I might be the last person on Earth to get the hard-copy of the newspaper delivered at home, but as a career journalist, I can’t help myself. It isn’t morning without me reading the newspaper while eating breakfast, shaking the crisp newsprint open to see what information the writers, photographers and editors have curated for me that day.
Of course I look forward to Sundays, because of the comics and the magazine insert. Parade Magazine comes in my L.A. Times, and one early January edition was devoted to “The Biggest Loser” and strategies for losing weight and maintaining weight loss.
It included a recipe for a lightened-up chocolate pudding, thickened with cornstarch instead of cream, and flavored with cocoa instead of higher-fat chocolate. In fact, it had no dairy whatsoever, and so is a vegan rendition.
I was immediately ALL IN!
My family loved it, and I even took it to a Food Bloggers L.A. meeting, and the bloggers were surprised at how chocolatey and satisfying it was.
Try it yourself when you need something sweet and chocolate, and you don’t want to be too naughty on the waistline.
This easy dessert is a smart, 150-calorie way to satisfy your chocolate temptation.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt [I used just a pinch]
- 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk or regular milk [I used coconut water]
- 1/3 cup agave nectar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped toasted pistachios (optional) [I used chopped Marcona almonds]
Directions
- Combine cocoa, cornstarch and salt in a small saucepan. Stir in a little coconut milk to make a smooth paste.
- Gradually stir in remaining coconut milk and agave nectar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook 1 minute or until thickened.
- Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into 4 (1/2-cup) ramekins; cool. Garnish with nuts, if desired.
- [Note from Dorothy: I think this can serve 5-6. You only need a little bit to satisfy!]
Notes
CALORIES 150; FAT 3 g (2 g sat); PROTEIN 1 g; CARB 33 g; FIBER 3 g; CHOL 0 mg; SODIUM 330 mg
Pudding recipe source: Cheryl Forberg, R.D., nutritionist for NBC’s The Biggest Loser, from her new book "A Small Guide to Losing Big: From the Nutritionist for NBC’s The Biggest Loser" (Flavor First).
How to eat The Biggest Loser Chocolate Pudding: 5 Shockingly Delicious variations
1. Orange-Chocolate: Use a microplane grater to remove the orange rind from a tangerine or orange (try a Cara Cara orange, or Morro blood orange if they are in season). Stir rind into the pudding along with the coconut milk and proceed as directed. Garnish top of each pudding with an orange slice or two.
2. Use the pudding as a dip for fruit: Slice a firm pear, Korean Pear or apple into thin slices (no need to peel), and dip the pear slices into a small bowl of room-temperature pudding. YUM!
3. Use the pudding as fudge sauce: OK, this might take The Biggest Loser pudding into The Smallest Loser territory, but you know what’s seriously good? Place a small amount of high-quality vanilla bean ice cream (think Talenti or Haagen Daz) in a bowl, and sling a couple of dollops of this pudding on top. It’s best if the pudding is slightly warm or room temperature when you do it. The warm pudding will slightly melt the ice cream. Close your eyes and enjoy. Keep your ice cream portion very small and enjoy every bite.
4. Chocolate-Almond: Stir 1/4 teaspoon almond extract into the pudding along with the coconut milk, and proceed with directions. Instead of pistachios, sprinkle with slivered almonds. Want to push the envelope? Sprinkle with chopped SMOKED ALMONDS! Bam, I went there — sweet, salty, smoky.
5. Spread pudding on toast instead of using Nutella: I discovered the wonders of Nutella on toast in Amsterdam, where, bless their hedonistic souls, they apparently consider gobs of chocolate a suitable breakfast. However, the calorie count of Nutella is daunting — 100 calories a tablespoon, and let’s be honest, we all know we’re putting several times that on each slice of toast. Each serving of this pudding is only 150 calories, so let’s spread a little pudding on toast (or dip your toast into your pudding), and maybe sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts for authenticity. Boom, done, you’re welcome!
I am loving this pudding! It’s amazing how you lightened it up and made a vegan version! Will definitely try this one! Thanks for sharing!
Andi,
Credit goes to Cheryl Forberg. I simply used coconut water instead of coconut milk (either would be vegan). I just loved it!
What a great technique to use cornstarch as a thickener – so much less fat, and yet this gorgeous pudding is clearly still so decadently rich, thick and velvety! Just love this idea!!!
Shelley,
It is so smooth and silky.
I can’t wait to try all of your variations!
Jenny,
I have no doubt you will come up with some of your own, too!
My husband has the WSJ delivered everyday so I understand. Growing up (and still do) if I see a print newspaper go right for the comics 🙂 This chocolate pudding sounds great – I can’t even think of the last time I had some.
Lauren,
Comics are the gateway to newspaper literacy!
A vegan chocolate pudding is just what the doctor ordered 🙂
This chocolate pudding looks so yummy and I can enjoy this without any guilt. Love that you have shared variations of the recipe, will be very helpful.
Sounds absolutely gorgeous and I love that it’s reasonably low cal!
This pudding has my name written all over it!
This recipe sounds great, I love the different variations. That’s such a great idea.
Wow, I love the ingredients in this! Especially the vita coco water!
Megan,
I’m kinda hooked on it!
Anything with chocolate is delicious in my book! This looks amazing!
It’s so nice to have a low calorie option for a dessert I love because sweets are the hardest to completely give up.
Joanie,
They ARE!
These days, I need to avoid most dairy so I very much appreciate having such a rich-tasting chocolate pudding such as this one!
Linda,
Then this one is EXACTLY up your alley!
The chocolate orange variation looks amazing…but then you had to go and list a fudge sauce…that stopped me in my tracks.
Michelle,
OK, well…maybe you could use a frozen yo or a sherbet, and dollop this on. Whaddya think?
I’m thinking that if somebody didn’t know this was healthy, they’d never guess it wasn’t sinful and decadent. It looks amazingly rich.
Heather,
Completely right! No one knows. Except you.
This is the kind of treat I need – delish and not bad for you! Love it
I’m so glad you shared your recipe. I too saw this and I cut out the recipe but have not had a chance to try it. I will give it a try when I get a chance, I like your shockingly delicious variations as well.
Joanne,
Thanks! Try the almond variation. Mmmmmm…
Yum! What great variations
This looks so good. I love making my own pudding, it so easy and so much better for you than the boxed stuff. I love that yours is vegan as well!
You had me at “chocolate.”
Jolly,
Hook, line and sinker!