Dessert in minutes! This healthy Raw Orange Chocolate Pudding is fast and easy, yet very rich and chocolatey. Dairy-free, vegan, oil-free & nut-free.
Raw Orange Chocolate Pudding to the rescue!
Sometimes you need (want!) dessert in minutes.
This Raw Chocolate Pudding is from LTEV. It’s rich and delicious, made with whole foods, and can literally be prepared in minutes!
Bit of background on this pudding… When I first experimented with avocado in chocolate puddings, I could taste the avocado. Have you had that experience?

Yes, the avocado made it incredibly creamy and thick, and yes, it was healthy. But the avocado flavor was too prominent for me, even in the chocolate base.
So, I played with this recipe and realized that the addition of fresh orange juice improved the flavor profile immensely. Orange and chocolate pair beautifully together anyway. In this raw orange chocolate pudding the orange flavor comes forward with the cocoa muting the avocado flavor. Result? A delicious, chocolatey, creamy, dreamy, thick vegan chocolate pudding – that’s also good for you!
Enjoy! x Dreena
Raw Orange Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla bean seeds scraped out (or 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract)
- 1 cup peeled pitted, and roughly chopped ripe avocado (about 1 large or 1 1/2 medium avocado)
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1/3 cup raw or regular cocoa powder
- 1 tsp orange zest zest orange first and then juice
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1/8 tsp sea salt don’t omit, balances flavors
Instructions
- In a food processor (or using the Blendtec twister jar, if you have it), puree all ingredients. Puree until very, very smooth, stopping processor to scrape down several times throughout processing. This pudding is very thick. If you’d like to thin it, you can do so with more orange juice, or a splash of nut milk or water. Serve or store in the refrigerator. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.
Love this pudding? Also try this recipe!
Ricki Burleigh says
Oh, my! Just a normal, everyday activity…climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya! That is extraordinary! I appreciated your comment! I agree with you that Dreena is a “VEGAN GENIUS!!”
Corrin Radd says
Made this today. Yum! Love the recipes for sweet treats with little or no added sugar or fat for serving to my kids. Please keep them coming!
Laura says
Is the cocoa powder sweetened or unsweetened?
Dreena says
Unsweetened, just standard cocoa powder.
Michelle says
I feel like this may make an excellent frosting for a cake, muffin, or cupcake – hmmm… : )
Laurie says
Dreena,
I just have to tell you that I’m sitting in a very hot village in Kenya (my hubby and I just climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and are now doing humanitarian work) and I now can’t wait to get back home and make this pudding! I have tried using avocado before in pudding recipes and have always thought the avocado taste was way too strong for me so I’m super excited to try your recipe. I have LOVED all of the LTEV recipes I’ve tried and know this will be a winner as well. Congrats on the new cookbook . . . you are a vegan genius!!!
Christen M. says
(sorry if this is a duplicate)
I just made a batch, yumm! It is a little too orangey and tart for me though, so I added about a 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp agave and 1/8 cup o almond milk so it would mix better (NOTE: it took almost 20 minutes of blending in my food processor to get rid of almost all of the bits and pieces). If we use less orange juice and more almond milk will it still taste pudding-like?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks! 🙂
Dreena says
Hi Christen, for sure you can replace some of the orange juice with non-dairy milk. The tartness can be b/c of the variety of orange too, some are very sweet, others quite sour. So, def adjust to taste!
Christen says
I just made a batch, yumm! It is a little too orangey and tart for me though, so I added about a 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp agave and 1/8 cup o almond milk so it would mix better (NOTE: it took almost 20 minutes of blending in my food processor to get rid of almost all of the bits and pieces). If we use less orange juice and more almond milk will it still taste pudding-like?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks! 🙂
Gretchen says
This sounds incredible!! I have most of the ingredients on hand at the moment….however, I don’t have coco powder. I do have Raw cacao, or non dairy/non sugar/unsweetened choc chips. What would be the best to use for my daughter (2 year old). I want to make this for her for tomorrow, valentines day. We are in the midst of a big snowstorm, so I can’t get the coco powder. Would Raw cacao be too stimulating for her? Otherwise, I would maybe melt the choc chips and then add them?
Thoughts? Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!
Dreena says
Hi Gretchen, I think it would be fine to use raw cacao, you can adjust to taste, adding a little less if you like for her. Enjoy! 🙂
Tami@NutmegNotebook says
Chocolate and orange are so good together. Nice recipe!
Waterproof Labels says
Now I know what to give to my hubby this coming valentine’s day, thanks you! I’m really excited how it’ll turn out success, hope he’ll like it!
Deana says
Thank you so much. looking forward to making the chocolate and orange pudding. 🙂
Kristen says
This looks amazing, Dreena! I love that it has avocado! I can’t wait to get my hands on your new book!
Kristen says
This looks delicious, Dreena! I love that it’s made with avocado, I’ll be making this soon. I’m so excited to get my hands on your new book!
Christine (The Raw Project) says
Very exciting about your book, can’t wait. And the pudding sounds wonderful, especially with the addition of orange zest.
Dreena says
Thank you Christine!
Veganopoulous says
I’m very much looking forward to your new book Dreena!
Dreena says
Thank you so much, appreciate the support. 🙂
Veganopoulous says
I am really looking forward to your new book!
Liz says
D,
I will GLADLY give up some of our time with you NOW if it means we get another awesome culinary manual from you. 🙂 I can’t believe you’re already wrapping up ANOTHER cookbook manuscript! What a dynamo! I am BEYOND excited and can’t wait to hear ALL about it. 🙂
Dreena says
Awww, thank you Liz! You are a doll, thank you – hope this collection delights you as much as my other recipes (or more)! TY. 🙂
Cassandra says
I agree with Liz! Your cookbooks never disappoint. If you keep writing those recipes, you know we’ll keep making ’em! 🙂 Better make some more room on those shelves for another Dreena masterpiece!
Emma says
I’ve already told you how crazy my friends went for this pudding! They’re not vegan and were astounded that the main ingredient was avocado and that there’s no sugar in here! It’s so fun to show people that healthy, plant-based food can be delicious 😀
It’s always a pleasure to photograph your recipes xxx
Dreena says
It sure is, Emma! We grow up thinking that the only “treat” foods are made with dairy and sugar and refined and processed ingredients. Really, the best flavors come from more unprocessed foods – and fresh plant foods! Thanks again for the lovely photos. xx
Charlotte says
If someone is allergic to avocado (and soy), do you know of a good substitute?
Dreena says
Hi Charlotte, I’d try another recipe if allergic to avocado. I have a ‘Chocolate Chia Pudding’ recipe here too, you could substitute some of the milk in the recipe with orange juice if you like for this orange/choc flavor combo. Check that one out, you can use a non-dairy milk like almond or coconut milk. Hope that helps!
Lisa says
Maybe try using ripe banana instead of avocado.
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
Chocolate and orange is such a great flavor combination.
It’s funny to me that I cook from LTEV all the time but every time you post a recipe from the book, I haven’t made it yet!
I looked today and realized that I have only made savory foods from LTEV. Not one dessert or cookie or treat. I planned on making snackles today but with the husband painting the kitchen I was unable to.
I also really want to make a momelet one of these weekends…
Dreena says
That’s funny, Anna – I think I always turn to the desserts section first in cookbooks. 😉 Well, there are treats a-plenty in LTEV, so have fun picking out the first one to try!! (I’ll try to keep surprising you with LTEV recipes you haven’t gotten to just yet.) 😀
Dreena says
Wishing you a sweet and luvy Valentine’s Day too, Tiffany! Thanks for popping in and sending a kind note to Emma as well, I’m sure she’ll appreciate it. xx
Tiffany says
Dreena, orange pudding sounds absolutely delicious! I’ll definitely have to make it sometime very soon! I love how all your recipes are never overly sweet, they are just perfect 🙂
Emma, you photography skills are just stunning. Your photos are always so warm and inviting!
Wishing you a happy valentines day filled with love, hugs and smiles xoxo
Emma says
Thank you Tiffany, I’m so pleased you like the pictures 🙂 x