Are you a fan of chocolate pudding? Then you’re going to LOVE this Carob Pudding! Forget the stovetop or boxed mix versions. This gorgeous homemade pudding is sweet, creamy and packed with plenty of wholesome goodness. Who needs the store bought stuff with all the extra additives with this recipe? Instead, this all-natural treat has our vote for taming those chocolate cravings. In addition, did we mention that it’s also vegan, dairy free and gluten free? A win-win for all you cocoa lovers out there!
Avocados, along with the banana, gives the Carob Pudding a luscious creaminess and richness unlike any other. It has just the perfect amount of sweetness from the carob syrup and vanilla extract without going overboard. However, this pudding doesn’t merely stop at its incredible flavor and texture. It’s also boasts many nutritional benefits as well. Avocados are abundant in healthy fats, potassium and vitamins. Bananas are also bountiful in potassium as well as fiber and Vitamin B6.
Although the Carob Pudding has plenty of powerhouse ingredients, the true star of the show is of course, the carob. These unique pods are actually a fruit and make an extraordinary substitute for chocolate or coffee. While it doesn’t taste exactly the same, it’s close enough to the real thing! Once you process them through a food processor or grinder, you can use the ground up carob powder in a variety of recipes. Mixing it with water, sugar and spices will yield you a delicious chocolatey syrup which we use for this pudding. You can also try incorporating it into carob blondies or a delectable carob butter spread.
One bite of this dessert and you’ll never quite look at chocolate pudding the same way again. What other cocoa desserts would you try substituting this amazing ingredient with?
Carob Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 Avocado peeled; seeded
- 1/4 cup coconut cream
- 1 frozen banana peeled
- 1/3 package Melissa's Carob Pods finely grounded
- 2 tablespoons carob syrup recipe below
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
For the Carob Syrup
- 2 pounds Melissa's Carob Pods
- 1 liter water
- 4 pounds Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
For the syrup
- Break each of the carob pods into 3 or 4 pieces and soak them in the water overnight.
- Boil the pods, in the water they soaked in, for 1 hour. Strain the fluid through a sieve into a sauce pan, while pressing the pods. Add the rest of the syrup ingredients and boil for 1-1 1/2 hours depending on your desired thickness. Let cool. Makes about 1 quart of syrup.
For the pudding
- Place all of the ingredients into a blender. Process until smooth. Place into 4 serving dishes and serve or keep in the refrigerator.
