Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding is rich, chocolaty, and loaded with plenty of nutrients to make this an easy guilt-free dessert, healthy breakfast or snack. Sweetened with ripe bananas and maple syrup it tastes even better than it looks!

If you would like to try other chia pudding flavors, check out my banana chia pudding, chocolate chia pudding, and vanilla chia pudding too!

Chocolate banana chia pudding in glass jar with chocolate chips. Fresh bananas.

Chocolate banana chia pudding looks as if it’s a rich, indulgent, chocolatey treat and that’s because it is! Get this, though, it’s also incredibly healthy and made with wholesome ingredients that deliver so many nutrients.

It tastes like a dessert but is suitable as one of my favorite healthy breakfast ideas. And when I am on the hunt for healthy snacks, I’m all over this banana chia pudding recipe!

The combination of banana and chocolate is always dreamy. Using ripe bananas is a great way to add natural sweetness to this gluten free pudding, but I also like to add a bit of honey to it as well. If you’re wanting to keep it vegan, swap the honey for maple syrup.

The chia seeds which deliver protein, fiber, antioxidants, and omega 3s also serve another purpose. They help to thicken up the pudding to a rich consistency.

Making homemade pudding is so much better than any store-bought version. I mean, if we can make a healthy banana cream pie and avoid preservatives, additives, and a whole lot of processed sugars, then we can do the same with pudding.

You may also love these healthy banana snack recipes!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Very ripe banana
Chia seeds
Milk
Pure vanilla extract
Honey or maple syrup
Cacao powder

Mix Ins

Sliced banana
Chocolate chips
Cacao nibs

How to Make Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding

This healthy homemade pudding couldn’t be easier. Here’s how you make it!

Banana and chia seeds in a bowl with the fork.

Add ripe bananas and chia seeds into a medium bowl. Mash them with a fork until they are well combined.

Dry chia seeds look a bit like poppy seeds and will remain that way until they start to absorb liquid.

Milk, maple syrup and vanilla in a bowl with fork.

To the mashed banana mixture, whisk in milk and vanilla extract and mix well until there are no lumps.

If you feel like using a food processor or blender, you can. I don’t usually want to clean any extra appliances, so a fork works well for me!

Banana chia pudding and chocolate banana chia pudding in containers.

Pour half of it into a glass container and cover it. To the remaining half, add maple syrup and cacao powder and whisk well. Pour the chocolate portion into a separate container with a lid.

Place both containers in the fridge for at least 4 hours. You can also make this the night before and leave it overnight.

Once you serve it, you’ll add both to the serving bowl, layering them equally. Then add whatever mix-ins you like!

Topping Ideas

I like a variety of flavors and textures here that make this chia seed pudding more of a guilt-free dessert.

I chose a few chocolate chips, bananas, and cacao nibs to highlight the flavors of chocolate and banana even more.

Here are some other ideas:

A sprinkling of walnuts, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts.
Dollop of nut butter, like almond butter or peanut butter.
Chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or goji berries.
Sliced bananas, or fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
Extra chia seeds or hemp hearts.

Recipe Substitutions and Tips

Any milk whether dairy or not. I use unsweetened almond milk, but you could use coconut milk, whole milk, cashew, or oat milk.
Use cocoa powder in place of cacao powder. A slight difference in the way it’s processed. Both produce a rich chocolaty flavor, but cacao is processed at a lower temperature, retaining a bit more nutrients.
Allow this pudding to chill, no matter how tempted you are to eat it. It gives it a chance to thicken up and set into the creamy thick pudding we all look forward to!
If it’s too thick by the time you serve it, thin it out with a little splash of milk.

FAQs

Can I make this sugar free?

Definitely. Omit the honey or maple syrup and enjoy the sweetness that comes from ripe bananas.

Is chocolate banana chia seed pudding healthy?

It is! Everything from the cacao powder to the bananas, to the chia seeds, and even the honey, add a nutritional element in one way or another. Vitamins, minerals, potassium, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and omega 3s are just the beginning!

Can I blend banana chia seed pudding?

As mentioned above, you can take the route of blending ingredients in a food processor or blender. If you like a smoother pudding, like the kind you grew up with, you may want to go this route. Some readers have noticed it eliminates a bit of the slimy texture. Go ahead and give it a try!

How to Store

Once assembled, this pudding will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store it in an airtight container and enjoy it all week long!

More Chia Seed Recipes To Try

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