We’ll get to the Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding recipe in a minute, but first story time…
Once upon a time there was a frosting recipe. The frosting recipe was creamy and chocolatey and loved to spend time on top of brownies and cupcakes. But the frosting recipe had a big secret (the secret was cauliflower fyi). Afraid the world would find out about the secret, the frosting recipe ran away (to the recycling bin I think) never to be seen again.
The frosting recipe’s creator was terribly sad, but with time the creator forgot all about it and moved on to other sweet things. But one day, while chatting with a creator friend about cauliflower desserts (play along please, Audrey), the frosting recipe creator was reminded of the long lost frosting. And the frosting creator was inspired to recreate it.
With all the years (okay, months) that had passed the frosting creator had more knowledge of frosting related things by now, so rather than recreate the exact same frosting she created an even better frosting! One with more chocolate and more fruit! But upon first taste she realized “By golly, this is not a frosting at all, but pudding!” It is so light and creamy, perfect for eating with a spoon, from a jar, with fruit, it’s best by far (Whoa when did Dr. Seuss show up?)
So the creator shared the recipe with the world and everyone ate lots of pudding and got their 3 serving of veggies a day and lived happily ever after.
Am I crazy? A little. But I’m not sure which makes me crazier: story time or the cauliflower in this pudding.
It’s a creamy light chocolatey delight filled with fruit and veggies. But all you’ll taste is decadence!
Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 3 cups cauliflower florets
- 2 cups non-dairy milk
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 10 pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Steam the cauliflower till very tender.
- Blend everything in a high speed blender till smooth and creamy.
- Eat immediately or refrigerate.
- Store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
You may remember these festive jars from Instagram a few days ago…
To make the Valentine’s Day Parfait:
-Press one of these Raw Chocolate Cookies from ViedelaVegan.com inside the jar
-Fill 3/4 of the way with Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding
-Blend 1 beetroot with water, then stir 1-2 tbsps into So Delicious Cocowhip. Layer on top.
-Garnish with mini cookies and raspberries
Cauliflower has been hanging out in some other surprising sweet places around the web…
–Cauliflower cakes galore from Unconventional Baker
–Cauliflower Nicecream from Marfigs Munchies
–Blueberry Banana Smoothie from Harriet Emily
–Dairy-Free Lemon Pudding from Healthful Pursuit
Are you freaked out or on board with the cauliflower sweets?
YES! Yum yum! I am going to make this and then glory in all the deliciousness – it looks absolutely wonderful 😀
And thank you so much for sharing my cauliflower nice-cream bowls xx
Thank you Margaux! And I just had to link to your recipe too, they have so much in common 🙂
You are the best storyteller Nat (when did Dr Seuss show up hahahaha hilarious). I’m so glad Audrey inspired you to share this cauliflower pudding because it looks amazing! I haven’t tried cauliflower in any sweets yet, mainly because it’s ridiculously expensive here at the moment, but also because I’m a little freaked out haha. But I’m definitely going to try out some cauliflower sweets as soon as it’s a bit cheaper here! And, thank you for the mention for my raw chocolate cookies – I just love how you used them!!!
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Hahaha thank you for reading the wackiness Kyra! I’m so glad she reminded me about this one too, we are always passing around the inspiration in this little community, I love it <3 Bummer about cauliflower being so expensive, I heard that from someone else too, but in Canada I think. Do the prices of food things fluctuate that much over there? Weird, I can't imagine. The cauliflower sweets sound crazier than they are. A good dose of chocolate and some sweetness and you won't even know! And I'm glad you don't mind me using your little cookies in there, they are just cute and the perfect decoration!
Golly G! A fruity filled veggie made pudding/frosting/smoothie-loving/nice cream thing in a jar!!!! I guess I better go grab a spoon because I approve!
You’re story reminded me or Hansel and Grettle for some reason :/ …..Maybe you should lead me to a jar of this with a chia trail to follow in the forest of all things fruity and delicious?
O that sneaky cauli flower <3 It has magic foodie powers and can make anything!!!!! We should make cauli flower pasta next…..
That’s what I should’ve called it! Very good for SEO I’m sure with all those technical words 😉 It was very Hansel/Grettle inspired. I’m not sure what vibe I was going for, just fairy tale I guess. But I like the slight dark side of Hansel and Grettle–adds tension to the cauli story 😮 A chia trail…that’s a sure fire way to get lost! Plus then the forest birds might eat it and then die :/ I have no clue how to make cauli pasta, perhaps you do, but cauli gnocchi is an interesting thought…!?
Eeeee! This looks so luscious and gorgeous <3 Cauliflower is so cheap here (compared to at home) so I could actually make this hehe!! And that Valentine's jar, so cute!! I definitely know the struggle of losing recipes, happens too often to me ;(
Thanks dear! So strange that Canadian cauliflower is expensive, I wonder why? Well I guess you better make all the cauliflower things in the next 3 months then. I’ve gotten a little better, saving recipes in a word document to avoid losing, but it’s still a sad thing when one disappears.
I love your story. Hooray for cauliflower! And your pictures are lovely as always (Get it? Because Valentine’s Day and hearts?? Hehe)!
Also guess what? Cauliflower cupcakes are going on my blog next week! I made the recipe a few weeks ago but I have to reshoot the pictures since they didn’t turn out how I wanted. We’re cauliflower twins! In the meantime, you’ve just given me an idea to make cauliflower frosting! But first, I must try this magical pudding 🙂
Also I’m going to make your beet cupcakes today now that I finally have beets! Yippee!!
😮 😮 😮 Cauli Cupcakes!!??!? Oh man I am super excited to see those! This cauliflower dessert train just keeps on going, I love it! Cauliflower cupcakes with cauliflower frosting, how cool would that be!? I was looking for more things to add to the little link list at the end and there were not very many cauliflower sweets, I needed your cupcakes. I’ll add them once you post 🙂 And OMG I’ve found myself using the word ‘lovely’ a lot lately too in relation to V Day things haha! And yay for Red Velvet! It must just be a cupcake wonderland in your kitchen!
Wow Natalie, you never cease to amaze me with how you can make the healthiest of desserts! The thought of it sounds horrendous but I don’t need convincing to give it a try 😉
Hahahaha the thought of chocolate cauliflower does sound really gross just like that. But with sweetness added–very good 🙂 And thank you for your sweet comment <3
So I made it and have to say that at first when I tried it from the blender my first reaction was that I could taste the cauliflower but it wasn’t awful! Then once it had been in the fridge for a while it lost the flavour and was suddenly a heavenly chocolate mousse! (I used less liquid so it was more mousse textured) You are a genius Natalie 🙂 x
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I’m so happy you gave it a try Nicola! I like it much better cold too, pudding is just supposed to be cold in my mind but perhaps that’s because I grew up on pudding cups haha 😀 It definitely does have a mousse texture, very light. I’ll have to try it with less liquid next time to go for even more of a mousse texture. Thank you for leaving feedback and for giving it a shot even though it sounds a little crazy!
OMG making immediately!!!! What are the chances I could do this with frozen cauliflower?
That’s what I used! Just microwave it with some water in a bowl with a plate on top to steam it and really soften it up. Love frozen veggies because they are always on hand 🙂
Perfect! Saves me from having to go buy some!
Um, so, yeah, this is amazing!! So stinkin’ creative. All of it! And it’s gorgeous too! Well done, friend!
Thanks Jenn! It needed some bright toppings–brown on brown…not so attractive haha 😀
You are sooo funny! I LOVED the story and even moreso knowing that you already had this idea on your own! Just like you I wrote a recipe back using cauliflower (with the funniest name I might add) and I never seen anybody do one like it and now all these cauliflower recipes are popping up everywhere, but mine isn’t raw, so we shall see, lol. Anyways, I think the chocolate looks so pretty and creamy and amazing! It really does look more like pudding than frosting, so good call on that! I love the pic of the overhead shot of the jars, sooo bright and colorful! LOVE the red, my favorite color! Beautiful Natalie!
Hahaha thank you Brandi you are so sweet. The funny thing is that I thought I had shared the frosting on a super old brownie recipe but then went to look and realized it was actually just a date frosting. I’m really not sure what’s going on in my head sometimes ha! But hey gave me a chance to redo and repurpose. You NEED to post yours! I’m super curious about the dessert and the name now. And mine’s not raw either, the cauliflower is steamed. We were ahead of the crowd but just quiet about it 😉 I love the pop of the gojis too, something needed to brighten up the brown! Thanks dear!
Oh you are right, I’m so sorry, yours isn’t raw! I guess I meant more, not baked. Mine is a baked dessert. I actually hate cauliflower personally, but if anything is hidden into a dessert, I WILL eat it, I don’t care! what it is As long as the end product tastes good, I will gladly consume it. 🙂 Even though I don’t like dates, for example, I like Larabars and will eat those.
My daughter loves anything with chocolate too so I bet she would LOVE this and hiding veggies is always a favorite thing to do!
Yay for sneaky veggies! I’m so on board with cauliflower in desserts and this is looks absolutly delish! The parfait is simply gorgeous ? Seriously must try that. And I loved the story too!
Yay so glad you are on board with the cauli-sweets! A few people have been weirded out, but they just don’t know what they’re missing haha 😀 Thanks for reading Melissa!
Are those goji berries on top?
Yep! You could use anything of course, I just needed a pop of color 🙂
Well you already know my answer to the last question — can’t stop it 😀
I love this so much. I’ve made something quite similar, but not with dates. Now you twisted my arm. Must try…
I did put it in a blueberry banana + something else smoothie, like Harriet. I guess that must be where your mind goes when cauliflower and smoothies get together 😀
I’m super glad you revived your cauli frosting idea <3
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Leave it to me to add dates to anything and everything 🙂 I’m still slightly skeptical about a non-chocolate smoothie application, but I should try it. And bluebs and/or bananas make it into the marjority of my smoothies even without cauliflower, so yeah my mind would go there for sure! Thanks for the inspiration on this one <3
Yummmmmm! I love that you used cauliflower to make such a decadent, chocolatey pudding! These look so amazing Natalie, and the goji berries on top look so pretty. I’m going to have to make myself one of these for valentines day! <3
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Thanks Harriet! And I know you are not new to the cauliflower in sweet blended things either 🙂
This looks so creamy and decadent! I would have never thought that it would include cauliflower!! 😀 The parfait looks to die for and I love that you added Kyra’s raw cookies to it! It looks too cute! 🙂
Well cauliflower mash/puree is the bomb and we all love chocolate so I just mushed all that together 😀 And I love the cookies too, perfect coincidence that I had those around when I was making the pudding!
Cauliflower based chocolate treats are my absolute favorite way to feed huge amount of this veggie to unsuspecting friends 😀 super sneaky and no one ever believes it. I love your pudding! And those goji berries on top make it so pretty 🙂
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Hahahaha I thought you were going to say unsuspecting children, but friends is even more hilarious…plus you don’t have children so that wouldn’t have made sense anyways 😀 Do you have a cauliflower chocolate recipe on your site that I’m forgetting about? I looked when I was making that little list but couldn’t find one?
Haha, nope, I’m totally childless for now, though I bet even kids would love this 🙂 I don’t, I do make the chocolate cake with cauliflower from Chocolate Covered Katie fairly often though, about time I made my own version (I tend to adjust the recipe quite a lot anyway, I think it’s some sort of a disorder. Let’s call it RFD = recipe following disability)
Bahahahha that should be a legit recognized thing, because I think all of us bloggers have it 😀 Yes yes definitely post your version, I’m curious now!
Very true 😀 alright, I’m on it. Thanks, I needed that push 🙂
Great story nat! and what a delightful recipe too! So nutritious!
Haha thanks for reading the cauliflower frosting fairytale 😀
I made it today: incredibile. My mom couldn’t believe there was cauliflower in it 😀 creamy, fluffy and delicious. Great recipe!
Dang you are fast! I’m so glad you loved it and your did too, thanks for the feedback 🙂
Natalie, I have to say that subscribing to your blog was one of the greatest choices I’ve made when it came to finding healthier alternatives to so many of the common foods we see today. I’ll be honest though, I have not made many of your treats due to keeping up with my school work. But I always know that if I am looking for a recipe that is fruit sweetened, I’m sure to find it on your blog. I’ve made a list of your recipes that I want to make this summer!
Hi Dana! Your comment put a huge smile on my face, thank you <3 And I totally understand the school/no free time struggle, but I know you will find the time to try them eventually. I truly appreciate your support so much!
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing!! I can’t believe you used cauliflower! Can’t wait to give this a try! 🙂
Thanks Sina! It sounds funky, but it’s really tasty!
I love the idea of using cauliflower in desserts!! Definitely need to give this one a try 😀
I’m so glad you aren’t weirded out by it! With all that chocolate it’s delish 🙂
I made a cauliflower dessert for the blog 2 weeks ago! SO GOOD RIGHT?!
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Your cauliflower smoothie! I remember it from the Smoothie Battle, it sounds delish and totally genius <3 I really want to try it too!
OMG! This is genius! I have to make this immediately!!! Love your story too. I recently discovered cauliflower rice and now I think I’m going to need 500 heads of cauliflower to make all the recipes I’ve been pinning!
Thanks Rebecca! Cauliflower rice is amazing too, I love making sushi with it. And just mashed cauliflower is one of my favorite things too! I agree, 500 heads sounds totally reasonable 😀
I made this for Valentine’s Day and all my valentines (even my 3 young kids) approved. I would like to thicken up to make into a chocolate pie. Thoughts on how to thicken? Xantham Gum, Arrowroot??
I have a recipe for a raw sunflower seed crust (sunflower seeds, dates and vanilla) that is just calling for this chocolate pudding. Hoping to make for my daughter’s birthday party this weekend.
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I’m so glad they liked it! As for thickening it into a pie, I can’t tell you exact amounts since I haven’t tried it personally, but going off my experience with pumpkin pie I would probably use cornstarch or arrowroot. Perhaps 1-1.5 tbsps. Maybe reduce the amount of non-dairy milk to 1.5 cups to help with the thickening as well.
I just made thie chocolate pudding and it is absolutely fabulous! Honestly one of the best recipes I’ve made in a while. So clever. Thank you so much. I’ll be making very often I’m sure.
Hi Kimberly! I’m so glad you loved the sneaky veggie pudding idea! My cauliflower consumption has probably tripled in the past week with this recipe in my arsenal 😀 Thanks for the feedback and for trying the recipe!
Love all the cauliflower-dessert going around! Your post made me laugh =) This recipe and the breakfast one audrey posted are both on my list…not to mention cauliflower was on sale at the market so now I have two large ones in my fridge!! BTW…LOVE LOVE LOVE your jar creation! They are so pretty!
It’s like it was meant to be–cauliflower on sale and all these funky treats to try! I want to try Audrey’s breakfast bowl too, and that cauliflower nicecream is on my list as well. And thank you, those jars were so fun to make <3
Ok! Totally going to give this a try!! You’re so creative and inspiring!!
XOX
Candice
http://www.candicestubblefield.com
Sub for the dates?
Maple syrup or any liquid sweetener works, just decrease the amount of non-dairy milk by about 1/2 cup to keep the same thick consistency without the dates.
Hi Natalie! This looks so creamy and incredible <3 Is it possible to replace the dates with a lower-carb sweetener, such as sugar substitute? Or even coconut sugar or agave?
Hmm haven’t tried that and the dates actually contribute a lot of thickness to the pudding too, so if you do swap them out for a different sweetener maybe use full fat coconut milk instead of almond milk to help make up for the difference in thickness! Hope that helps and good luck 🙂
I haven’t made this yet but I’m so excited to make it!!! You are seriously a genius at making desserts Natalie! I have been drooling over your creations for a while now!
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Wow I so appreciate the kind words Marina❤️ And I hope you enjoy this one!
I’m sure I will once I get my hands on some cauliflower this weekend! I’ll be sure to share how it turns out for me!
ok, i’m convinced this is some sort of dark arts. It tastes rediculously like chocolate pudding. After putting it in the fridge all night any hint of the cauliflower is gone. Note: I would definitely add less plant milk, but thank you very much for this magical recipe
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YAY!! That is awesome to hear Joe, I’m so happy you tried this one despite the rather unusual ingredient🤗 Enjoy it!
Thank you for creating such a delicious recipe which I plan to make over & over again. I made mine using homemade walnut milk & the taste was wonderful.
By the way, if some ladies want it thicker, I imagine they could add a banana (just a idea).
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Love the banana idea, yes that would definitely thicken it up! Or avocado if we really wanna get crazy😳😂 But WALNUT MILK?? Okay yum, I need that in my chocolate pudding/life😋
Thnx for recipe
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I made a huge batch today and loving it so much!! I added a little sea salt to the mix and put in a little less milk to get a thicker mousse.
Thanks for this great recipe!!
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YAY!! I haven’t made this one in forever, but so crazy how creamy and chocolatey cauliflower can be right?! Appreciate the feedback and I hope your next batch is even better Manuela!
I just had to make this right away, as I had a cauliflower head sitting her awaitin’ to be used!
VERDICT: wowowowowowowowowowow! oh my goodness WOWOWOWOWOWWO
absolutely sensational.
Here’s my dilemma..
Do i tell people before? during? or after?
it’s a head-wrecker to say Cauliflower Chocolate Pudding!
but otherwise, this is just a beautiful discovery. thank you .
Hahahahaha!! Quite the tricky Q indeed🤔🤫😂 But I am so happy you tried and loved it! Its one of those gotta trust and go for it to see what sort of veggies in chocolate form you might be missing. Appreciate your feedback Dee❤️