Chocolate Chia Pudding

I have been a long time fan of chia seeds (so divine mixed in with Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey), but I had never thought to use them to make pudding. After making this recipe, I discovered a few more I'd like to try, including  this Vanilla Pudding and this Triple Berry Chia Pudding. YUM!

The recipe below is a nice, simple chocolate pudding that I'll be making often.

I have relied on boxed pudding (the kind you can shake up with milk), for a long time as a quick and easy dessert or snack, but I don't like the ingredient list at all. Using chia seeds as a binder is a surprisingly good compromise to boxed pudding and from-scratch stovetop pudding (which I find tedious). This has a nice thick texture, which makes me think of a chocolate-tapioca, since there's no hiding the those bumpy (but yummy and soft) chia seeds. If it's smooth pudding you are looking for, this won't be for you, but we all thought it had a great chocolate-y flavor, and a fun chewy texture!

Chocolate Chia Pudding 
(source: Every Day Chia Seed Recipes by Ranae Richoux)

2 T. cocoa powder
2 T. brown sugar
1/4 c. coconut milk (I used lite)
1/4 c. chia seeds
3/4 c. milk

Whisk together cocoa and sugar. Stir in chia seeds. Whisk in milk and coconut milk until smooth.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve.