This is the Chocolate Pudding Recipe I Make Nearly Every Month

Sure, store-bought chocolate pudding is fine and good but this right here?  This double-chocolate pudding recipe made with raw cacao powder and coconut milk is elite. It’s also super easy to whip together and a delight to have tucked away in the refrigerator.

The thing that I’ve come to love about TikTok is that our weirdest, most common truths go viral for no/every reason.  Lately I’ve seen video after video about a woman’s luteal phase and… if you know you know. (If you don’t know, the luteal phase is the time after a woman ovulates and before her period starts and… well, it’s a TIME, biologically and emotionally.)  I find extreme comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one who just feels dang depleted in these days before my period starts. And like…. don’t even get me started on how I look in the mirror to discover I’m somehow no longer cute. It’s just a trick of the hormones. It’s not real.

Now… on the daily I lead what I like to refer to as a Little Treat Lifestyle. This week I bought myself a dragonfruit at the grocery store: Little Treat.  I went on a cute morning walk: Little Treat.  I ate cookie dough from the freezer: Little Treat.

Little Treat Lifestyle comes in strong during my luteal phase and I’ll tell ya, I need extras.  More often than not, I make myself this decadent chocolate pudding. It’s made with raw cacao powder instead of the cocoa powder I often bake with. Cacao powder is made from roasted cacao beans, and is more minimally processed that cocoa powder, keeping loads of minerals and antioxidants in the powder. Coconut milk adds a satisfying fat and maple syrup is deep and comforting.

Other Little Treats I make every month: Seed Cycling Balls!

As far as Little Treats go, this pudding is the ultimate. It’s comfort and satisfaction with a side of actual nourishment.  We’ll make a batch of four and keep Little Treat Lifestyle going strong. These are the days of our lives.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this chocolate pudding recipe:

•  raw cacao powder is my preferred chocolate for this pudding because cacao is minimally processed

•  cornstarch or potato starch to thicken the pudding.  We’re not using egg yolks (which traditionally thickens pudding) so starch will be our quick thickener.

•  maple syrup is my favorite sweetener for this pudding.  If you don’t have maple, an equal amount of brown sugar also works well.

•  whole fat coconut milk though reduced fat coconut milk also works wonderfully.

•  sea salt and vanilla extract to balance and enhance the flavor of the pudding.

•  dark chocolate for an even more luscious chocolate pudding, chopped finely so it melts easily.

•  for toppings: fresh berries (raspberries and blackberries are my favorite), black sesame seeds (which also help balance hormones in a woman’s luteal phase), cocoa nibs for crunch, and soft whipped cream (or Cool Whip or coconut whipped cream – whatever feels easy)

In a small saucepan whisk together raw cacao powder, cornstarch, and salt.

Stream in the maple syrup and coconut milk.  Y’all it’s already luscious but whisk in some strong coffee too.

Coffee will deepen the flavor of the pudding and enhance the flavor of the chocolate but if you’re worried about caffeine, adding a splash of water will do, too.

Bring the creamy chocolate mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat, whisking into the corners of the pot every so often.  The pudding will start to thicken when the cornstarch reaches the boiling point. Whisk for 30 seconds or so as the mixture thickens before removing from the heat and whisking in the melted chocolate.  Whisk until the chocolate has thoroughly melted and the pudding is glossy.

Immediately divide the pudding into four small dishes.  I like to use shallow glasses or tea cups.

Cover the pudding flush with plastic wrap to keep the pudding from developing a skin as it cools. Refrigerate until chilled though, about 4 hours. While II wait, absolutely scrape any pudding left in the pan on a spatula and into my mouth.

Toppings are the best part of pudding, right? Pudding without toppings is like a sandwich without mayo or a pizza without pepperoni. Why even?

I usually top my chocolate pudding with whipped cream (I usually use diary though coconut whipped cream is nice here, too!), berries, and something crunch.  My ideal is fresh raspberries, black sesame seeds or toasted salted sunflower seeds, and crunchy cocoa nibs.

This pudding! She’s gorgeous. She’s rich. She’s supple.  I mean… exactly how I don’t feel late in my monthly cycle. These four little servings of pudding feel, sure, like a Little Treat, but more deeply – a cup feels nourishing.  It’s all the creamy sweet chocolate I need, right when I need it.

I hope you add this pudding to your monthly rotation friends. It’s really such a lovely treat.

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