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Ultra decadent, yet healthy double chocolate chia pudding! Whip together this easy breakfast or snack in no time at all. Top this rich and extra chocolatey treat off with fresh berries, whipped cream, or what the heck – even more chocolate!

chocolate chia pudding in cups with whipped cream and chopped chocolate on top

What You’ll Need To Make This Double Chocolate Chia Pudding

  • Non-Dairy Milk – Use any non-dairy milk you’d like! I used the Elmhurst Almond Milk since it’s what I had on-hand, and I love their simple ingredients (literally just almonds and water). Though whichever non-dairy milk you use, make sure it’s completely unsweetened. The maple syrup in this plant-based recipe yields all the sweetness we need.

  • Maple Syrup – This unrefined sweetener is slightly lower on the glycemic index than white sugar, meaning it’s less likely to cause that awful sugar spike, then crash. I absolutely love maple syrup, and use it whenever possible! It’s super versatile, perfectly sweet, and has this caramel-y flavor that is to-die-for. However, if you don’t have maple syrup, you can use honey or date syrup in its place.

  • Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder, that is! While most cocoa powders are unsweetened, there are a select few on grocery store shelves that have sugar in them. So learn from my mistakes here, and don’t accidentally throw the sweetened kind into your cart. Ghirardelli and Hershey both make very good unsweetened cocoa powders. And if you want to make this vegan recipe even healthier, then use cacao powder instead. Cacao is less processed than cocoa, and is chock-full of vitamins and minerals.

  • Chia Seeds – These tiny black seeds are the star of our double chocolate chia pudding recipe! Chia seeds are a superfood (for reasons I’ll get into in the next section), are gluten-free, and can be found at most grocery stores. Though if you can’t find chia seeds at your local grocery store, try a health store or vitamin shop instead. Also, Amazon sells pounds of them!
spoon scooping chocolate chia pudding out of a cup

Are Chia Seeds Healthy?

Yes, chia seeds are super duper healthy! They’re loaded with all sorts of nutrients, such as:

  • Iron – increases energy and focus.
  • Manganese – essential for bone health and development.
  • Phosphorus – repairs damaged muscle and bones.
  • Selenium – protects against cell damage and infection.
  • Magnesium – boosts heart health and helps regulate blood pressure.
  • Calcium – vital to building and maintaining strong bones.

They’re also a great source of plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats!

Toppings/Add-Ins

  • Protein Powder
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Fresh Berries
  • Sliced Banana
  • Peanut Butter
  • Hemp Seeds
  • Chopped Nuts
  • Granola

Double Chocolate Chia Pudding

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: Breakfast, Snacks, DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Chilling Time

4

hours

Ultra decadent, yet healthy double chocolate chia pudding! Whip together this easy breakfast or snack in no time at all. Top this rich and extra chocolatey treat off with fresh berries, whipped cream, or what the heck – even more chocolate!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups non-dairy milk

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • pinch of salt

  • 1/2 cup chia seeds

  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Directions

  • Whisk together the milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.
  • Add in chia seeds and chocolate chips, stir once to combine, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
  • Once thick, remove from the fridge and give chia pudding a stir before serving.

Notes

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This homemade vegan caramel sauce is perfectly sweet and super easy to make! It comes together in one saucepan, with just 3 ingredients, and in under 5 minutes. This vegan caramel is delicious drizzled over ice cream, apples, cake, or cookies! Try it over my no-churn vegan vanilla ice cream recipe, or even on top of my healthy apple crisp. YUM!

3 ingredient vegan caramel sauce being poured over a green apple.

What You’ll Need

Coconut Cream – Coconut cream is the thick, white cream found at the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. It’s important to note that coconut cream can only be obtained by a can of full-fat coconut milk, not low-fat or boxed coconut milk. Native Organics also sells a great canned coconut cream, which is what I used in this recipe. Also, remember to only use the coconut cream and not any of the liquid found at the bottom of the can. To do this, open your can of full-fat coconut milk or cream, then scrape and remove the cream from the top. Fill a one-cup measurer with this coconut cream, then save the liquid for use in smoothies later on!

Maple Syrup – This natural sweetener is the only sweetener in this vegan dessert recipe! Our vegan caramel is so much healthier than your standard caramel because it contains only natural ingredients, and has a lot less sugar. However, healthier doesn’t mean any less delicious. Maple syrup gives this sauce an irresistibly rich flavor.

Peanut Butter – Peanut butter is the finishing touch to this recipe, adding the perfect texture and flavor. Though if you’re not a fan of peanut butter, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, pecan butter, or sunflower seed butter in its place!

vegan caramel sauce being whisked in a saucepan

This Vegan Caramel Is….

  • Healthy
  • Plant-Based
  • Gluten-Free
  • Refined Sugar-Free
  • Paleo
  • & Delicious!

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: Replace the peanut butter in this recipe with 1/4 cup of sunflower seed butter!

Make it Paleo: Use almond butter instead of peanut butter for a delicious paleo caramel recipe.

3 ingredient vegan caramel sauce in a small jar with a spoon
5 from 1 vote

3-Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce

This homemade vegan caramel sauce is perfectly sweet and super easy to make! It comes together in one saucepan, with just 3 ingredients, and in under 5 minutes. This vegan caramel is delicious drizzled over ice cream, apples, cake, or cookies!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut cream, see Notes
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter

Instructions

  • Add coconut cream and maple syrup to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir constantly until bubbling, then reduce to low heat and continue stirring for 3 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and stir in almond or peanut butter. Let cool, it’ll continue to thicken as it cools.

Notes

  • Coconut Cream: Coconut cream is the thick, white creamy part at the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. You can only obtain coconut cream from either a can of full-fat coconut milk, or a can of coconut cream.
  • These almond flour pancakes are extra fluffy, delicious, and super easy to make! One bowl, a handful of ingredients, and 15 minutes is all you need to throw this simple gluten-free breakfast together. These almond flour pancakes are also the perfect blank canvas to any toppings you’d like (I went with blueberries – yum!).

    stacked almond flour pancakes with blueberries, butter, and powdered sugar on top

    What You’ll Need

    Almond Flour – The star of our show – almond flour! It’s naturally gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo friendly. Almond flour is actually the only flour you’ll need for this healthy breakfast recipe. The most common misconception when it comes to almond flour is that it can be used as a 1:1 substitution for regular all purpose flour. However, that’s definitely not the case! Almond flour is much more dense and creates a heavier bake than regular flour. Though in this recipe we lighten the pancakes up with two whole eggs and a touch of milk.

    Eggs – Eggs are crucial to keeping these almond flour pancakes held together! They are our binding agent, and without them the pancakes would simply fall apart. I highly recommend using large or extra large eggs for this recipe, though really any size will work.

    Coconut Oil or Butter – Whether you’re using a non-stick pan or not, a touch or butter or oil is very useful to prevent sticking. For a non-stick pan, you may be able to get away with using less oil or butter than the recipe calls for. But for either a stainless steel or cast-iron pan, you’ll need the full tablespoon. And if you ever begin to notice sticking throughout the cooking process, then go ahead and add a bit more butter or oil to your pan!

    How to Make Almond Flour Pancakes

    Making homemade almond flour pancakes is super easy! Start by adding the almond flour and baking powder to a large bowl. Whisk those dry ingredients together before adding in the eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Once your pancake batter is completely combined, then you can add in any fillings/toppings you’d like – fresh blueberries and chocolate chips are my personal favorite!

    Now that your batter is all prepped, heat a tablespoon of either butter, coconut oil, or any other neutral-tasting oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, scoop about 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet. The batter will disperse out and form that signature circular pancake shape.

    Cook each pancake in the skillet for about 3-5 minutes, or until the bottom is nicely golden brown. Then, use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side. Repeat this cooking process with your remaining better then serve your almond flour pancakes! I recommend finishing them off with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan – Make this a vegan almond flour pancake recipe by substituting the two eggs for one flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flax meal + 3 tablespoons water) and one mashed banana. The flax egg and banana will work together to bind your pancakes and prevent them from falling apart. Also, use your favorite vegan milk in place of the regular milk this recipe calls for.

    Make it Dairy-Free – To make this a dairy-free breakfast, simply use almond milk or your favorite non-dairy milk in place of the regular milk in this recipe. Also, be sure to use coconut oil for cooking, instead of butter.

    Perfect Almond Flour Pancakes

    0 from 0 votes
    Recipe by Samantha Course: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    2

    servings
    Prep time

    5

    minutes
    Cooking time

    10

    minutes
    Total time

    15

    minutes

    These almond flour pancakes are extra fluffy, delicious, and super easy to make! One bowl, a handful of ingredients, and 15 minutes is all you need to throw this simple gluten-free breakfast together. These almond flour pancakes are also the perfect blank canvas to any toppings you’d like (I went with blueberries – yum!).

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup almond flour, see Notes

    • 1 teaspoon baking powder

    • 2 eggs

    • 1/4 cup milk, I used non-dairy milk

    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter

    Directions

    • Whisk together the almond flour and baking powder in a large bowl.
    • Add in eggs, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, whisk to combine.
    • Melt coconut oil or butter in a large skillet over medium low-medium heat and spoon ¼ cup batter into skillet.
    • Cook pancakes for 2-3 minutes per side or until edges are slightly golden brown. Repeat until no more batter remains.

    Recipe Video

    Notes

    • Almond Flour: Be sure to use blanched almond flour, not almond meal in this recipe.

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    Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

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    These paleo brownies are total perfection! Extra chocolatey and extremely indulgent, yet are entirely gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.

    overhead image of paleo brownies with milk and cocoa powder on the side

    What You’ll Need

    Almond Flour – Be sure to use almond flour, and not almond meal in these paleo brownies! Almond flour is ground much finer than meal, resulting in a lighter and overall better brownie. I’ve tried many different brands of almond flour and truly loved them all. Trader Joe’s makes a great almond flour, as does Costco. Almond flour was once hard to come by, but thankfully, it’s sold in most grocery stores these days!

    Almond Butter – Almond butter makes these brownies exceptionally rich and delicious! Don’t worry though, your brownies won’t at all taste like almonds. Almond butter also gives these brownies structure, in the absence of gluten or grains.

    Coconut Sugar – This unrefined sugar is a paleo-friendly alternative to regular white sugar. Also, unflike white sugar, coconut sugar contains vitamins, minerals, and even fiber. The fiber in particular aids in slowing down the absorption of sugar in our body, placing it lower on the glycemic index. Basically, what this means is you’re less likely to experience that sugar spike and crash with coconut sugar, than with refined white sugar.

    three paleo brownies stacked on top of each other

    Top Tips

    • Let the brownies cool slightly before cutting! Trust me, I understand the temptation of wanting to dive straight into a pan of brownies as soon as they’re out of the oven. But try your best to fight those urges and let the paleo brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This’ll help them hold their shape!
    • Bring any chilled ingredients to room temperature before getting started. If the eggs, for example, are too cold, they’ll cause the melted coconut oil to seize up and harden in the batter. Therefore, place all ingredients out on the counter about an hour before diving into this recipe!

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan: Simply swap out the eggs for 2 flax eggs (1 flax egg = 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water) for vegan paleo brownies!

    Make it Nut-Free: I haven’t tested this version myself yet, but you can try using sunflower seed butter in place of the almond butter and 1/4 cup of coconut flour in place of the almond flour. If you give this nut-free version a try, please let me know how it is!

    Perfect Paleo Brownies

    5 from 1 vote
    Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    16

    servings
    Prep time

    5

    minutes
    Cooking time

    20

    minutes
    Total time

    25

    minutes

    These paleo brownies are total perfection! Extra chocolatey and extremely indulgent, yet are entirely gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.

    Ingredients

    • 2 eggs, at room temperature

    • 1/2 cup almond butter

    • 1/2 cup coconut sugar

    • 1/4 cup maple syrup

    • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    • 1/2 cup almond flour

    • 3/4 cup cocoa powder

    • 1 teaspoon baking soda

    • 1/2 teaspoon salt

    • 1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line or grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
    • Add eggs, almond butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and beat together either by hand or with an electric mixer.
    • Add in almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until completely smooth and combined. Fold chocolate chips into brownie batter.
    • Transfer batter to your prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

    Recipe Video

    Notes

    • Leftover paleo brownies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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    This popular Baked Oats recipe is a healthy, easy-to-make breakfast option that requires only a couple of key ingredients. Have it plain or mix it up with chocolate chips, peanut butter or protein powder – there are so many versatile ways to make this baked oats recipe to your liking!

    Baked Oats Recipe

    I guess we should thank TikTok for this popular baked oats recipe! I never would have thought to blend oats and turn it into a type of oatmeal breakfast cake ’til now. These bake nicely in ramekins (which is what I use) or a muffin pan for individual servings, but you can bake it in a larger batch in a casserole dish if you want to serve to the whole fam!

    Main Ingredients & Substitutions For Baked Oats

    • Rolled Oats – This is the main ingredient needed for this recipe, but you can use quick oats or oat flour instead. 

    • Mashed Banana – This adds flavor, sweetness and moisture to the recipe. 

    • Egg – Or you can make it vegan by using a flax egg!

    • Honey or Maple Syrup – Adds an extra touch of sweetness to the baked oats.

    • Baking Powder – This helps the baked oats rise while baking.

    • Pinch of Salt

    Optional Add Ins

    • Chocolate Chips

    • Cocoa Powder

    • Peanut Butter

    • Protein Powder

    • Vanilla Extract

    Baked Oats

    5 from 1 vote
    Recipe by Samantha Course: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy
    Servings

    1

    servings
    Prep time

    5

    minutes
    Cooking time

    20

    minutes
    Total time

    25

    minutes

    This popular Baked Oats recipe is a healthy, easy-to-make breakfast option that requires only a couple of key ingredients. Have it plain or mix it up with chocolate chips, peanut butter or protein powder – there are so many versatile ways to make this baked oats recipe to your liking!

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

    • 1 Banana (mashed)

    • 1 Egg

    • 1 Tablespoon Honey or Maple Syrup

    • 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

    • 1 Pinch of Salt

    • Optional Add-Ins:
    • 2 Tablespoons Chocolate Chips

    • 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder

    • 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter

    • 1 Tablespoon Protein Powder

    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and lightly grease an oven-safe ramekin.
    • Place all ingredients (except chocolate chips, if using) in a blender and blend until smooth.
    • Pour batter into prepared ramekin and bake for 20-25 minutes, let cool for about 10 minutes before eating.

    Notes

    • To Store: Keep well in an airtight container for 2 days at room temperature and up to a week in the fridge.
    • To Freeze: You can freeze the baked oats before or after baking and it will keep for up to 3 months.

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    Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

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