeping an eye out for a good deal, and will often stock up when a high-quality product is on special.

Use any dark chocolate chips of your choice: the higher cacao percentage = more health benefits.

If you’re looking to keep sugars lower; try using Lily’s brand chocolate that is sweetened with stevia.

When shopping for nut butter I try to make sure peanuts and salt are the only ingredients. Especially steer clear of nut butter with added oils and lots of added sugar.

Use ANY milk of your choice. My personal preferences for this pudding are unsweetened coconut milk, almond milk, or unsweetened cashew milk. But any milk including dairy will work great!

4 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 cups plain Greek yogurt or plain coconut yogurt
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 4 Tbsps maple syrup or raw honey
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 4 Tbsps smooth nut butter of choice
• 1/2 cup of milk of choice
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
• 1 Tbsp unrefined organic coconut oil
• flaky sea salt, to taste

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl combine your yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, nut butter, and milk.

Whisk really well. Then whisk some more. Chia seeds need to be very well combined for the best results.

Refrigerate overnight.

Once your chia seed pudding is ready, divide it equally among 4 jars.

If desired you may drizzle 1 teaspoon additional nut butter on top like I did (mostly for aesthetics) so there’s a little tucked under the chocolate shell for looks.

Melt your chocolate together with the coconut oil in a double boiler OR in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds. This creates your chocolate shell mixture.

Pour a thin layer of your chocolate shell over each chia seed pudding and sprinkle very lightly with flaky sea salt. Place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes so the shell hardens.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve, but no more than 5 days.

Enjoy!

Rachel

The post [VIDEO] Chocolate Shell Chia Pudding first appeared on Clean Food Crush.

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