Enjoy this secretly Healthy Chocolate Pudding that tastes rich and decadent but is actually very good for you! This pudding is refined sugar-free and it gets all of its natural sweetness solely from fruit! The star ingredient is the highly nutritious Medjool date. Dates have a rich but subtle caramel flavor which enhances the deep rich flavor of chocolate.
Using Medjool dates instead of sugar is an excellent way to boost the nutritional benefit of Chocolate Pudding.
Serve this fruit-sweetened pudding in a fancy dish as an elegant dessert or serve it up simply as a healthy snack.
Pudding and mousse are among my favorite desserts. When Geoff and I were first married, we started a Valentine's tradition of making and enjoying a mousse together. That experience served me well as I created this nutritious and delicious chocolate pudding. I hope you enjoy it too!
For more naturally sweetened treats visit: Oat Flour Brownies, Black Bean Brownies, Sunbutter Cookies and Healthy Lemon Mousse.
What Makes This Chocolate Pudding Healthy?
- The combination of Medjool dates, egg yolks and unsweetened cocoa powder make this pudding not only a treat but an extremely nutritious one.
- Medjool dates contain a significant amount of potassium, beta-carotene as well as many other vitamins and minerals. In addition, Medjool dates are high in fiber and provide natural energy.
- Egg yolks are rich in vitamins and essential nutrients including calcium, phosphorus and zinc. They are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and unsaturated fats which are not made by the body and must be obtained in our diets.
- Cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols (which are naturally occurring antioxidants) and flavanols.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Naturally sweetened with Medjool dates (just like my Healthy Chocolate Mint Fudge)
- Wholesome ingredients and nutritionally rich
- Contains the nutritional benefits of egg yolks
- Dairy free!
- Only 6 ingredients!
Ingredients
- Egg yolks- Egg yolks add nutritional benefit to this recipe but you can omit them if you prefer.
- Medjool dates - or swap for Deglet Noor dates you just want dates with a soft and creamy texture.
- Coconut milk
- Cocoa powder - choose high quality unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Salt - salt adds flavor and balances the sweetness of this pudding.
- Vanilla extract - vanilla helps enhance the chocolate flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- Coconut Milk: If you cannot use coconut milk, you can substitute it with whole milk or other non-dairy milk alternatives like almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk.
- Egg Yolks: If you prefer you can omit the egg yolks from this recipe and the pudding will still set. I called for egg yolks in this recipe for the added nutrition.
- If you are feeling creative, try your own flavor add-ins such as lemon or orange zest, peppermint extract, almond extract, or miso paste. Adding some espresso powder would also enhance the depth of the chocolate flavor.
- Use your imagination and add a garnish or topping to your Chocolate Pudding. Try some shaved dark chocolate or chocolate curls, a sprinkling of chopped nuts, granola or coconut and goji berries.
I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.
How To Make Healthy Chocolate Pudding
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Pit the dates.
Remove the pits from the dates.
Step 2: Blend dates and coconut milk.
Blend pitted dates and coconut milk together. Keep blending until the mixture is very smooth.
Step 3: Heat the coconut milk mixture.
In a medium-sized pot on the stove, heat coconut milk and date mixture, cocoa powder and salt.
Step 4: Whisk egg yolks.
Add egg yolks to a medium sized bowl and whisk.
Step 5: Temper the egg yolks with the chocolatey coconut milk mixture.
Once this mixture is warm, add about ⅓ cup slowly (drop by drop) into the whisked egg yolks. This step tempers the egg yolks so they don't cook when you add them back into the pot of milk.
Step 6: Heat the pudding until it thickens and transfer to serving bowls.
Add the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the pot. Stir constantly on medium-low heat until the mixture thickens. This should take 3-5 minutes.
Remove pot from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract. Transfer to a bowl or serving dishes.
Step 7: Chill the pudding and top with chocolate curls and enjoy!
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Top with chocolate curls if desired and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Choose fresh and soft Medjool dates for the best natural sweetness and texture in the pudding.
- When tempering the egg yolks, slowly add about ⅓ cup of the warm coconut milk mixture drop by drop into the whisked egg yolks. This prevents the eggs from scrambling and ensures a smooth consistency.
- Stir the mixture constantly on medium-low heat once the egg yolk mixture is added back to the pot.
- If you prefer a sweeter pudding, you can add a touch of natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. However, taste the pudding before adding any sweetener, as the dates should already provide lots of sweetness.
Recipe FAQs
White sugar adds empty calories while dates are rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Dates also have a lower glycemic index than sugar and so will not result in blood sugar spikes the way white sugar does.
Try making a meringue base with the pudding as a filling topped with whipped cream. Or make my delicious healthy granola which uses egg whites in the recipe.
Yes, you can use other varieties of dates, but Medjool dates are recommended for their natural sweetness and creamy texture, I have also used Deglet Noor dates for this recipe with success.
If the pudding becomes overly thick, you can whisk in a small amount of coconut milk or a milk alternative to achieve the desired consistency. Remember it will continue to thicken up as it cools.
It depends on the recipe and ingredients used. A healthy chocolate pudding recipe uses natural sweeteners and dark chocolate to avoid common unhealthy ingredients in puddings, making it a healthier alternative to traditional chocolate puddings. However, like all desserts, it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Storage
Fridge
This pudding will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!
Leave a review or comment below!
Recipe
Healthy Chocolate Pudding Sweetened with Dates
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks from large eggs
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (or 10-12 dates)
- 14 oz can of unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates. Blend pitted dates and coconut milk together.
- Add egg yolks to a medium sized bowl and whisk.
- In a medium sized pot on the stove, heat coconut milk and date mixture, cocoa powder and salt.
- Once this mixture is warm, add about ⅓ cup slowly (drop by drop) into the whisked egg yolks. This step tempers the egg yolks so they don't cook when you add them back into the pot of milk.
- Add the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the pot. Stir constantly on medium-low heat until the mixture thickens. This should take 3-5 minutes.
- Remove pot from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract. Transfer to a bowl or serving dishes. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Top with chocolate curls if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- Choose fresh and soft Medjool dates for the best natural sweetness and texture in the pudding.
- When tempering the egg yolks, slowly add about ⅓ cup of the warm coconut milk mixture drop by drop into the whisked egg yolks. This prevents the eggs from scrambling and ensures a smooth consistency.
- Stir the mixture constantly on medium-low heat once the egg yolk mixture is added back to the pot.
- If you prefer a sweeter pudding, you can add a touch of natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. However, taste the pudding before adding any sweetener, as the dates should already provide lots of sweetness.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Bekah says
This recipe is pure magic! I was a little skeptical about trying it. I honestly thought it would just taste like dates. But it is so so tasty and you would never know it doesn't contain refined sugar! I will be making it again!
Jess says
This is my absolute favorite! I never thought I would make homemade pudding until I came across this recipe. I LOVE the coconut milk in this. Please create more recipes like this one!!
Meg says
Wow!!! This looks like the perfect end to a good meal!