Secretly Healthy Vegan Chocolate Pudding (Gluten Free, Nut Free)

If you're looking for a refreshing chocolate dessert that's healthy, cool and easy to make, this secretly healthy chocolate pudding NEEDS to be on your weekly meal plan. Even I was pleasantly surprised when I threw a few simple ingredients into my blender with the goal of creating a healthier chocolate frosting and this scrumptious banana pudding emerged instead.

And banana isn't the only secretly healthy ingredient in this pudding! It also contains a hidden vegetable (helllo sweet potato) and minimal refined sugar. I love that this chocolate pudding is sweet enough to enjoy as a dessert but healthy enough to eat for breakfast. And considering that I ended up eating the entire batch... on my own...within a week...let's just say I'm a very big fan of this happy accident. ;)

Now for a little FYI: you WILL taste the banana and sweet potato in this pudding, so if you strongly dislike either of those flavors, this is probably not the gluten free dessert for you. But if you're craving a healthy chocolate pudding, definitely give this recipe a whirl! So what do you need to make healthy chocolate pudding for yourself? Let's dive into the recipe.

Ingredients For This Thick Vegan Chocolate Pudding

3/4 cup baked sweet potato
1/2 cup mashed banana (roughly 1 large banana)
1/4 cup cacao powder (my favorite is from Foods Alive, which is why I'm an ambassador for them!)
1/2 cup plant-based milk
1/2 cup water
1 TBSP coconut syrup or sweetener
Optional: 1 TBSP coconut flour

How to Make Your Own Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding, ASAP!

When it comes to gluten free desserts, this banana and sweet potato chocolate pudding is about as easy to make as it gets! First, you need to cook your sweet potato. I personally cooked mine in the microwave, but you can cook it any method you like as long as it is soft and starting to caramelize by the end.

Once you cool your sweet potato in the fridge, pull out a blender or food processor and put in 3/4 cup of baked sweet potato (scooped out from the middle - no skin), as well as all the other ingredients. The coconut flour in this banana chocolate pudding is optional, but it helps make the pudding thicker and fluffier. You can also add an additional tablespoon of sweetener or melted chocolate chips if you want this pudding even sweeter.

Once everything is blended well, pour your pudding into a container and enjoy! I found that this vegan chocolate pudding was even more delicious after being refrigerated overnight, but you can dive in as soon as it's ready!

Ideas for How to Enjoy Your Healthy Chocolate Pudding

This vegan chocolate pudding is thick, creamy and super delicious eaten on its own. I also loved adding some chocolate chips, nut butter and strawberries on top for some crunch and different flavors. And there's really no limit to how you can use this chocolate pudding with baking! Even though this pudding is definitely not sweet compared to frosting, it still makes for a delicious topping for cupcakes, cakes, brownies and more.

When I have extra sweet potato puree hanging around in my fridge, this is definitely how I'll be using it up from now on! I hope you love this gluten free chocolate pudding as much as I do, and make sure to tag me (@collegeceliackc) on Instagram if you try out this recipe and share it online.



Now tell me in the comments - are you a fan of hidden veggies in desserts? Or what's your favorite pudding recipe?