Recipe: Avocado Cacao Pudding

A while back my friend Kim passed along a recipe for Avocado Cacao Pudding. You may have heard of this recipe before. Kim explained it is one of those recipes that many people have their own version of.  I prepared the recipe according to Kim's variation and was amazed by how quick and easy it is.  But the best part is how delicious it tastes.  It is the perfect solution to your sweet tooth needs.  I had to share!

Ingredients:
2 avocado
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup sweetener of choice such as raw agave, raw honey, maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut milk

The Process:
Blend avocado, cacao powder and honey (or your choice of sweetener) paying attention to consistency. Add coconut milk in as you blend until you reach a pudding like thickness. You may need a little more or less coconut milk depending on achieving your desired consistency.  You can let chill or eat right away.  Kim suggested garnishing with shredded coconut, bananas, berries or almonds.  This recipe produced two medium sized servings.

Tip:
You can play around with the amount of sweetener you add in depending on your own sweet tooth needs ;).  You can also use any milk or cocoa powder you have on hand.

Kim also gave me a recipe for transforming this dessert into a pie. This is another quick, easy recipe with the same simple ingredients (and SO delicious).

Ingredients:
Pie Filling:
4 ripened avocados
3/4 cup raw cacao
3/4 cup sweetener of choice
3/4 cup coconut milk

Pie crust:
1 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut
3 dates

The Process:
Prepare the pie filling in the same way the pudding is prepared in the first recipe above.  Let filling chill while preparing the crust.  For the crust:  pulse all nuts in food processor until a coarse meal type consistency is achieved. Add in the dates and coconut and pulse a bit more.  You want the nut mixture to be moistened enough to press evenly into the bottom of a pie pan to form a crust.  Once the crust is prepared in pie pan spread the pie filling mixture evenly and let chill in your refrigerator for a bit to set.  Add your choice of garnish and enjoy!

Images and design:  Rebecca Tollefsen