Buckwheat Chocolate Pudding (High Protein, 4 Ingredients)

Buckwheat chocolate pudding is the perfect high protein dessert, breakfast or snack you’ve been searching to find. Made with 4 humble ingredients (no protein powder) and no cooking, it is gluten-free, oil-free, vegan, nut-free and so delicious!

High Protein Chocolate Pudding

Time for me to come clean: I am not a chocolate lover.

To clarify, I do like chocolate. A lot. But I do not love it in the way that my dad, for example, adored chocolate. His birthday cakes were invariably chocolate, and when he bought ice cream, it was either chocolate, very chocolate, or extremely chocolate.

I do, however, love some particular preparations of chocolate, and that includes chocolate pudding. The fact that my dad would mix it up, on a whim, on weeknights (Tuesdays often need chocolate pudding) bolsters my lifelong affection for the stuff.

This particular chocolate pudding is newfangled and fun, largely because it is so good for you that it can be eaten for breakfast, or as a healthy snack. It requires no cooking, either, and can be flavored in multiple ways.

Recipe Benefits

• High Protein (8 grams per serving)
• High Fiber (11 grams per serving)
• No protein powder
• No cooking
• Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
• Gluten-Free
• Oil-Free (e.g., no coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil)
• Nut-Free (e.g., no peanut butter, almond flour, or added nuts)
• Added Sugar-Free (fruit sweetened instead)
• Fast & Easy to Make
• Frugal

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.

This buckwheat chocolate pudding is made with four whole food ingredients. I do not include water in my ingredient count for this, or other recipes, on powerhungry (I assume everyone has running water). Likewise, I do not count salt, since it is optional (but recommended, to heighten flavor).

Here is what you will need:

• Buckwheat groats (raw/uncooked)
• Pitted dates (any variety)
• Unsweetened cocoa powder (baking cocoa or raw cacao powder)
• Canned chickpeas
  • Optional: pinch of salt

I have suggestions in the FAQ section below for additional, but optional, flavor enhancements and variations. Enjoy flavoring the pudding to suit your tastes on any given day.

How to Make Buckwheat Chocolate Pudding

Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.

Step One: Quick Soak the Buckwheat & Dates

Place the buckwheat groats and dates in a small mixing bowl. Add the boiling water to the bowl. Let stand for at least 30 minutes to soften. Drain the groats and dates (discard the soaking water).

Step Two: Blend the Pudding

Transfer the drained buckwheat and dates to a small blender. Add the cocoa powder and drained, rinsed chickpeas, and optional salt.

Process until completely smooth, stopping several times to scrape down the sides of the container. Keep blending for an extra minute to ensure that the pudding is silky smooth.

Step Three: Transfer to Containers

Divide the pudding into two small bowls (or jars, ramekins, cups or other small containers), smoothing the tops.

Step Four: Chill

Cover the tops of the containers and chill for at least one hour (ideally at least 3 hours until cold).

Step Five: Serve

Serve the pudding plain, or add your favorite toppings (see my list of suggestions below).

This makes the perfect dessert, but it is wonderful breakfast or power snack, too.

Flavor and Texture of the Pudding

The pudding has a smooth chocolate flavor and just the right amount of sweetness to take breakfast, snacks, or dessert.

The texture is smooth and creamy. A powerful blender will make the pudding silky smooth in seconds, but you can achieve the same results by blending in a regular blender for a longer period.

FAQ

• How should I store the pudding? Store covered (if for more than 1 day, store in an airtight container) in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir the pudding before serving, if needed.
• Can I add more protein to the pudding? Yes! Replace some or all of the cocoa powder with the chocolate protein powder of your choice, and/or swirl in or top the pudding with your favorite nut butter or seed butter.
• Can I substitute a buckwheat flour for buckwheat groats? No. I tried (in a word: gross), so that you would not have to.
• How can I make the pudding richer? Replace some or all of the water with full fat coconut milk (richest option) or your preferred nondairy milk (e.g., oat milk, almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk).
• How can I make the buckwheat chocolate pudding sweeter? You can add 1 to 3 tablespoons of the sweetener of your choice, such as coconut sugar, maple syrup, brown sugar, or (if you are not following a vegan diet) honey. Or add a small amount of monk fruit, stevia, or erythritol, if you prefer to avoid adding additional sugar.
• Can I use a food processor? No, it will not purée the ingredients smooth enough.

Add-In Suggestions

If you like, you can tweak the chocolate pudding with additional flavor enhancements, such as the following:

• Extracts or Zests: Add a teaspoon of vanilla or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract, orange extract, rum extract or coconut extract.
• Coffee: Coffee makes chocolate taste richer and more intense (👍 ). Add a teaspoon of instant espresso powder or a tablespoon of instant coffee, or replace all or some of the 2/3 cup water with dark brewed coffee.
• Spices: Add between a pinch to 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite spice, such as cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, ginger, or pumpkin pie spice.

Suggested Toppings

I am all for gilding the lily. If you are the same, consider any number of these toppings to enhance your pudding cup.

• Fresh Fruit: (e.g., blueberries, raspberries, diced banana, pomegranate arils, or diced strawberries).
• Granola (for example, Oil-Free Buckwheat Granola, Oil-Free Chocolate Granola, Easy Oil-Free Almond Granola or Quinoa Flake Granola)
• Dark Chocolate (finely chopped or grated)
• Cacao Nibs
• Nuts or Seeds (e.g., finely chopped walnuts, pecans, peanuts, pepitas, or sunflower seeds.
• Dried Fruit (e.g., raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried cranberries or chopped dried apples)
• Flaked or Desiccated Unsweetened Coconut (plain or toasted)
• Smooth Nut Butter (or Seed Butter) (such as cashew butter, almond butter, peanut butter or sunflower seed butter)
• Non-Dairy Yogurt (plain or vanilla)

Enjoy every bite, any time!

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