I blame this recipe for my youngest child’s O.B.S.E.S.S.I.O.N. with chocolate!
Luke was my smallest baby, at 7 lbs. 13 ounces and 21″ long. That may not seem “small” for a newborn, especially one that was born 2 weeks early, but Sam was 9 lbs. and 23-inches long! Sam never lost an ounce after he was born like most newborns tend to, but Luke did lose weight, almost a full pound! Luke stayed on the small side for quite sometime and it was a struggle to get him to gain weight (one of the many “signs” that I thought he had celiac, not Sam).
2007
Anyway, I was on heightened celiac alert after Luke was born and on the advice of his pediatrician (based on the information at the time), we delayed introducing gluten to Luke until he was 1. Lots of commercial baby foods have gluten, so I started making my own baby food. That was the beginning of my “make my own” era! I got Jessica Seinfeld’s “Deceptively Delicious” cookbook and got to work. It was during this time that I actually picked up the tip to freeze purees in ice cub trays, and I still use that trick for my GF Condensed Soup components!
One of the recipes that I first tried and was blown away by the results, was the Chocolate Pudding recipe on page 159. This was especially helpful for helping to put weight on Luke because of the healthy fats. Click here for more nutritional info on avocados. I found a very close copy of the recipe on another website, so I will link to that, but I originally got the recipe in Deceptively Delicious. The only thing different is the missing added cornstarch from Jessica Seinfeld’s recipe. I did not use the cornstarch either just to see how it would turn out, and I think that is the reason the pudding was so shiny. Taste-wise though, I think it is better without the added cornstarch.
“Tricky” Chocolate Pudding
1/4 cup Trans-Fat-Free Soft Tub Margarine (I used the Soy-Free Earth Balance, which is also gluten-free and dairy-free. You could also use Palm Shortening).
1 cup Avocado Puree (about 2 large) make sure they are very ripe! (Of the 6 avocados I had, only two were in good enough condition to use, so I had slightly less than a cup of avocado puree. If you use ripe avocados, just smash them up really well with a fork to make the “puree” or you could throw them in a blend or food processor).
1 cup Confectioners Sugar (I used 365 Organic Powdered Sugar which is corn-free).
1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (I used 1/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa Powder and 1/4 cup of Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder)
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- Melt the margarine in a medium pan over low heat.
- Mix avocado puree and melted margarine in a small food processor or blender until very smooth. (I omitted this step).
- Return to pan and add sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla. Cook about 3-4 minutes until it thickens.
- Serve warm. (Luke likes this cold too!).
Melt the butter (or butter substitute),
Mash up 1 cup of ripe avocado (or thereabouts),
add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and vanilla,
and there you have it!
This is REALLY GOOD pudding! You cannot tell there is avocado in it!! The texture is thicker and creamier than a dairy-based pudding mix. It’s kind of like a fudge brownie batter, if that makes sense. But in case you are not convinced…
Exhibit A:
Does this look like a face that would lie to you? If you are not convinced of that, click here, and check out the last photo.
Now do you believe me? 😀
And welcome to my blog!
Whether you're here looking for advice on how to go gluten free (with delicious kid-approved recipes of course!), or to read some of the latest medical research on celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity...or even to read about one woman's rise from the depths of gluten-free despair to a place of downright enthusiasm, it makes no matter. The point is, you are here now so let's have some fun!
See I LOVE this idea. No way I'd serve it to my chubby kids though :~).
Hi Lisa!
I know what you mean, Luke is no "small" thing either! In fact, this was the first time I had made it for him in over a year. The more I think of it though, I would rather him have the healthy avocado fat over other forms of fat found in many sweets. The powdered sugar could stand some improvements though. I am wondering if a mixture of honey and Arrowroot powder would work? It would also be cool if it could be frozen (like some prepared guacamole's come frozen) and portioned into Popsicle molds to make "pudding pops" and keep the portion size small?!
I do love this idea and wanted to immediately take back what I posed and re-do it.. I totally agree on the healthy thing and think I would rather have them eat this version than ANY other type. I love that pudding pop idea too. You ROCK for even thinking of it :-).
Avocados are best on a plate with fajitas, or in a taco salad, or mixed in a spicy guacamole…at least, so I always thought! After seeing Luke's face in that last picture, though, I feel a need to branch out to new horizons….
Pat, I am with you! I was VERY skeptical when I first made it, but mind boggled at the result! Like Lisa said, it is still full of fat and if you are watching your weight, it might not be the best option! What is inspiring though is that it CAN BE DONE! Hiding fruits and vegetables in foods that are in more "acceptable" forms (like chocolate pudding) just shows you how you can add nutrition in one's diet, lighten up the less desirable attributes like fat (with the exception of the avocado pudding… I am thinking more in terms of black bean brownies as a low fat option) and add things like fiber, protein, etc. without skipping a beat! No fighting with your kids… it even works on me! Did you see the Tomato-Free Marinara Sauce recipe I posted a while back? https://www.adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com/2010/01/08/…
Another example of getting veggies in one's diet! I hate beets, but they are good for you. If I don't eat them because I can't stand the taste, then I don't reap the benefits. A simple transformation and I can not only tolerate them, but I love them in that form! I am actually going to grow beets in my garden this year!
When life hands you lemons… why not make a big ol' Margarita?! 🙂
Love that pic!!! How cute!!
I have made chocolate pudding with avocados before – my kids wouldn't touch it! I loved it!
Kim,
Did they know avocado was in it?
I think I am going to have to make this! Funny I have that book and haven't even looked at it in a year! Liv needs some FAT 🙂 I might have to work with the powdered sugar though.
I made the chocolate pudding I won…Mixes from the Heartland? Anyway, mine didn't set up?? Not sure what I did wrong? O well.. kids will still love it I am sure 🙂
Heidi,
I am going to get all the stuff to make this. What is soy free earth balance? Or palm shortening? I typically only have butter on hand.
I was thinking of giving them things to dip into the pudding like fondue? Do you think that will work? Like gf grahams, bananas, pretzels?
Soy Free Earth Balance is an Organic, Soy-Free, Non-Dairy substitute for butter, it's the made by the same company as Smart Balance Butter Spread. You can use butter instead, the same amount indicated in the recipe.
Palm Shortening is a non-hydrogenated shortening that you can find under the Spectrum Shortening Brand Name or Whole Foods has their own version under the 365 Brand Name. It's a healthier alternative to Crisco with no preservatives, chemicals, etc. It is all natural.
Oh yes, it would be a GREAT fondue! Brilliant MOM idea by the way!! Little things like that (at least in my experience) seem to entice young children to try new things. I am not sure when they "figure it out," because I am not there yet, but packaging and presentation is very big for my 6 and 2 year olds. I could tell Sam that Spinach Spaghetti is "green worms" and he is all over it (Luke, not as much). I can hide fruits and veggies in chocolate and Luke is all over it! We just have to "beat them at their own game," know what I mean? LOL!
I just made this recipe and LOVE it! I added cinnamon to it also. Yummy! This goes in my "keeper" file.