Raw Superfood Pudding

I have a major addiction to all things chocolate and I’ve passed it onto my daughter. I’m not talking about sweet milk chocolate – we LOVE the dark stuff! Luckily we have found a way to satisfy our sweet tooth and keep it healthy. We use raw organic cacao powder (and nibs) in our smoothies, desserts, and baked goods. Last night I decided to whip up a small batch of chia pudding (it’s one of Willow’s favorite treats)…and of course it was chocolate flavored 🙂

Raw Superfood Pudding:

• 1/3 cup Chia Seeds
• 2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Powder
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon Raw Lucuma Powder (optional)
• 3/4 – 1 cup fresh homemade almond milk (you can use whatever you have on hand)
• sweeten to taste with agave, maple syrup, date syrup, or coconut nectar. I used about 1.5 TBSP of maple syrup (we’re on a maple syrup kick).

Mix all of the ingredients in a medium size bowl, it’s ok if you see small lumps of cacao, just mix until well combined. Next, cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight (or at least 5-6 hours).

This is what the pudding looks like in the morning (I apologize for the poor picture quality, but you get the idea):

You can either eat it as is, or blend it for a smoother texture. At this time, you can also add more milk or sweetener if desired. We opted to throw it in the Vitamix for a bit!

We topped it with some raw cacao nibs, but fresh strawberries or goji berries make a great topping as well!

And it’s toddler approved!

Here is a breakdown on some of the ingredients:

Raw Cacao powder – packed with antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other essential minerals and vitamins. It is unprocessed and unrefined – nothing added, just 100% pure and natural. Raw cacao can be found in most natural food stores, Whole Foods, or online.

Raw Lucuma Powder – maple/caramel flavor that is low-glycemic and has a long list of health benefits! It’s an excellent source of antioxidants, dietary fiber, healthy carbohydrates, vitamins including beta-carotene, niacin and minerals (zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron). Where to find: Ultimate Superfoods, Navitas Naturals, or Earthshift. Sometimes you can also find raw lucuma at Whole Foods or your local natural grocery store.

Chia seeds – rich in antioxidants (more than blueberries), great source of Omega-3, fiber, minerals – calcium, magnesium, and iron (almost three times more iron than spinach). These days everyone seems to carry chia seeds, so they’re pretty easy to find!

The best part about this recipe is you can change up the flavor easily – you can add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice – I’ve even thrown in half of an avocado to make it extra thick and creamy (not to mention all the added health benefits from avocado).

Enjoy!!