Chocolate Almond Coconut Berry Chia (Printable Version)
Rich chocolate chia cream with almonds, coconut, and berries—a nutritious treat for any time of day.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1¾ cups unsweetened almond milk
02 - ¾ cup plain or coconut yogurt (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 3 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1 scoop chocolate or vanilla protein powder (approximately 1 oz)
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Mix-ins and Toppings
08 - 3½ oz mixed berries (fresh or frozen — blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
09 - 1½ oz shredded unsweetened coconut
10 - 1 oz chopped almonds
11 - 1 tablespoon dark chocolate shavings (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk, yogurt, cocoa powder, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, protein powder, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
02 - Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes, then whisk a second time to break up any chia seed clumps and ensure an even texture.
03 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight, until the chia seeds have expanded and the mixture has thickened to a pudding-like consistency.
04 - Stir the chilled cream well, then spoon into individual serving glasses or bowls.
05 - Top each serving with mixed berries, shredded coconut, and chopped almonds. Finish with dark chocolate shavings if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like chocolate pudding but fuels you like a proper meal, which feels like getting away with something.
- The chia seeds do all the thickening work while you literally do nothing, so there is no cooking, no baking, and no stress involved.
02 -
- If you skip the second whisk after five minutes, you will end up with chia seed boulders floating in chocolate milk, and no amount of stirring later will fix it.
- Using sweetened almond milk or flavored yogurt can throw off the balance and make the whole thing cloyingly sweet, so stick with unsweetened versions for the base.
03 -
- Toast the shredded coconut in a dry skillet for two minutes, watching it constantly because it goes from golden to burnt in seconds, and the flavor upgrade is enormous.
- Layer the cream and berries in a clear glass so you can see the stripes, because eating with your eyes first makes even a Tuesday breakfast feel like an occasion.