Healthy Chocolate Pudding Snacks - If you loved the Jell-O snacks as a kid, you'll love this cleaned up version made with organic gelatin powder, honey, and cocoa powder.
Everyone in the house loves these healthy chocolate pudding snacks.
They make a delicious snack, and they're so easy to make!
I recently bought a tub of this gelatin from Perfect Supplements in order to update a couple of recipes, including these pudding snacks.
What sold me on the company (which I have NO affiliation with) is their attention to making clean products. I'll tell you quickly, I also purchased their collagen, and I noticed within DAYS that my nails were growing faster. That's pretty amazing, and made me question the protein powder I'd been using for over a year, as it didn't seem to be having any effect.
I've only had the gelatin for a week or so, but it has worked great in my recipes, particularly this one.
Though I wasn't allowed much junk food as a kid, I still managed to get my hands on someone's Jell-O pudding snack, which is what today's recipe is fashioned after.
What I truly enjoy about my version is that it's made with clean and healthy ingredients. These are sweetened with honey and pumped up with a little protein, thanks to the addition of gelatin.
And, they're delicious!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Milk - We really enjoy using whole, raw milk. I've also used coconut milk and almond milk with great results.
- Honey - Maple syrup would also work, but the honey tastes really good in this recipe.
- Cocoa powder - Carob powder could substitute, if you're sensitive to caffeine.
- Gelatin - As written above, I'm using the Perfect Supplements gelatin. I've also used the cheap Knox brand from the grocery store.
- Sea salt
- Vanilla extract
- Stevia - I like to sweeten these without adding extra sugar, so I add about ten drops to the mix.
Recipe steps
Begin by warming the milk in a saucepan.
At the same time, add 1/2 cup of cold milk to a separate container, and sprinkle the gelatin over the top.
Next, add the honey to the warmed milk and stir. At the same time, stir the gelatin mixture, then add the honey-milk to the gelatin.
Whisk in the remaining ingredients, including the cocoa powder, salt, vanilla, and stevia, until there are no lumps.
Distribute the milk mixture among 2-3 small glasses and put in the fridge to chill until set.
Recipe notes
This has the consistency of a chocolate Jell-O pudding snack. If you're looking for something with a softer consistency, try my Carob Mousse.
Other chocolate recipes you might like
Healthy Chocolate Meringue Pie
Healthy Chocolate Pudding Snacks
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup milk of choice divided
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 ¼ teaspoon gelatin powder
- pinch sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 10-15 drops liquid stevia
Instructions
- Warm one cup of the milk in a small saucepan.
- In a medium-size bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over remaining 1/2 cup of cold milk. Let stand for one minute.
- Stir the honey into the warmed milk until well combined.
- Whisk the gelatin/milk mix until gelatin dissolves, and add in the warm milk mix, along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir until everything is well combined.
- Divide the mix between 2-3 small bowls, and place in the fridge until firm (1-2 hours).
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Jen
This was delicious! I bought gelatin and stevia to make it, and had never had either. I was concerned I wouldn't like the stevia, but it was SO GOOD! My daughter loved it, and actually spread it on her toast like Nutella. Ha! Thank you for posting this recipe. It's a keeper!
Lauren
Yay, I'm so happy you liked it Jen! My girls love this recipe too. 🙂
Teri
I could eat a bucket of this pudding! You have the best desserts!
kellyguindon
Hi, can i use swerve sweetener instead of honey? and if so, how much do you think I should use?.
Lauren
Hi Kelly,
I'm not familiar with that, so I'm not sure, sorry!
Rhonda Duran
Make by adding a little swerve at a time then taste it.
Kelly
Hi, can you use more natural sugar free sweetener instead of honey?.
Lauren
Hi Kelly,
Do you mean more stevia? I'm not sure, as I've not tried. The pudding may lack in consistency if you make that substitute.
Mallissa
This looks like a simple and delicious recipe. If you wanted enough pudding to make a pudding pie, what ratios would you use?
Lauren
Hi Mallissa,
I'm not at all sure, but to guess, I'd say twice the recipe?
gina
This is incredible! I'm going to try a vanilla pudding as well as carob version. I wonder how blueberry puree would fare - not to make a jello but rather a pudding. Will try. I think a creamy base (the non dairy milk) will work for that. We shall see! Thank you!
Lauren
I'm happy you like it Gina, and your variations sound delicious! 🙂
Misty
Interesting... I'm no cook at all and just about wreck everything I try, but have you or anyone else tried any add-ins? I found this while trying to see if I could find a German chocolate healthier pudding (yes, addicted to the Jell-o ones at the grocer...), so I wondered about putting coconut and pecans in this recipe. Would the coconut require any changes, for instance? Or would a chia base be better for add-ins? Any ideas?
Lauren
I've not tried it, but I'm sure you could stir in whatever you'd like! No changes needed. 🙂
Julie Meyers
Where do you find grass-fed gelatin?
Lauren
You can find it on Amazon, or regular grocery stores carry Knox gelatin (not grass-fed, but it works great!).
Beth
For grass-fed gelatin, look for Great Lakes brand.
zosia
I was wondering if your pudding comes out "hard" like jell-o?
Mine does and I followed the recipe to a "T"...
I'd like it to be a little less dense...Any suggestions? Or is it meant to "harden" to that jell-o consistency? Eithe way...it's very good! I really like this recipe. Thank you.
Lauren
Hi Zosia,
I'm not sure what you mean by 'hard'...the gelatin causes it to 'set' and be a firmer shape (like Jell-o) as opposed to being soft like say avocado pudding. Reducing the amount of gelatin may help if you want it softer, but I'm not sure how it would turn out. I'm happy you at least enjoyed the taste!
Brian
I know what you mean. I use a recipe very similar to this and was put-off by the consistency the first time I made it. I ended up putting it all in my stand mixer with the whisk on and whip the bejesus out of it which produces a much more pleasing final texture. Just stop when it's good for you. Takes less than 60 seconds.
amber
LOVE this recipe, Lauren!!! Your healthy version looks just marvelous (blah, look at that gross Jello).
Pinning this for later!!!
And I love gelatin too. So many health benefits. 🙂
Keira
Do you think you could substitute all stevia for the
honey? Thanks so much for this recipe-can't wait to try it!
Lauren
Hi Keira (what a beautiful name, by the way!),
I do think stevia would work! I would guess somewhere between 40-50 drops would make it sweet enough, but test as you go. I hope you enjoy it! 😀
Dina
great recipe. sounds yummy!
Laura | My Little Gourmet
I love this list of ingredients...sounds so simple and comforting! And I had no idea gelatin was making a come-back. It's used a lot in German recipes so tend to use it quite often, but without knowing it had actual benefits. Look at me, being all healthy and stuff. 😉
Susan
Thanks for the info, Lauren. I think I have a chocolate chia pudding recipe. I can see investing in Knox gelatin, and I'm pretty sure they'd have it at my grocery store, despite all the things they don't carry.
The corn meal mush was not hushpuppies that I know of. I just cooked up the mush & then spread it out in a frying pan lined with bacon grease. I think I turned it so it would be crispy on both sides (it was back in 1970 or thereabouts, and I've not done that since). For those who want to be healthy, I would not recommend making or eating that. It was specifically something I did for eating binges back then.
Susan
This sounds delicious. I'm always looking for new snack ideas, so I'll save this recipe. Not sure I want to invest in gelatin, though, because I would have very little use for it. I might try this with chia instead?
What haven't I overindulged in? Many years ago I loved to make cornmeal mush, fried in bacon fat (I know, it sounds pretty bad to me, too - now). Hershey's kisses. Raisins. Cashews. I'm grateful that I'm finding good ways to eat chocolate where I don't overindulge.
Lauren
Hahaha! Raisins are on my list too, but I've never tried the bacon fat-fried cornmeal! Is that a hush puppy?
I'm not sure about the chia for this...you may want to google 'chocolate chia pudding' instead. I actually just use Knox gelatin (not grass-fed), but it's super cheap AND you can get it at just about any grocery store. I do believe the grass-fed is superior, but I haven't invested in any yet either. 🙂
Brooke
Hi! Just to be clear, is this the same gelatin that's made from skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones from cows and pigs? I'm a vegetarian and just want to make sure there's no new technology out there!
Lauren
Yup, that's the stuff!
Lisa
Can I just come over and you can cook for me 🙂
Lauren
Lol! You guys should come back down and I'll whip you up something yummy! 😀
Donna
Just....THANK YOU for providing me with a finally, personally "safe" solution/alternative to chocolate mousse....I love the newly-revived interest in the use of gelatin....the protein punch and low calories really appeal...Please keep giving us your brilliant ideas as they pop into your fertile mind!
Lauren
Thank you Donna for the sweet comment! 😀 I'm just happy to share the recipes that I enjoy and that work for me and my allergies.