Many chocolate pudding recipes require cornstarch and eggs, plus a complicated process. And that’s why I made 3 ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder Recipe.
I just used a ripe avocado, Cocoa powder, and maple syrup. Yet, this 3-ingredient pudding was good, thick, and creamy, plus I didn’t use too many other ingredients.
It’s naturally thick because of avocado, rich like mousse, dairy-free, flourless, and eggless.
Besides this, if you make it, you won’t need to heat it, cook it, or worry about messing it up.
One more thing, it doesn’t even taste like an avocado when you eat it. Because I know that’s the first thing that might come to your mind.
So in this post, I will show you how I made this 3-ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder recipe. You can blend it, tweak it based on your taste, or make it like a fancy dessert, and many more things.
Why This 3 Ingredient Chocolate Pudding Works So Well
This recipe is perfect if you don’t like eating raw avocados; in the form of pudding, you will like it more.
The avocado is buttery and smooth, so when you mash it or blend it with cocoa powder and add a little sweetener, it will be a delicious pudding.
Moreover, it’s a good recipe when you don’t have milk, eggs, gluten, flour, cornstarch, etc., to thicken it. Or maybe you want to try a new recipe like I do.
It’s also good if you want to eat clean, or you are vegan, or following a gluten-free diet. Even if you don’t care about all that, it’s still a perfect no-fuss dessert.
You won’t even need a stove, exact measuring, etc, as long as your avocado is soft and cocoa deep in flavor.
This avocado pudding recipe is perfect even for beginners.
Ingredients You’ll Need (Only 3 Essentials)
- 1 ripe avocado: You have to choose a medium-large avocado that needs to be soft but not brown. You can check by pressing the skin — it should feel a little squishy but not mushy. If we talk about variety, Hass avocado is ideal because it’s creamier.
- 2–3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder: The darker the cocoa you use, the more intense the chocolate flavor you will get. I would usually recommend going for Dutch-processed or raw cacao. Some good brands that I like are Hershey’s Special Dark, Ghirardelli, Valrhona, or Navitas Naturals (if you like organic superfood style).
- 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup: Besides this, you can also use honey, agave, stevia, or soaked Medjool dates if you want a natural, caramel-like taste. You can even go with coconut sugar blended with a little water.
Optional Add-Ins (If You Want a Gourmet Twist)
If you don’t wanna stick to only 3 ingredients to make Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder and want a little bit more flavor, here are some more add-ins that you can try, depending on what you are craving.
- Vanilla extract: Just take around ¼ tsp to make your pudding warm and rounded. Almost every dessert benefits from a hint of vanilla.
- Espresso powder: A pinch will bring out the depth of cocoa powder.
- Sea salt: You want to use just a tiny pinch; the salt will bring the chocolate to life.
- Nut butter: A spoonful of almond or even peanut butter will add richness and make your chocolate avocado pudding even thicker.
- Non-dairy milk: If you want your pudding more pourable than spoonable, you can add a splash of oat, almond, or coconut milk.
So, you can make this 3-ingredient avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder, spiced, nutty, fruity, minty, or even protein-boosted. More on that below.
Also read: High Protein Chia Pudding Without Protein Powder or Yogurt Recipe
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Now let’s talk about the main thing, how I made this 3-ingredient avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder.
You just have to follow the exact process for the best avocado chocolate pudding.
Step 1: Prep the Avocado (No Brown Bits Allowed)
First of all, you wanna slice the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into your blender or the food processor, whatever you are using.
Also, double check for any brown areas or any stringy spots, and discard them if you find.
The brown avocado will ruin your avocado chocolate pudding taste, and you won’t like it.
And, if you don’t have a blender, you can also use a fork or a potato masher.
Step 2: Add Cocoa and Sweetener
Now add your cocoa powder and maple syrup (or whatever sweetener you’re using).
I like starting with 2 tbsp of cocoa and 2 tbsp of maple syrup, then adjusting after taste, so you can do the same.
Plus, you want to toss in any flavor extras now, like the vanilla, salt, espresso powder, whatever you’re feeling.
Step 3: Blend, Scrape, and then Blend Again
Now you wanna blend all ingredients until they get smooth, which will take around 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Meanwhile, you want to scrape down the sides at least once you mix everything properly.
Besides this, if that mixture looks too thick, you can add a little almond or oat milk.
If it’s not chocolatey enough, you can add more cocoa. If it’s not sweet enough, add another teaspoon of syrup or any other sweetener that you’re using.
You should keep tasting and tweaking till the chocolate avocado pudding is perfect for you.
The pudding texture needs to be like a mousse — creamy but spoonable.
Step 4: Chill (Optional But Recommended)
You can eat it straight out of the blender. But I would recommend that you chill it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
But why?
Because, by doing so, it will firm up a little, the flavors will settle, and it will get even smoother.
Tip: Spoon it into small ramekins or jars, cover, and refrigerate.
Also read: Homemade Chocolate Pudding (Inspired by Smitten Kitchen)
Avocado Chocolate Pudding Serving & Pairing Suggestions
Although you don’t have to serve it with anything, it is perfect to eat solo.
But if you want a bigger meal or something fancy when guests are arriving, you can pair this pudding well with so many things, including sweet, salty, crunchy, or fruity.
Here are a few options that I would recommend to you:
Toppings You Should Try:
- Coconut whipped cream: It is light and fluffy, and will make it feel like a dessert from a café
- Cacao nibs or chocolate chips: good if you want a crunchy texture to contrast with the smooth pudding
- Chopped roasted nuts: Like pistachios, almonds, or hazelnuts (I love pistachios, but I haven’t tried it with this pudding, but I’ll do next time when I make it)
- Toasted coconut flakes: If you want a tropical twist
- Sea salt flakes or chili powder: For a bold, grown-up version
Pair It With These Foods:
- Fresh fruits: Strawberries, banana slices, or orange wedges, all are good choices
- Shortbread or biscotti: It is great for dipping, especially with a hot drink
- Rice cakes or toast: It will spread it like a healthy-ish chocolate butter
- Oatmeal or overnight oats: You can swirl some on top for breakfast
- Espresso or cold brew: The bitterness of coffee with this pudding is 10/10
Seasonal Pairing Ideas:
- Fall/Winter: You can sprinkle with cinnamon and then pair with warm apple slices or gingerbread
- Spring/Summer: You can serve it chilled with fresh berries or over frozen banana “nice cream”
- Holiday Mode: Add peppermint extract and candy cane bits on top
Flavor Variations to Try (To Avoid Repeating the Same Taste)
If you like this 3-ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder, and want to make it again.
So, there are too many variations that you can try, still, by using healthy and easy ingredients.
Protein Boosted Chocolate Avocado Pudding
You can add just a scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder before blending.
Besides this, you will have to thin it out with some almond oil. This would be a great post-workout dessert or a midday snack.
Mint Chocolate Avocado Pudding
You can add 1 or 2 drops of peppermint extract before blending.
After that, top with cacao nibs and crushed mint leaves.
This combo is perfect in summer; it is refreshing and indulgent at the same time.
Spiced Mexican-Style Avocado Pudding
You can mix in a pinch of cinnamon, cayenne, and a tiny splash of vanilla.
By doing so, this 3-ingredient avocado chocolate pudding will be warming, spicy, and will taste like Mexican hot chocolate, but cold and creamy.
Nutty Fudge Twist
You can stir in peanut butter or almond butter before blending.
This will give you a nutty depth and thicker texture.
Lastly, you can top with crushed roasted peanuts.
Mocha Avocado Pudding
You can add ½ tsp of instant espresso powder to your cocoa.
Coffee + chocolate + avocado = deep, bold, and adult-flavored.
Fruity Raspberry Swirl
After blending, you can swirl in mashed raspberries or raspberry preserves.
Besides this, you can even layer it parfait-style with fruit and granola.
Dessert Bar Style
You can layer this chocolate avocado pudding into small jars with cookie crumbs (like graham crackers or Oreos) on the bottom and coconut whipped cream on top.
But you wanna keep it chilled for a party-friendly mini dessert.
Mistakes to Avoid (So You Don’t Ruin It)
Here are a few things that you want to keep in mind when making this avocado pudding. Though it’s an easy pudding recipe, it can still go sideways.
- Using an under-ripe or overripe avocado: If it’s too hard, it won’t blend. If it’s too brown or stringy, it’ll taste weird. Therefore, I recommend that you pick the right one.
- Skipping the blending: If you don’t have a blender, hand-mixing will work, but won’t give you the silky, mousse-like texture that makes the pudding so good.
- Too little sweetener: Remember, cocoa powder is bitter. Therefore, you will need sweetness to balance it.
- Not tasting before serving: Everyone’s cocoa and avocado sizes are different. So, you should always taste and tweak, like more cocoa, more syrup, a splash of milk, etc.
- Serving it warm: Chilling pudding will bring out the texture and flavor more. Unless you’re blending and eating immediately, it’s worth waiting a bit.
Conclusion
This was a 3-ingredient avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder recipe, and as you saw, it’s one of the easiest chocolate desserts ever.
You don’t need to cook it, no eggs, no cornstarch, and no flour.
Still, it becomes velvety smooth, thick like mousse, deep in chocolate flavor, and totally customizable based on your cravings.
You can make it in under 10 minutes. Moreover, you can make it dairy-free, sugar-free, high protein, or even kid-friendly by adding nut butters or fruits.
Now, just grab a ripe avocado, your cocoa, and a sweetener, blend it smooth, and enjoy your own homemade avocado chocolate pudding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few questions and their answers regarding the three ingredients avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder recipe.
Does avocado chocolate pudding taste like avocado?
No, not at all, as long as you make it right. You have to use ripe bananas, sweetened cocoa, and a good sweetener like maple syrup or honey.
By doing so, you can disappear the avocado flavor completely. It will act more like a creamy base.
Plus, if you add vanilla extract or espresso powder, the flavor will become fully chocolate-forward. So, you’re not gonna feel it like you’re eating an avocado.
How long does avocado chocolate pudding last in the fridge?
You can store this chocolate avocado pudding for around 2 days in an airtight container.
It is best to chill it after blending for around 30 minutes to firm it up.
After 2 days, it may start to get darkened or lose its fresh taste because avocado oxidizes fast. So, I would personally recommend that you make a small batch and eat it fresh for the best experience.
Can I freeze avocado chocolate pudding?
Yes, you can freeze it, but you want to be careful about that.
You should scoop the pudding into freezer-safe containers and store it for up to a month.
When you want to eat it, you should keep it in the fridge overnight, then stir or blend again for smoothness.
Bonus: You can also freeze it in popsicle molds and enjoy it like creamy fudge bars in summer. However, I recommend you eat this pudding fresh for the best experience.
3 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado medium to large, soft but not brown
- 2 –3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Dutch-processed or raw cacao
- 2 –3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, agave, Medjool dates
Optional Add-ins (for extra flavor):
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of espresso powder
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 tablespoon nut butter peanut/almond
- Splash of almond oat, or coconut milk (if needed)
Instructions
- Step 1: Slice open the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop flesh into a blender. Discard any brown or stringy bits.
- Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Add any extras like vanilla, sea salt, or espresso powder.
- Step 3: Blend everything until smooth and creamy (30–60 seconds), scraping down the sides if needed. Adjust cocoa and sweetener to taste. Add plant milk if too thick.
- Step 4: Optional – Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to enhance texture and flavor. Serve in small jars or ramekins.
Notes
As a passionate home cook and food enthusiast, I’m specialize in recreating popular café and restaurant-style chocolate recipes at home. I have experience in testing and customizing various chocolate-based dishes, I focus on using fresh, high-quality ingredients to make preservative-free, delicious treats. My goal is to help chocolate lovers enjoy their favorite recipes with a homemade touch and personalized twists.
