6 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse.
Meet my newest chocolate obsession, 6 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I sure am having fun with the vegan eats right now. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you guys know I love all things dairy, especially goat dairy, but it’s fun playing around with different foods.
To recap, in the last month I’ve made a total of five vegan desserts. Say hello to this Chai Cashew and Hemp Latte, these Dark Chocolate Covered Coconut Bars, these Vegan Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Muffins, this Vegan Chocolate Custard Cake, and this Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola. All of these are some of my favorite vegan desserts. The coconut bars and custard cake are especially unreal…meaning so so good.
This brings me to today’s chocolate chia mousse, which was inspired by my mom’s love of chocolate mousse. The woman loves anything light and airy and chocolate mousse is one of her favorites. I wanted to see if I could recreate one of our favorite desserts into a vegan and semi-healthy..ish dessert. I did some research, taking into account chia seed’s magical thickening powers, and got to work. A couple of hours later I had chia mousse and am now obsessed with it.
It is so easy, so good, and pretty freaking healthy too. Cool. Cool.
Here’s how this works, and it’s pretty simple.
Mix everything together, letting the chia seeds soak for a bit so that they can absorb the liquid and become plump. Then blend everything until extra light, smooth, and creamy, chill the mousse for a few hours to allow it to set up, and then eat. Simple as that. One bowl, one blender, and done. It does take a little time to prepare because of all the chilling, so plan a little ahead when making this chocolate mousse.
What I love about this recipe is that even though it is vegan, you’d never guess it. The texture is a little heavier than an egg based mousse recipe, but this chia mousse is silky smooth, perfectly sweet, and extra chocolatey.
Oh, and I almost forgot, I made some optional coconut whipped cream for topping. It’s not needed, but it sure is good dolloped on top of the mousse.
If you’re new to chia seeds, they are crazy little seeds that when added to liquid, plump up and become soft and pudding like. They can even be used in place of eggs in most recipes. They’re truly one of the coolest and craziest ingredients. Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, iron, and calcium. A single serving of chia seeds contains 5.6 grams of protein, making this mousse a healthy dose of vegan protein.
I made this mousse before I left for South Korea and had every intention of sharing it before Valentine’s Day, but an Olympic Gold Medal got in the way and I had to re-work my content calendar a bit to make room for a South Korea recap post. Not mad about it all, but this is why these photos have a very pink and semi-romantic vibe.
Oh well, I still love the chocolate mousse, and I equally love the photos. I swear, roses make all dessert photos better…no matter what time of year.
Speaking of flowers, I just spent way, way, way too much money on edible flowers, so expect lots of flowers in upcoming spring recipes. I am pretty excited about using them.
And if you are still working to eat healthier this year (good for you!), soak up this chia mousse, because I have Easter brunch and desserts on my mind and they all involve butter…and sugar.
But for now, healthy…ish chocolate chia mousse is our Tuesday treat!
Also, I shared this recipe with the awesome team over at The Chriselle Factor. Be sure to check out this post to learn more about all the amazing health benefits of this chocolate chia mousse.
Watch the How To Video:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
6 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Chia Mousse
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Keyword: chocolate dessert, no bake dessert, vegan dessert
Even though this mousse is vegan, you'd never guess it. The texture is a little heavier than an egg based mousse, but this chia mousse is silky smooth, perfectly sweet, and extra chocolatey.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup chia seeds
- 2 1/4 cups nut milk
- 1/2 cup cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup real maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon flakey sea salt
- dried roses and cacao nibs, for serving (optional)
Coconut Cream (optional)
- 1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut cream
- 2 tablespoons real maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
-
1. In a bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Cover and place in the fridge for 2 hours or up to overnight.
2. Transfer the chia seed mix to a blender and blend on high power until smooth and creamy. It’s helpful to scrape down the sides once or twice while blending to incorporate everything. Taste and add more maple if a sweeter mousse is desired. Spoon the mouse into 6 servings bowls. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.
3. To make the coconut cream, tip the coconut cream upside down and pour out the coconut water. Scoop out the coconut cream and add it to a mixing bowl with the maple syrup and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream until combined.
4. Serve the mousse topped with coconut cream, and if desired, dried roses and cacao nibs.
5. To make the coconut cream hearts, line an 8x8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the coconut cream into the prepared pan. Freeze 20-30 minutes. Using a heart cookie cutter, cut out hearts.
PS. this is totally healthy enough for breakfast…just saying.
Our Favorite Recipes
Meal Prep: Chicken Shawarma and Sweet Potato Fry Bowls.
Thank you for this! Will make as soon as I can.
Love the cook book, especially the vegetarian section.
Watched the Olympics every day. Loved the picture of your brother on the podium in the Olympics recap
on Sunday’s closing ceremony. His smile was
Priceless.
Thank you Beth!!
This mousse looks so good Tieghan! And thank goodness someone has finally made chia pudding but thought to blend it rather than leave as “frog spawn” texture. Shared on my facebook page and making this tomorrow for myself and the kids!
Thank you! I hope you love this Becky!
This looks so good and simple! I know the hardest part will be waiting!
Haha thank you Cassandra! I hope you love this!
So making this after work. Thanks!
Perfect! Thanks Les!
Tieghan,
I absolutely love your cookbook, and now I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Your photos are exquisite, I’d say you+your family are incredibly talented!!
Watching the Olympics is a favorite of mine, and I’m always so sad when they’re
over, a huge Congrats to Red!!!
Keep on doing what you’re doing!! ????
Thank you Pam!
Yes yes!! I just switched from vegetarian to vegan recently, so keep the vegan recipes coming!!
Great! I hope you love this!
Keep the vegan recipes coming! I’ve had so much fun experimenting with vegan cuisine over the last year.
May I ask where you buy the edible flowers?
I buy them online. Link below! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
https://shop.gourmetsweetbotanicals.com/Edible-Flowers_c3.htm;jsessionid=A56FEE899BC22838E6521992E28FA470.p3plqscsfapp003
Ooh yum! I don’t really care for the texture of chia seeds so this looks great. Thanks.
I hope you love this Tammy! Thanks!
I am new to Chia Seeds – will they blend into the mousse or have some texture when done? Also, does it make a difference to the recipe if you use cow’s milk (no vegans in the house and we are out of nut milk).
Hi! They should blend into the mousse, but you will need a high power blender to do so. And using cows milk will be great! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Yay Yay Yay!!!! For spring recipes! I can’t wait! And edible flowers! They’re always so cute! Where do you buy yours from? I know you’ve said before but I can’t remember.
Link below. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
https://shop.gourmetsweetbotanicals.com/Edible-Flowers_c3.htm;jsessionid=0967A49EFD32E60267665A874CE93995.p3plqscsfapp003
Omg. This was AMAZING! I’m on Whole30 so I substituted the maple syrup for soaked and chopped dates – same measurements. I didn’t even get around to making the coconut cream yet, I can’t even imagine! Truly wouldn’t know it was healthy, it was so good! My husband agreed and asked, “Where did you get the recipe?” I said, Where do you think?” He said, “Half baked harvest!? Duh!” That alone made my night. Thank you for this Teighan! I’m attacking the recipe of your chia seed recipes this week!
Ah this is so awesome! I am so glad you and your husband loved this recipe Brittany, thank you!!
This was SO good! I even thought it was healthy enough to share a few spoonfuls with my 10 month old and you should’ve seen her face 🙂 🙂
Awh that is so sweet! I am so glad you liked this, thank you!
Love this recipe! I recently changed my diet and have lost 20 lbs. I’m looking for healthier options to curb my sweet tooth and this chocolate mousse definitely did the trick. How many calories are in a serving? How much in a serving size? I look forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you!
Hi! Congrats on your new lifestyle, I hope it continues to go great for you! I am sorry, but I do not calculate the calories in my recipes. I find it helpful to find an online food calculator and type in all the ingredients, then divid by the number of servings. There are six servings in this recipe. I hope you love this! Please let me know if you have any more questions!
Thank you SO much! My two littles are allergic to milk protein so I’m constantly on the hunt for delicious dairy-free treats for them 🙂
Perfect! I hope they love this Laura!
hey girl- this looks really yummy!
Thank you!
thanks for sharing
?
This is my new go-to dessert when I need a treat. I feel pretty guilt-free about it because of the ingredients, and then feel so decadent at the same time because it tastes amazing! Thank you for the vegan options and for overall such deliciousness on this blog! 🙂
That is so awesome to hear! Thank you so much Lisa!
This mousse is okay if you like tapioca and seeds. Suspect it might work better with a Vitamix, which I do not have. After ten hours of refrigeration neither my strong counter top blender or pretty strong immersion blender (or combination of the two) could make this mousse smooth enough to eat without small gelatinous globs and bits of chia getting caught in one’s teeth.
Hi Deborah! I am so sorry this recipe did not work for you. I hope this does not stop you from trying other recipes of mine. Thanks!
One of my favorite breakfast/desserts to make. Ive already made it 3 times and everyone absolutely loves it! Thank you for the great recipe. Love the fact that it’s vegan too!
Thank you Amanda!
Can another type of milk be substituted for the nut milk? I’m not vegan. Will it taste awful if I do use another type of milk?
HI! You can use whatever milk you drink normally. Whole milk will be amazing! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
I made this last night for dessert for girlfriends, it turned out pretty good, but I did add about 1-2 extra tablespoons of Maple Syrup because it was quite tart still. I also think it would be best with a Vitamix blinder, my NutriBullet blender wasn’t as high test and was a little bit grainy. All and all a great substitute for a healthy-ish dessert!
Hi Christina! I am glad you still enjoyed this recipe, thank you!
Can’t stand among chocolate tastes… :*
I hope you enjoy this!
This was really delicious! I added a bit more maple syrup, as suggested. I loved your idea of making shapes out of frozen coconut cream! Brilliant! Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Thank you Becca! I am so glad you loved this recipe!
Hi!
Just made this tonight and waiting for it to set and blend tomorrow morning and then taking the mousse over to a friend’s place for dinner tomorrow night.
How long will the mousse on its own keep if I am lucky enough to have any leftovers 🙂
Thanks Sam
HI! The mousse will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
So mine didn’t get smooth, even after a LOT of vitamixing…enough that I had to take breaks because of the melting smell that was coming from the vitamix. I really wanted to like it, but the grit and earthy flavor of the seeds are not doing it for me.
Can I omit the chia seeds? Will I still get the same texture?
HI! I do not recommend omitting the chia seeds as they are the base of the recipe and what make this a thick and creamy mousse. The recipe will not work without the chia seeds. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I used my vitamix A TON and this never got smooth enough to be edible unfortunately. Wondering if the recipe is used to be eaten super grainy? Also, it definitely needs a lot more maple syrup. It’s extremely tart as the recipe is written.
Hey Dionna, I use a vitamix and have no issues getting a smooth texture. It takes 8 or so minutes total. If you like a sweeter mousse, feel free to add more maple! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you! xTieghan
Will there still be some unblended chia seeds in the mousse? No matter how much I blend it, I can’t get all of the chia seeds blended.
HI! It depends on the strength of your blender. If you have a vitamix you should be able to get it completely smooth, I do! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi! I tested this recipe this morning. It’s delicious ! But it still rough … I don’t have a blender, just a food processor so… Maybe is it the problem. It tastes like chocolate but not exaclty like chocolate mousse. It’s lighter but not as creamy. I’m happy about it though.
Hi Emilie! I am glad this turned out well for you still without a blender! Let me know if you have any questions! xTieghan
How many grams of sugar per serving?
Hi Nicole! I am actually not sure, because I do not calculate that. I would suggest putting the ingredients into an online food calculator to see all of those grams and percentages! xTieghan
I just made this recipe and it is seriously now in my top five favorite sweet treats of all time-and I haven’t even got to the blending stage yet! Right after mixing I scooped a little out to taste test and I am still in awe. The flavor is incredibly satisfying and the fact that I can feel good about eating this is amazing.
I am going to try it with a small dollop of natural peanut butter and a few banana slices. Yum!
Thank you so very much for such an incredible and delectable recipe!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I am so glad this turned out so well for you Merrily! xTieghan
I have eaten many fantastic vegan foods and desserts in the past, including really good Chia pudding. Unfortunately, this recipe was not one of them. It is not even close to being mousse- it is pudding, and it had an unpleasant texture and taste from the ground chia seeds. My husband said “it’s like eating dirt”. That about sums it up. Texture is gritty even after blending for several minutes on high speed in the Vitamix, and there is a weird aftertaste. Will never make this again!!
Hi Susan! I am really sorry to hear that this did not turn out as expected for you. Is there anything that could have gone wrong? Or anything I can help you with? Please let me know! xTieghan
I really wanted this to work, but the step of blending just didn’t work for me and I tried in three different blenders. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Mariam,
So sorry you had issues with the recipe. What do you mean the blending just didn’t work? It is important that the chia mixture sits in the fridge for at least 2 hours before doing this step. I hope this helps. xTieghan
I am so excited to try this! As someone who recently discovered a dairy intolerance I find I miss chocolate stuff the most and most things have dairy! This is perfect!
I hope this turns out wonderfully for you, Katherine! Thank you so much! xTieghan
can you use coconut milk instead of coconut cream for the whipped topping?
Hi Victoria,
Yes that will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I have now made this twice, both times just dumping everything in my vitamin and blending until smooth and light. I have not found it necessary to chill everything together ahead of time. Delicious–easy–and healthy as dessert goes. Provides a tasty chocolate fix (antioxidants!) and healthy fat from the chia. A keeper!
Hi Andrea! I am really glad this recipe has been turning out so well for you! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Can I use regular sea salt or Himalayan sea salt?
Yes that should work great! I hope you love this Francine! xTieghan
Do you have to add chia seeds to make the recipe?
Hi Julie! Yes, I would not leave them out! They work to hold it together! I hope you try this! xTieghan
I tried this recipe and liked it overall, ease, nutrition, flavor, but even with my vitamix on high ( had to add some liquid to get it to roll into itself, not just spin in an air pocket) I couldn’t get it ultra smooth- tiny little pieces of chia seed husk I guess. Any tips how to get those gone? Vitamix technique I should adopt?
Hi Mary Anne,
You can always add a little extra nut milk to help move it along. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So I made this and my son didn’t like the consistency of the seeds or the sliminess. So I made it again grinding the chia seeds in a Ninja and then I gently stirred in the liquid and other ingredients. It made it smoother and a more pudding like consistency. I also used a little less liquid. Love this site so much!
Hi Charlotte! I am really glad the extra blending worked well for you! Thank you for trying this recipe! I hope you continue to enjoy other recipes of mine! xTieghan
I have loved making your other recipes but this one did not work for me. I followed it to a T and the texture is really off. It tasted good before I blended it up but now it’s really gritty and grainy. The chia seeds wouldn’t blend completely smooth no matter how long I kept my Vitamix on.
If you make this recipe, I recommend skipping the blending step and thinking of it as a pudding, not mousse.
Hi Gill! I am really sorry this recipe did not turn out great for you.. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help! xTieghan
Do you have any advice for storage?
Hi Amber,
I would keep in the fridge in an airtight container. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love chia seeds, but damn those fuckers do not blend well. I put the chilled mixture in three different blenders and it was still super gritty. Tasted good but texture was whack.
Hi Claire! I am really sorry about that! Is there anything I can help you with? xTieghan
I’m so excited to rediscover some of these vegan/gluten-free/paleo recipes! (Said the girl who ate a few real pumpkin pies & pumpkin breads herself the past month). I just put this in the fridge so breakfast it will be tomorrow!! I love the cocoa nibs & dried roses and am wondering- Could I top these off with crushed cookies or granola as well/alternatively? Any suggestions? Please, more of these kinds of recipes & would love to see a mind blowing gluten-free bread or roll recipe too from you, because everything you do is amazing!❤️❤️
Hey Gia,
Yes, I think crushed cookies or granola would be great here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
MORE MAPLE SYRUP AND SPRINKLED WITH COCONUT
Hey Laura,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan