A chocolate chia treat for breakfast, snack or dessert

I love simple recipes that have many different uses. Snacks that can be turned into meals, and desserts that make a perfect breakfast, are always my favourites.

Summer calls for no-cook, low-maintenance-type dishes. So, with a few staple ingredients in my kitchen I came up with an easy chocolate chia pudding that is a breakfast, snack and dessert all in one.

The chia seeds (high in fibre, protein and omega 3), magnesium-filled cacao powder and mineral-rich maple syrup make this pudding as healthy as it is versatile. But it's similar enough to a classic creamy pudding that it can be enjoyed by everyone.

Customize your pudding to fit the time of day by topping it with your favourite fruit, nuts, seeds — or coconut chips, as shown here.

Ingredients

2 cups non-dairy milk (I used So Delicious coconut milk)

½ cup chia seeds

2 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp maple syrup (option to add more or less for desired sweetness)

½ tsp vanilla

Directions

1. In a blender or mini food processor, blend the milk, cacao powder, vanilla and maple syrup.

2. Combine chia seeds and liquid mixture in a large bowl. Stir and place in the refrigerator.

3. Leave for at least 3 hours or, ideally, overnight.

Serves 4