Hey There, Puddin' (Cacao-cado Pudding, that is)
Any one else crave chocolate on the reg? Both Ivor and I do, although my daughter swears that, “Kids don’t like chocolate.” (Sweet! Literally. More for the adults.)
There are two go-to homemade raw cacao desserts we turn to when a craving hits that I have grown to prefer over any store-bought chocolate. Really. And the best part is that they take less than five minutes each to whip up.
Last night, after all of our avocados ripened at the same time and needed to be used immediately, I made one of these go-to favorites—an OG recipe that I first stumbled across and started making in 2014—blending those avocados with raw cacao powder into a rich chocolate pudding. When these two super-ingredients (plus a few more for taste and consistency) make sweet blended amour in a food processor, amazing things happen. Powerful things. Look-at-all-the-good-you-are-doing-for-yourself-things.
What kind of good, you might ask?
Well, avocados are a low-sugar fruit full of "good fats" (the mono-unsaturated kind), which lower your bad cholesterol, as well as your risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer. Avocados are also full of protein, fiber, and lots of vitamins and minerals.
Raw cacao powder—the other super ingredient in this pudding—is rich in antioxidants that help you destroy free radicals in your cells (i.e. slow down aging), lower your risk of heart disease and help prevent cancer. It is also, ironically, an appetite suppressant. So, eating a bit of this cacao-cado pudding can actually stop a craving in its tracks. Cacao has so many benefits, of which these are only a few, so check out, “Cacao. A super duper food” on Emily Dexter Wellness’ blog for her nutritional wisdom.
Navitas Organics makes cacao superfood blends, so when Emily suggested that I add reishi to my diet (which I mostly only otherwise consume through REBBL drinks) to boost my immune system, lower stress and improve sleep, I was super excited to find cacao and reishi in the same bag. 👊🏻
This delicious dessert is actually an immune-boosting, stress-reducing, heart disease and cancer-kicking ninja.
So, how does one concoct this ecstatic indulgence? Let's begin.
** Note: I cannot find the original Pinterest recipe that inspired me, but I did immediately commit it to memory, and have tweaked it to perfection ever since. **
What You'll Need:
One avocado for every two servings
4 Tbsp. raw cacao powder for every one avocado, or every two servings
1/2 cup of coconut water or almond milk (or milk... liquid of your choice) – adjust for desired consistency/thickness
Dash of ceylon cinnamon (which helps your body process the sugar) and nutmeg, if you like
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract for every two servings
Pure maple syrup to taste (Alternately, use one banana, which changes the thickness, but adds a natural sweetener)
Toppings: raspberries (or any berry), shaved coconut, cacao nibs, sliced almonds or walnuts, or any other topping of choice
What You Do:
Put all of the above (except the toppings) in a food processor and go to town, blending that baby for a solid minute or two. It should be a relatively thick consistency (i.e. not a smoothie), but it will become even thicker as it sets in the refrigerator, where it should rest for at least 1-2 hours. The longer, the yummier.
I repeat: give this stuff time to settle in the fridge and for all the ingredients to become intimate friends.
If you taste it right away, you will be able to taste the avocado more than the cacao and your first thought might not be, "OMG Yum" (though it should be showing serious promise). However, after a long chill sesh, you won’t believe how rich and chocolately the flavor is and you would never know it was made with avocados.
Serve with all the toppings your heart desires and bask in all the ways you’re taking care of yourself.
The next time you have an avocado overage, or that five second window that your avocado is perfectly ripe is closing, blend up some cacao-cado puddin’ to have on hand for a craving (it’s good in the fridge for 2-3 days, if it lasts that long).
Oh, and our second go-to homemade chocolatey dessert? Stay tuned for that.