With simple ingredients, zero cooking, and a method that takes about 2 minutes total, this Chocolate Avocado Pudding is a yummy dessert to share with the kids. It’s also low in added sugars yet super creamy and so delicious!
Making pudding with a base of avocado has become a thing in recent years and while I was initially skeptical, I’m here to tell you that this treat is GOOD. The avocado adds richness and a super creamy texture—and combined with cocoa powder and a little sweetener, it’s a no-cook pudding that’s incredibly easy to blend up.
Making pudding with a base of avocado has become a thing in recent years and while I was initially skeptical, I’m here to tell you that this treat is GOOD. The avocado adds richness and a super creamy texture—and combined with cocoa powder and a little sweetener, it’s a no-cook pudding that’s incredibly easy to blend up.
It’s great plain or with fruit like fresh raspberries and is delicious chilled. And yes, it has healthy fats from the avocado, but we love it mostly because it’s fast and yummy. Plus, since it’s sweetened with just a little maple syrup, it’s a perfect chocolate pudding recipe to share with the kids.
You can also freeze it into Fudge Pops or just freeze the mixture into little bites by adding it to an ice cube tray or silicone mold.
(You may also like my Vegan Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Muffins, and Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
There are a few variations among other recipes online and I’ve tried this Chocolate Avocado Pudding a few ways and feel like I’ve landed on the mix of ingredients that’s easiest and that tastes the best—because you actually don’t want to taste the avocado (and sometimes you can, in my experience trying out other recipes). You’ll need:
- Ripe avocado: Ripe avocado will make the creamiest pudding. You can also use frozen avocado, just let it thaw mostly first so that it blends easily in the blender.
- Plain whole milk Greek yogurt: This type of yogurt helps to ensure that the pudding is super creamy. You can use a Greek-style nondairy yogurt if needed, too, to make this dairy-free. Or coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk. (I wouldn’t use nondairy milk like almond milk or oat milk in place of the yogurt as it won’t be as creamy.)
- Cocoa powder: I use unsweetened cocoa powder to add chocolate flavor and typically buy Hershey’s Special Dark. Honestly, you can use any that you like the flavor of—the recipe is fairly flexible (though some cocoa powders are more bitter than others). You can also use cacao powder.
- Maple syrup: I like to add a little maple syrup to balance out the flavor of the avocado and the cocoa powder. If you want to make this without any added sugars, you can use ½ of a very ripe banana instead.
- Pure vanilla extract: Adding vanilla extract helps to ensure that the mixture tastes like pudding.
- Optional: You can also add a ripe banana, more maple syrup, and/or a little powdered sugar if needed for a sweeter flavor.
TIP: You can use honey if you prefer, but always avoid honey for babies under 1. Agave also works.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this Chocolate Avocado Pudding recipe. Scroll down to see the full information!
- Add the ingredients to a blender
- Blend it smooth. (You can also use a food processor.)
- Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed. Note that this mellows slightly in flavor after it sits in the fridge, so you can make this a little ahead for the best results.
- Serve.
TIP: If you use a blender regularly, I highly suggest getting yourself a blender spatula. It’s thin and easy to get into the base of the blender to get all of the good stuff out!
Best Tips for Success
- Use a ripe avocado that’s soft, yet not brown on the inside.
- Taste the pudding before you serve it and adjust the sweetness if needed. You can add more maple syrup, a little powdered sugar, or even blend in a very ripe banana.
- Use unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Hershey’s Special Dark.
- Top with sprinkles if you’d like.
- Start with a small portion since it’s rich and the kids may not want a ton (or maybe they will, but if you start with a smaller portion, you may get some too!)
- This is best on the day you make it, though you can store it in the fridge for 24 hours in an airtight container. If any liquid separates out, simply stir it up.
- Note that the flavor mellows out a little after it sits in the fridge so you can make it a little ahead if desired.
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I’d love to hear if you try this recipe, so please comment below to share!
Easy Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 medium avocado, pit and peel discarded (about ½ cup avocado flesh)
- 1/2 cup whole milk Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Use a ripe avocado that’s soft, yet not brown on the inside.
- Taste the pudding before you serve it and adjust the sweetness if needed.
- Use unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Hershey’s Special Dark.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons smooth almond butter (or sunflower seed butter) for extra creaminess.
- Top with sprinkles if you’d like.
- Start with a small portion since it’s rich and the kids may not want a ton (or maybe they will, but if you start with a smaller portion, you may get some too!).
Nutrition
This post was first published February 2020.
I was excited to make this for my toddler but it came out really bitter. My 2.5yo kept referring to it as ‘hot’. I used unsweetened cocoa powder was that the wrong kind?
I use unsweetened cocoa powder. Sometimes the brand of yogurt can impact this, so if you try it again, you can either add more vanilla or sweetener to taste, or let it chill in the fridge for a few hours which often mellows the flavor some.
It was pretty yummy! I don’t have a blender currently so I just mashed the avocado by hand and then mixed everything together, naturally it was a bit chunkier but it worked fine. I topped it off with blueberries and shredded coconut 😋
So delicious! I used chobani vanilla yogurt and added a banana for volume, so no added sweeteners were necessary! Simply delicious! Thanks for this great recipe!
Super good. I used on less tablespoon maple syrup just to see. Was extra tart, of course, but my three year old *loved* it. Thanks, Amy, for another great recipe!
Will this taste alright with unsweetened whole milk greek yogurt? Is there any assumption that we are using something sweetened or vanilla flavored?
That is what I use here, so go right ahead.
Have you ever tried substituting maple syrup with honey?
Feel free to do that, it’s similar. Honey can have a stronger flavor but it’s usually a good thing!
This was quick and easy to whip up! A fun alternative to store bought with extra nutritional boost. My toddler wanted it as *ice cream* and I was like brilliant! We will try it!
Loved this recipe for myself and picky toddler! How long does it stay fresh in fridge for?
It’s best within about 3 days.
I normally adore YTF recipes and have several staples that I use constantly and tell other moms about, but I was sooooo disappointed with this recipe. I actually bought an avocado specifically to make this pudding because I was so excited to try it! Not sure if I went wrong somewhere but despite extra syrup, the pudding turned out with a very sour flavor and tasted strongly of avocado (which is great in something like guacamole, just not a dessert). Not my fave, but maybe my toddler will enjoy it more than I did!
Oh no! What kind of yogurt did you use? Sometimes it mellows a little in the fridge so try that in the meantime.
I used whole milk Greek yogurt! Maybe my yogurt brand was a little more sour than other ones? It mellowed a little bit in the fridge but not much. I will say my toddler loved it though so that’s a win at least!!
That’s good and yes, that’s possible with the yogurt!
Any reason not to give this to an 8 month old? Seems very lightly sweet to me and no ingredients they can’t have. It was a big hit with my 2 year old!
Some people wait to offer foods with cocoa powder in them for a bit since it does contain small amounts of caffeine. I usually fall in the camp that a small amount is not going to be enough to worry about, but that would be the main thing to consider.
This was amazingly delicious and healthy! Thank you!
Mine tasted very sour and I’m not sure why. The texture was amazing and it looked good but so sour and kind of bitter. Could it be the Greek yogurt I used? I used whole milk like the recipe says. I also used cacao powder instead of coco which may be why it taste a little bitter?
It’s possible it was a combination of those two things. Maybe see how it is after sitting in the fridge? Sometimes that mellows a little.
I’m wondering if you have tried freezing this pudding as a popsicle?? I have seen your mousse popsicles but have a handful of avocados I need to use and thought I could stock up in the freezer for my 3y/o…🤔
Yes! Its delish frozen