3 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder Recipe – So Creamy!

In many chocolate pudding recipes, we’ve to add cornstarch and eggs, so that’s why I made this easy 3 ingredient avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder recipe.

It’s a healthy no-bake dessert that’s also vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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. 

So in this post, I will show you how I made this 3 ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder recipe.

 

Why This Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder (Only 3 Ingredients) 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 for 3 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding (with Cocoa Powder & No Dairy)

• 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.

1. Vanilla extract: Just take around ¼ tsp to make your pudding warm and rounded. Almost every dessert benefits from a hint of vanilla.
2. Espresso powder: A pinch will bring out the depth of cocoa powder.
3. Sea salt: You want to use just a tiny pinch; the salt will bring the chocolate to life.
4. Nut butter: A spoonful of almond or even peanut butter will add richness and make your chocolate avocado pudding even thicker.
5. 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.

 

3 vs 4 vs 5 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding (Quick Comparison)

Here is what you can do to turn this 3 ingredient avocado chocolate pudding into 4 ingredient avocado chocolate pudding or 5 ingredient avocado chocolate pudding:

Version	Ingredients	Taste & Texture	Best For
3 Ingredient	Avocado, cocoa powder, maple syrup	Thick, mousse-like, rich	Quick, healthy, no-fuss dessert
4 Ingredient	Base + vanilla or plant milk	Smoother, slightly sweeter	Fancy but still easy
5 Ingredient	Base + nut butter + vanilla	Creamier, nutty, indulgent	Kids, guests, or post-workout

 

How to Make 3 Ingredient Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder

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.

 

Healthy Avocado Chocolate Pudding – Serving & Pairing Ideas

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. You also can try pairing with the low-calorie white chocolate sauce recipe for a luscious topping.
• 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, check the white chocolate shrimp alfredo recipe for inspiration on coconut pairings.
• Sea salt flakes or chili powder: For a bold, grown-up version, for chili powder flavor ideas, you can also try this easy chili with cocoa powder and cinnamon recipe.

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. You can also make this pepperidge farm milano milk chocolate cookies recipe for a sweet treat complement.
• Rice cakes or toast: It will spread it like a healthy-ish chocolate butter, for nut butter inspiration, check the 3-ingredient peanut butter smoothie without banana recipe.
• 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. Also see this starbucks dark chocolate mocha recipe for a mocha reference.

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. BTW, you can also try this starbucks peppermint white chocolate mocha recipe as inspiration for peppermint flavors.

 

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 When Making Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Cocoa Powder

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. It is one of the easiest healthy avocado desserts you can make. 

It’s naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free.

You can also customizable it into a 4 or 5 ingredient pudding depending on your taste.

You won’t need to cook it.

Thought it doesn’t contain any 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.

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.

Can I mix avocado with cocoa powder?

Yes, you can mix avocado with cocoa powder; it’ll create a creamy base for your pudding. 

So, avocado will add thickness while cocoa will add flavor. Both will make a perfect no-bake, eggless dessert.

How to make avocado pudding without cocoa powder?

If you don’t want avocado pudding with cocoa powder, instead of cocoa, you can make fruit-based avocado pudding. 

For that, you’ll blend avocado with banana, mango, or strawberries, plus add any natural sweetener like stevia. 

Though your avocado pudding won’t have any chocolate flavor but it’ll be creamy and healthy.

Can I make keto avocado chocolate pudding?

Yes, you can make keto avocado chocolate pudding; you’ll just have to replace maple syrup with a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol, monk fruit, or stevia. 

That way, your pudding will be low-carb, sugar-free, and keto-approved.

Is avocado chocolate pudding healthy?

Yes, this avocado chocolate pudding with cocoa powder is healthy because it’s rich in healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants.

Besides this, if you also skip cornstarch and refined sugar, it becomes a vegan, gluten-free, and nutrient-dense dessert.

Can I make 4 ingredient avocado chocolate pudding?

Yes! You can do that; you will need to add vanilla extract to this 3-ingredient base, or you can use non-dairy milk.

This single change will make your pudding taste more gourmet.

What kind of avocado is best for pudding?

You can use any type of avocado available in your neighborhood grocery store; however, if possible, try to find a Hass avocado for the best chocolate pudding recipes.

The reason I recommend this is that they are creamier and blend into a mousse-like texture.

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.