RAW Chocolate Pudding!!

My RAW Chocolate Pudding!!

Well, yesterday I was seriously craving chocolate…so I decided to make my favourite RAW chocolate pudding! I think I may have a slight obsession with it. It’s so satisfying on so many different levels!! The best part is that it actually has amazing health benefits, tastes great, and it takes less than 5 minutes to make! Last night, Mike and I had it as our evening snack. It was so good, I thought I’d share the recipe with all of you!!!

You might be wondering how you make a raw vegan chocolate pudding. Well, the secret is….avocadoes!!! Yes Avocadoes!!!  Did you know…Avocadoes contain amazingly healthy fats, making them one of the best foods you can eat!?! Many people are scared of the “high fat content” of avocadoes… but the truth is, that the fat in avocadoes is plant based, and therefore your body uses it right away as energy, and doesn’t store it on your body like other saturated fats from animal based foods. They are also a great source of lutein,  an antioxidant which helps protect your eyes, and guard against cancer.  Avocadoes also help fuel you for the whole day, and can also help keep you regular (which is one of the millions of benefits of going vegan, and eating healthy!!). Half an avocado contains 4 grams of fibre, including soluble and insoluble, both of which your body needs to keep the digestive system running smoothly. Plus, soluble fibre slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in your body, helping you feel fuller longer, and stabilizing your blood sugar levels. Avocadoes can also help lower your cholesterol. The last reason to love avocadoes is simple—avocadoes are a healthy way to boost the flavour and texture of your meals, and in this case make this pudding AMAZING!!!

Another main component of this pudding is RAW chocolate. There’s none of that refined processed stuff in this pudding…. this is the real deal! It’s called Cacao. Cacao is RAW, meaning it hasn’t been heated and refined over 115F. With it being raw, all of the amazing health benefits are preserved!!! One of the main health benefits of cacao is its high concentration of antioxidants (400x the antioxidants of cocoa..crazy right??), which can help in the prevention of cancer and other diseases.  However, the processing (adding new ingredients and mixing them together) of raw cacao seed lowers that naturally high amount of antioxidants to become virtually non-existant. This processed version is what you normally see in grocery store shelves in the form of chocolate bars. If you want the best health benefits of chocolate and the high antioxidant power of cacao beans/powder, then you will want to get it in its natural raw state – nothing added, nothing taken away. Cacao is also loaded with fibre, protein, and tons of trace minerals! This allows your body to maintain a healthy weight, and in most cases, shed extra pounds!! You can purchase cacao at any local health food stores, and some grocery stores.

Enough talking…HERE it is!!!

Erinn’s RAW Vegan Chocolate Pudding!!

1 Pitted Medjool Date

2 Tbsp sweetener of your choice, I used agave, but Maple syrup or coconut syrup will work just as well! (Wholesome Sweetener’s)

1 ½ Avocadoes, pitted, peeled.

2 1/2  Tbsp Cacao Powder

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract (Simply Organic)

2-3 Tbsp Non Dairy Milk, I used almond milk (Almond Breeze)

Put everything in your Vitamix blender, and start on low speed, and blend up to high, until everything is incorporated and mixed thoroughly. About 1 ½ minutes. You may need to use a spatula around the sides of the blender and swish everything around until it’s blended beautifully.

Sprinkle with cacao nibs…they add a delicious CRUNCH!!

Makes 2 generous servings

There you have it! A satisfying treat that won’t increase your waistline!

Well, I hope you enjoy (and maybe become slightly addicted to) this delicious pudding as much as I do. It’s great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and also fares well in kids’ lunches!

Until next time….put your health first!!!

Erinn

xo