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RECIPES

Chocolate Chia Ice Cream!

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Chocolate Chia Ice Cream 029I thought that this week I’d go for something a lot more fitting weather-wise. ICE CREAM. Well, maybe it’s ice cream but it doesn’t involve cream, eggs or even cornstarch. Technically  it should have one of those names that brands have to use when they make something which doesn’t meet the legal definition for ice cream and have to call it ‘frozen dessert’. But, uhhh, that’s not an incredibly appetising name.

Let’s stick with ice cream.

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Chia seeds have become somewhat of a trend recently (I say recently but it’s been over a year. It takes a while for these types of trends to reach the UK). I’ve never been a fan of them due to the slimy texture they take on once soaked in liquid. They absorb water and swell to form a gel which thickens whatever liquid they’re in. Still, no matter how much fruit or flaked coconut you throw on that, it’ll always look like my worst nightmare.

This year I’ve noticed that people have been exploiting the properties of the seeds to thicken mixtures and create jam, fruit curds and pudding. Some of these types of recipes involved soaking and then blending them to create a smooth and creamy texture. Sounded much more like my cup of tea!

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As ice cream base is pretty much flavoured custard, and custard = pudding, I saw no reason why I couldn’t make a smooth chocolate chia pudding and then churn it in an ice cream maker. And guess what!? It TOTALLY worked. Yeah okay you didn’t have to guess that because there are pictures and a blog post. Even my mum, a chia pudding sceptic like me, said that it was the ‘Best chia has ever tasted!’ .

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Recipe inspired by Jessica’s (How Sweet Eats) Whipped Double Chocolate Chip Chia Pudding

Chocolate Chia Ice Cream!

4.50 from 14 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1 2/3 cup milk , (2%, cashew, almond or coconut work well)
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 oz unsweetened chocolate , , melted
  • 4 pitted medjool dates
  • optional: chocolate curls , , cacao nibs for serving

Instructions

  • Stir all the ingredients (except for the dates) together in a medium jug until completely combined. Stir in the dates then chill the mixture overnight (or for at least four hours).
  • Pour the soaked mixture into a high powered blender and blitz until completely smooth. The mixture should be thick and creamy. Transfer the mixture back to the jug and chill until you're ready to churn it.
  • Churn the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturers instructions. Transfer the churned mixture to a lidded container and freeze until firm enough to scoop. Serve with chocolate curls (created using a peeler on a bar of chocolate) and cacao nibs if you want!
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it went! Mention @izyhossack or tag #topwithcinnamon!

106 thoughts on “Chocolate Chia Ice Cream!”

  1. Genius. So trying this when my current stash of coconut milk ice cream in the freezer runs out (probably won’t take too long…)

  2. I’ve been seeing chia seeds everywhere but this is the first I’ve seen it in icecream. Will definitely have to give this a try!

  4. Oh, gushhh! ! Ice cream of my dreams – almost fat free!! The only thing, is that i’m not sure if i can find chia seeds in Ukraine. As soon as i do find , this ice cream would be the first thing to do)

  5. Izy, you are a genius! I love this idea, and what I love even more is that I have all of the ingredients in my kitchen as of right now. Yay!

  6. Brilliant!! Just like you and your mom, chia seeds were never my cup of tea. Ice cream (and chocolate) is the perfect vessel.

  7. This is awesome! One could never intrigue me with some kind of chia-anything but photos where I can almost feel the chocolate melting in my mouth wouldn’t even leave me doubting for a second. Thanks for the great inspiration and maybe a little chia-love in the future (in form of this icecream of course!) 🙂

  8. This is AMAZING!! I have to try this. Have you seen this enywhere else or have you come up with this recipe all by yourself?? 🙂

  9. Dude. This is just so genius (not to mention GORGEOUS). And um, 100% health food I’m pretty sure.

  12. I’m not a fan of chia pudding either (it reminds me of some nasty tapioca pudding we used to have at school!) but this sounds awwwwesome! I’ll totally be making some of this over the weekend. Thanks love! x

  13. I’m with Kezia – totally genius idea and I have all the ingredients right now!!! I am solo going to try it right away.

  15. this ice cream = chia pudding gone sexy. i bet this would make some dope pudding pops, too!

  17. Oh what a genius idea to use chia seeds and medjool dates. Great healthy ice cream..
    PINNED!
    Cheers!
    Ice

  19. Pinterest worthy photography and a very clever recipe!
    I will definitely be trying it as soon as the sub arctic weather in Australia subsides 🙂

  21. I am one of the ones that is obsessed with chia seeds but totally genius to throw them into ice cream. I am all over this! Pinned.

  22. I keep seeing chia ice cream recipes floating around – I think it’s a sign! This looks absolutely delicious!

  24. It took me a while to use chia seeds for anything other than vegan baking and to throw some extra nutrients into my mixer when making smoothies. Like you I initially found chia pudding so unappetising but must admit it has grown on me this summer – soaked in a little almond milk and a pinch of salt over night, topped with lots of berries and a drizzle of maple syrup it is actually quite nice (in a bircher muesli kind of way I guess).

    As for this chocolate ice cream? What an amazing idea. So many dairy free or vegan recipes rely on coconut cream and as much as I like this in curries and some desserts I definitely don’t like it everywhere. I will totally have to give this a try!

  26. I’ve always been a little on the iffy side of chia seeds since I just can’t get over the slimy texture and how they get stuck in your teeth. I think it’s so awesome that you’ve discovered that they taste great in ice cream! What a fun way to use them and your photos are drop-dead gorgeous 🙂

  27. This looks awesome! I have a friend who is obsessed with chia seeds and she made this weird chocolate chia thing and it was really gross and it kind of turned me off of chia seeds for a while but this looks like dessert recipe to get back into the chocolate/chia combination. So pretty!

  28. This looks amazing!!! I would love to make it… Except I don’t have an ice cream machine. :/ Any ideas?

  29. Awesome idea. I’ve been using chia seeds in smoothies – ice cream sounds even better! Lovely photos too!

  30. I was just thinking about chia seeds and now I know a use for it other than the basic “chia seed pudding” way. I can’t wait to try this!

  35. I can’t stop staring on your beautiful props. And of course ice creams. It’s so hot, that it would be a nice relieve.

  37. OH MAN – I am obsessed with this idea! What a great way to make ice cream a little less “guilty” 🙂

  38. This is totally creative, unique, and very, very cool! Chia in ice cream? Who knew!? 🙂

  39. craving a scoop.. (make that a bowlful) right now. you can never go wrong with a good chocolate ice cream! love that you used chia too…

  40. So….Izy. This is by far the most brilliant ice cream I’ve seen this summer–make that EVER. I can’t believe how incredible it looks!!! As soon as I get back to Houston, I AM TRYING THIS. Love love love your photos as always!!! YOU ARE AMAZING.

  41. Are you kidding me this looks AMAZING. Can’t wait to try now! I do not like the texture of chia so this one wins in my book. I also made a cauliflower/apple/chia based pizza crust today. Happy Nesting.

  44. PERRRRRRFECT. i have been wondering what to do with these chia seeds that are sitting all lonely in my pantry.

  47. Wow, this looks yummy.My mom’s birthday is coming up, I have to make her try this hahah! Thanks for the great recipe!

  50. This recipe is blowing my mind – who knew?! Do you have a Vitamix for all your blending needs?

  51. I love the idea of using chia seeds as the thickener in ice cream! That never would have occurred to me. I feel like the blending in freezing probably helps the chia seed texture situation too. Major dessert smarts!

  52. Holy. My jaw literally dropped when I saw this ice cream. It looks so incredible. Your photos are incredible. Your dishes are gorgeous. Everything about this is like perfection. I can’t wait to try it!
    And I love that no cashew butter or canned coconut milk is involved. Revolutionary!
    Pinning for later. (;

  54. I’m not a fan of the texture of chia seeds in general, but I actually prefer the whole seeds in my pudding instead of the ones that are blitzed (whaaaa?). BUT! I need to try this ice cream because mixing my favorite indulgent ingredient (chocolate) with my favorite healthy ingredient (chia) is a match made in dessert heaven. <3 Fist bumps to ya, woman.

  55. I made it and it was TO DIE FOR! It was my first homemade ice cream, my first time working with chia seeds and it worked perfect, I am so happy!
    I used like twice the amount of regular, smaller dates (because expensive 😉 ), regular 60% chocolate and no maple syrup because the kind of hazelnut milk I had on hand is lightly sweetened with rice syrup.
    I found it hardens quite a bit when you store it in the freezer, but I ate most of it directly out of the ice cream maker so that didn’t matter much.
    Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!

    I have another question concerning your book: I’d really like to buy it, I just wondered which kind of measurings you included? Cups, oz, grams? I’m german and I’d love to see grams.. 😀
    Congrats by the way! We are the same age and I adore you so much! *fangirling*

    Anja 🙂

  56. Wow, this looks super good! Just picked up a bag of chia seeds for the first time yesterday-now I know what I’m making! Thanks for the inspiration and beautiful photography!

  57. Would this also work with ground flax seed? I remember that flax seed is commonly used in baking too.

  58. Can I just say thank you? This looks so amazing! Chocolate and chai and ice cream.(kind of just sounds like the title) I just stumbled on this and I am so excited that I did! Thank you for sharing this!!

  62. What a great idea with the chia seeds. Chia seeds are so versatile and you pictures make it look so delicious. But of course with chocolate, maple syrup and vanilla it has to be. I will try this – thanks!

  63. Oh my god, I am easily going to do this soon! I actually happen to lika chiaseeds, but I have never tried to mix the pudding. It sound delicious!

  64. Looks delicious!

    Few questions though…

    A. How much does it yield?
    B. does it work well even if you don’t have an icecream machine
    C. If I make vanilla instead of chocolate would
    I need to add or subtract anything

    many, many thanks. Can wait to try it!

    • Thanks!
      A – not sure specifically but it’ll serve 1-2 people
      B – no. It’ll be too icy!
      C – I wouldn’t recommend doing that as the colour will be grey (might be better if you use white chia seeds?) and the flavour of the chia seeds will come through a LOT. If you’re okay with grey, very chia-flavoured ice cream then you wont have to change anything other than not using cocoa powder!

      Hope that helped! 🙂

  66. 1. could i substitute ground or whole flax meal for the chia seeds?
    2. If I do use the chia seeds do they have to be whole or can they be ground?

  68. 5 stars
    YUM, followed the recipe and it taste WONDERFUL, so i made it again with some hazelnuts and cacao powder.

    I hadn’t realised until reading the comments that i should use Ground Chai seeds (for those wondering, the seeds literally dissolved after blitzing, the ice cream was lovely and smooth using the seeds)……. but, as i didn’t use ground chai seeds i’m going to make it again haha.

    with love from the UK

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