avocado pudding, two ways
March 12, 2012 I am addicted to this recipe.
I’ve been buying avocados by the half dozen and making this at least twice a week.
My first spotting of avocado pudding was over on Gena’s blog, Choosing Raw. I couldn’t get over how smooth and creamy it looked. Skeptically, I made it and was blown away. As of two weeks ago, it had been about a year since my last batch. Why, why, whyyy?
Once again I’m hooked, but this time it’s going to last. The addiction, not the pudding. The pudding won’t last you very long. Trust me.
I’m going to interrupt again for a little photography comparison. I’ve been taking a lot of photos without the light bounce lately. It creates a photo with more shadow + contrast. I go back and forth on which type of photo I favor. It really depends on what’s being shot.
[left – no light bounce : right – light bounce to the right with light coming in from the left]
For the examples above + below, I prefer the two left photos without the light bounce. The shadows give the photo a more dramatic feel and help to define the edges. It gives the photo a bit more of a realistic quality.
Sometimes I’ll go weeks using my light bounce 100% of the time. Right now, I’m definitely on a no-light-bounce kick. Again, it kind of depends what you’re shooting. Taking a few photos with and without is great when you’re learning. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which look best until you open them up on your computer.
Back to the pudding.
I have two recipes to share. Both extremely simple. Both better than my original.
The green pudding you see above is literally avocado + banana. That’s it!
The one you see below adds unsweetened cocoa powder and just a few other ingredients.
Avocado Banana Pudding [serves 2-4]
Both recipes were inspired by inspired by Gena’s Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding
- 2 avocados, ripe
- 2 medium bananas, ripe
- In a food processor, combine ingredients and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of bowl as necessary.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Store in a sealed container and eat that day. [you may notice browning from both the avo + banana if you leave it longer than 1 day]
Chocolate Avocado Banana Pudding [serves 2-4]
- 2 avocados, ripe
- 2 medium bananas, ripe
- 6-8T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1t vanilla extract
- 1t cinnamon
- 1.5 scoops Raw protein powder [opt]
- In a food processor, combine the avocado + banana and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of bowl as necessary.
- Add the cocoa powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and protein powder [if using]. Process again until smooth.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve and add any topping you like.
- Store in a sealed container and eat within 2-3 days.
notes: This has the consistency of a thick pudding, but is not similar to chocolate pudding from a box. If you want a thinner consistency, add your favorite milk, starting with 1T at a time. Do not use frozen bananas. The riper the banana, the sweeter and stronger the flavor will be. Your avocados should be slightly soft to the touch but not mushy, hard, or watery when cut. If you don’t like banana, feel free to sub in a squash puree [drained of excess liquid]. Add honey or maple syrup if desired. An immersion blender should also work for this.
So rich.
So smooth + creamy.
Easily eaten any time of day.
I’ve been out of bananas 4 days and my avocados are feeling lonely. A definite problem.
And while we’re on the topic of avocados, you must watch this awesome stop-motion film. I found it on the website SHFT, which I’m currently loving.
Ashley
p.s. Thanks for all the tips on where to find seeds!!
avocado, banana, chocolate in appetizers + snacks, breakfast, chocolate, healthy treats 
Reader Comments (73)
Thanks for the photo tips. Oh if my photos looked half as good as yours. Ha. This pudding is awesome. I make it for my toddler twins for dessert daily. :) Definitely not as pretty as yours.
I can't wait to try these recipes! They look so good!
I love cocoa powder + avos + agave. Thick, rich, mousse-like. Without the work!
And always great to get some photography chatter in between avocado chatter!
I really love your photos, but i had a question- do you find that sites like Foodgawker accept photos that have deeeper shadows? They seem to refuse all mine that have any significant areas of contrast.
I knew I had seen avocado puddings before, but always seem to forget about them when I have extra avocados around. Now these are pinned and my avocados are ripening...can't wait to try this!
I think the photo without the light bounce looks dark and mysterious! I go back and forth on how I like the lighting in my photos too. Maybe they reflect my mood more than I know. Don't get me wrong, my photos are anywhere near as good as yours, but I try...
I am not a fan of avocados and while I've seen versions of the pudding around for years, I still have not tried it. I think I need to change that soon!
Love avocado pudding! I was just doing photo comparisons with and without my light bounce last night, too. For me, it depends on the time of day and the subject - I definitely have to use it with reflective things like smoothies or liquids. I tend to favor shadows so I like to use it just help define edges,
I just made avocado pudding last week and was floored by how delicious it was. I'll admit, I didn't really believe the hype over it before trying it myself :)
I just started using a white foam board to help with light bounce. It's amazing the difference it makes!
The chocolate looks so rich!!
loved that video!! Please share more in the future - sending it to Travis now!
I am very intrigued by the avocado+banana combo! I made an avocade mousee this weekend using Avocado, agave nectar and unsweetened cocoa powder that was awesome and super rich. I also tried a variation, using to Silken Tofu to 'bulk' it up (my husband was not a fan of it after that).
I just bought a huge bag of avocados from Costco on the weekend with plans to make pudding with them :) Thanks for sharing your recipes! I think I will make the chocolate one.
try adding coconut oil to it, it makes it sooo thick. is the avocado flavor strong in the first recipe?
I make a breakfast avo pudding(the night b4)It's like a cross of chia and avo pudding...1/2 avocado, 1 TBS chia seed,1 TBS wheat germ, 1/3 cup cucumber or zucchini(No taste just health benifits,cinnamon, 1 date/fig, almond milk, sometimes 1/2 banana or sweet potato(add pumpkin pie spice) through into food processor. In the A.M I layer it with more fruit and homemade granola(cocoa nibs/goji)
Avocados are quite magical. The proof is in the pudding--har, har.
that video is cute and so random! loved the sound effects for some reason.
The pudding sounds fabulous. I just bought a hugeeee avocado (I think its a different variety than hass avocados) so I'll be sure to try a pudding out to use some of it up before it browns.
Holy sweet mother of pearl. I can't wait to go home and try this out.
P.S. Lovely photos!
isn't it SO MUCH fun to invent original ideas using "plain" little treasures of ingredients. the avocado = true gem.
I desperately need to try this. Can you really taste the avocado? Like is it more of a "eat with a spoon" type pudding or a "sweet dip with a chip" type?
Add the juice/zest of a lemon and lime (or two limes) to the banana and avacado...so tangy and creamy, it is almost like yogurt!
Mmmm those both look so delicious! If I were you I'd add a couple drops of mint extract and some chocolate chips to the green one, because it's already green so it'd make a great mint chocolate chip pudding. I love how all the "light bounce" photos look, even though I have no idea what that means. :)
I am avocado obsessed! Can't wait to try both puddings!
I cant wait to try these recipes asap, they look so creamy!
We tried Gena's pudding with the dates & they just didn't puree enough. I'm sure with some patience, it would have gotten smooth, but we didn't like the texture. I think we'll love this with the banana sweetener!
Mmm the chocolate avocado one looks so rich and creamy! I must make that ASAP
I like the twist with the banana version. Definitely trying thing one. It only fuels my avo addiction further
I love your little photography tidbits! I also love chocolate and avocados but sadly, not bananas. Can you taste them in there or is it just sweet?
Oh and that video - I just watched it and am obsessed!!
I love how easy and healthy these two recipes are. I think I could get away with offering them to my kids with no questions asked. They love pudding, avocados, bananas and chocolates...winner!
I love avocados, chocolate + bananas but I've been sooo skeptical of this avocado pudding. I think you've convinced me to try it though!
I make chocolate-banana-cocoa-protein-powder puddings once a week. It is yummy mid-afternoon treat and is a nice change to taking protein powder in a smoothie form.
I do this too! It tastes tropical with lime juice and a sprinkle of coconut.
I can't wait to try the 2nd version! How is the first one though, the cacao-less one, is it sweet?
Any ideas if you don't like banana? is the texture too thin w/o them...I knwo I can sweeten it w/ something else, but texture?
Any ideas if you don't like banana? is the texture too thin w/o them...I know I can sweeten it w/ something else, but texture?
Why oh why must I be allergic to avocado? :( This looks really good!
Want to hear something weird? I made the girls chocomole for a snack yesterday. Want to hear something weirder? I got some in my eye. I was shaking the container I had it in and a big blob flew up and landed square in my eye. And even though I got it out (mostly), I keep finding chocolate in my tear ducts and my eye won't stop twitching today.
I am a spaz. But you already knew that.
Lovely. Just lovely! I've yet to make anything but savory dishes using avocados, so these two variations are on my list to make next! Thanks friend!
beautiful photos, as always.
I buy avocados at Costco because we go through them so quickly! I'm always up for a new way to use these guys, and have definitely never even thought to try a pudding! So smart...bookmarked :)
I can't wait to try this! I just discovered chia pudding, so I've been on a pudding kick for the past couple of weeks. I've been wanting to try avocado pudding, so this recipe looks perfect right now! I had pinned another similar pudding recipe, and I just bought a bag of avocados so I could make it. Yours looks so good (and easy) that I think I'll try it instead!
love love love avocado puddings we eat them a lot. we have done one with banana too and it was great:) so glad you enjoy them as much as we do! avocados are the best aren't they, so great for making things creamy!!! YUM now I wish I had a pudding right now haha
xoxo
This is amazing! Your pictures are crazy good. I'd looove to be able to take photos like that one day. Seriously amazing. And don't get me started on this pudding...it's as good as made! :)
love avo pudding any time, any day. So good. One of our favourite combos is blueberry and avocado w/ stevia. Also avocado-lime is so good.
Genius! I love the idea of a banana and avo pudding (though when it comes down to it, I'll probably make the chocolaty version) :)
I love avocado. It isn't a replacement kind of thing for me, it's more like a treat on its own! This is truly genius!
With no added sugar, it's just as good for you! :)
Yes they are!! I like them "ok" plain, but much better mixed in smoothies, pudding, guac, etc. :)
Yes, I did, haha. Hope you get the pudding out of your eye soon!
Yes! I mentioned in the recipe notes that square puree can be used [like pumpkin or butternut]. Make sure to get rid of any excess liquid. I would start by subbing 3/4c but maybe up to 1 full cup, which is about 2 medium bananas. The flavor will be much less sweet without the bananas, so you may want to add honey/maple syrup/soaked dates/etc.
Yes, it's actually sweeter because the cocoa powder takes a lot of the sweetness away. There wasn't any extra sweetener added to the chocolate version, so it's quite rich.