Hot Chocolate Avocado Protein Pudding

This Hot Chocolate Avocado Protein Pudding is a healthy vegan recipe that is the perfect holiday dessert. It’s created with a functional mushroom hot cacao mix, plant protein, luscious avocado, and a sweet medjool date. Garnish with homemade coconut whipped cream for a decadent & festive treat! 

If you’re looking for the perfect healthy vegan dessert to enjoy this holiday season, then you’ve got to make this Hot Chocolate Avocado Protein Pudding.

Even though hot chocolate is usually enjoyed straight off the stove, this seasonal protein pudding definitely doesn’t disappoint. 

The consistency is thick + creamy & the taste is super decadent, while being packed with over 25 grams of plant protein. 

I can’t wait for you to dig into this protein dessert! 

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Holiday Dessert Recipe

• Perfect Protein Dessert: With the combination of plant protein & seeds, this dessert is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein!
• Rich, Creamy, & Dairy Free: While there is no dairy in this seasonal dessert, it still embodies the decadent flavor that we all love.
• Fully Customizable: Make this your own, by adding in some extra nutrients –  I’ve listed some options further down in the post!

Hot Cacao Health Benefits & Nutrition 

It wouldn’t be hot chocolate without a hot cacao mix. If you have yet to sip on Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix, you’re in for a real Christmas treat. It’s not like the typical, store-bought hot chocolate packets, as this one is basically hot cacao made healthy. Crafted with good-for-you ingredients, while being paired with reishi, creates a calming blend to support stress & overall well-being. Through incorporating this specific hot cacao packet in this pudding, some of the incredible benefits include: 

• Relief of Mild Stress & Promote Relaxation: Thanks to the adaptogen of reishi, Four Sgimatic’s Hot Cacao, helps you adapt to those everyday stressors.
• Mental Clarity: The adaptogenic blend helps keep your mind calm, to feel more centered throughout your day.
• Sustainable Sourced to Achieve All the Benefits: You don’t need to worry about anything funky in your mushrooms with Four Sigmatic. It’s certified organic, as well as tested for mycotoxins, molds, and pesticides.
• Tastes Good: Just because it’s loaded with mushrooms, doesn’t mean the taste has to be compromised. It’s super delicious.

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe, but just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix: I love adding Four Sigmatic’s Organic Cacao Mix packet to this recipe because it’s creamy, uncaffeinated, and spicy-sweet. Oh & my favorite part is that this organic cacao mix is made with good-for-you ingredients and it’s paired with reishi, which creates a calming blend to support stress & overall well-being.
• Organic Cacao Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of cacao protein powder makes this pudding extra chocolatey, while keeping full and satisfied longer. I love Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s ​​made with real unrefined cacao with no grains, gums or fillers. Oh & it’s super delicious. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Four Sigmatic’s Creamy Cacao Plant Protein, add your favorite chocolate plant protein.
• Organic Chia Seeds: Organic chia seeds add some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this chocolate pudding.
• Organic Medjool Date: I recommend buying pitted dates, that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates is Joolie’s!
• Organic Avocado: Fresh or frozen both work!
• Ice Cubes: If you’re wanting your pudding to be chilled, throw some in!
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor.
• Organic Servings: Completely optional, but if you want to be extra, top with some homemade coconut whipped cream.

How To Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. To a high-speed blender, add the non-dairy milk, hot cacao mix, plant protein, seeds, and sea salt. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Medjool Dates. Add the soft medjool dates to the blender and blend until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the frozen avocado and optional ice cubes. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more liquid depending on how thick/thin you like your pudding.
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass, along with a dollop of homemade coconut whipped cream. Enjoy!

Optional Chocolate Pudding Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this healthy holiday dessert your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this Hot Chocolate Avocado Protein Pudding recipe:

• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Organic ground flax seeds adds a great little boost of fiber & minerals to this pudding.
• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Add some creaminess to this pudding with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the non-dairy milk to ¾ cup in this pudding when adding yogurt.

Tips for Making the Perfect Pudding

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect vegan holiday protein dessert? Here are my TOP tips:

1. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your pudding is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more liquid, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
2. How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, then the medjool date, before adding your frozen ingredients. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
3. Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the pudding too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.

Pudding FAQ’s

Is it healthy to have pudding?

It depends, but I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. This holiday chocolate pudding is full of protein, healthy fats, & superfoods. However, some puddings on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option. 

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular vegan protein pudding, I love using Four Sigmatic’s Cacao Plant Protein. It’s ​​made with real organic ingredients with no grains, gums, or fillers. When selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients. 

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have cacao protein powder on hand, no worries! Just use a total of 2 tablespoons of cacao powder and to increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon or two of organic hemp hearts, without changing the taste too much.

What if I don’t have Four Sigmatic’s Hot Cacao?

Not a problem! Simply add 1 tbsp of organic cacao powder and ¼ tsp organic ceylon cinnamon.

Can I make this pudding recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this recipe as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

More Healthy Protein Recipes You’ll Love

• Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie
• Chocolate Avocado Protein Pudding
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Smoothie
• Chocolate Pumpkin Avocado Protein Pudding
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.

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