Instant+Chocolate+Chia+Pudding

 = {Almost} Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding = 

 Read more: http://ohsheglows.com/2014/04/07/almost-instant-chocolate-chia-pudding/#ixzz36yfCLpmG

 To energize myself during the endless packing sessions I threw together this chocolate chia pudding. Ok, ok, I made it 4 times in the span of 6 days. I love this stuff. It only requires a few ingredients and it satisfies all those creamy chocolate cravings in a healthy way sweetened only with dates. This pudding reminds me of chocolate cake batter – creamy, chocolaty, with a hint of vanilla. Not only is it tasty, but it’s packed with over 10 grams of fibre and 7 grams of protein per serving, as well as loads of iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Now we’re talking!  Chia pudding is great and all, but the hardest part is waiting for it to chill and set, don’t you think? Thanks to my chocolate impatience, I came up with a method that gets around this pesky waiting time using almond milk ice cubes. I’ve used coffee ice cubes in smoothies in the past (very tasty) and I thought, why not use almond milk ice cubes in this pudding so I can enjoy it instantly? Yes! Of course, you do have to plan ahead and freeze the ice cubes in advance (hence the name “almost instant”), but if you keep a tray of almond milk ice cubes in the freezer you’ll be set for any chia pudding craving in the future. If you are like me last week, one tray of ice cubes will set you up for a whole week…ha. I’ll be keeping a tray of almond milk ice cubes in the freezer at all times now. Mark my words!  = {Almost} Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding = Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, no bake/raw, oil-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free
 * = [[image:https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/7aGoQN-5s1H6PacOU1b7MN1Ux2DszyU1G5qlbQEwRnP_bbePipwOjKKAZK5qBAJSxcdKYlHaaOJdYctJ5-4cEHbHyphOFPjETNbC3gdeeKKX67Apo-2XZ0q2I1-belunzwNq5Q=s0-d-e1-ft#http://cdn.ohsheglows.com/wp-content/plugins/osg_recipes/images/print_icon.png caption="print icon  {Almost} Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding"]] ||= [[image:https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/IyPV8-nH2R6V9muiN3ySWt7uY-KonGjIQM72V8DxPc0WonhX7KQgdOkdsKa_z1Y7ZgdiP884XK_wQvWP8o0H4TzzD5Lp-m1tE-S_NRkwSL90xXzDncBOS4Dj3nJZThaELze8RQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://cdn.ohsheglows.com/wp-content/plugins/osg_recipes/images/email_icon.png caption="email icon   {Almost} Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding"]] ||

This chocolate chia pudding is decadent-tasting yet healthy at the same time. Packed with protein, fibre, and omega-3 fatty acids this is a pudding you can feel good about! When blended with the almond milk ice cubes it's a treat you can enjoy immediately without waiting for it to chill. The texture is a cross between a smoothie and a pudding. It will thicken up even more if you put it in the fridge for a few hours. I recommend using a high-speed blender for best results since the dates, chia seeds, and ice cubes are challenging to blend super smooth. Adapted from my healthy chocolate chia pudding. ====== Yield ======

0 Minutes
==== Ingredients: ==== ==== Directions: ==== Notes: Add the cocoa powder to taste. Some brands will be more pungent than others. 3.5 tablespoons of cocoa powder is great with my brand (camino) however you may need to use less depending on what kind you use. My advice is to add the cocoa powder slowly to taste. You will want around 12 tablespoons of almond milk ice cubes added to the pudding. For my tray, this equaled 4 **large** cubes.
 * 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
 * 4 large almond milk ice cubes (see note)
 * 1/4 cup chia seeds
 * 5-6 pitted Medjool dates, to taste
 * 2-3.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (see note)
 * 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, to taste
 * pinch fine grain sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
 * 1) Fill an ice cube tray with almond milk. Freeze until solid. You can use leftovers in smoothies or for more pudding in the future!
 * 2) To make the pudding: Add 3/4 cup almond milk into a high speed blender. Now add the rest of the ingredients, including the almond milk ice cubes.
 * 3) Blend on the highest speed until super smooth. Enjoy immediately or chill in the fridge where it will thicken up even more.

You can skip the almond milk ice cubes and simply add a splash more almond milk. Chill in the fridge the old-fashioned way.

If your dates are firm, I suggest soaking them in hot water for at least 30 minutes before you begin. Drain well.

To turn this into a chocolate "frosty" add more ice cubes to make it super icy. To make this nut-free, use a nut-free non-dairy milk of your choice. 