Many attendees at my Nourishing Foods: Sweet Endings class requested a chocolate dessert and I promised to deliver. Here it is, a delicious, creamy, satisfying and nutritious dessert. Whenever I make this favorite for guests, or myself there is never any left over. This is bowl-licking good...AND nourishing at the same time, since it is made of real food ingredients.

Ingredients: Use the highest quality, organically grown ingredients available.

2-3 ripe avocados

1-2 very ripe bananas (brown speckled)

1/3 – 1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Seed and peel avocados, peel bananas and add to the bowl or food processor.  Add remaining ingredients. Mix all ingredients until creamy with an immersion blender or in your food processor. The ripeness of the banana determines how sweet your pudding is. If you find your pudding needs sweetness, add 1-3 Tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. Start with less and only add more if needed.  You can refrigerate it for an hour to set but I don't like to wait. My last batch I didn’t refrigerate at all. If you do choose to let it set in the fridge, cover it with parchment paper directly on the top of the surface of the pudding to avoid the formation of a skin, then cover the whole thing with plastic wrap. This is a great make ahead dessert to share with friends and family since it whips up in mere minutes, can be made in advance, and is a decadent chocolate dessert treat.

Optional Blended Additions:

1-3 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup

1/2 cup salted creamy nut butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 teaspoon mint extract

Optional Stir In Additions:

3/4 cup chopped chocolate (use your favorite bar)

3/4 cup chopped nuts

Toppers:

Fresh fruit (banana, raspberries, etc.)

Chopped nuts

Whipped cream

Coconut cream

Drizzled nut butter

Coarse flaked sea salt

Flaked or shredded coconut

This article appeared in the December 2014 Savor Your Health Newsletter. Sign up in the Sidebar to get delicious recipes delivered to your inbox every month.