Black Forest Chia Pudding

There is nothing like fresh, sweet cherries combined with chocolate. Oh my! This delectable creamy pudding is high in healthy fats, fiber and nutrients.

If you can’t get fresh cherries in your area, you can use frozen. I find that using this little tool is super helpful in pitting those fresh cherries.

Serve this delish dessert at a dinner party, and woo your guests. They’ll never guess it’s healthy OR vegan!

INGREDIENTS

• 1-1/2 cups cashews, soaked for 1 hour
• ½ to 1 cup coconut water
• 1/3 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 dates, pitted
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup chia seeds
• ½ cup pitted cherries, roughly chopped

Place all ingredients except chia seeds and cherries in a high-powered blender. If mixture is too thick, add coconut water until desired consistency. Blend until smooth. Pour into a medium sized bowl. Add chia seeds and cherries to the pudding mixture and stir until all combined. Refrigerate for 20 – 30 minutes to thicken. Serve chilled.