Light 'n' Easy Chocolate Pudding: A Quick & Low-Calorie Recipe for Chocolate Pudding

Some times, we just gotta-have-chocolate-now but don't want to suffer the consequences. This quick low-calorie chocolate pudding recipe calls for just five pantry ingredients. It's sweet and satisfying but won't ruin your diet.

Easy weeknight chocolate pudding recipe. Just five ingredients! Recipe for Light 'n' Easy Chocolate Pudding © Kitchen Parade.

Like every modern weight-conscious woman, I want it all. It’s our 21st century version of both having and eating our cake.

Yes, I want to feel and look slim. Yes, I want to feel and be healthy. And I want ALL this – and still enjoy wine with supper and dessert after!

To achieve satisfying weight and health objectives, however, most nights we must, at best, choose between wine and dessert or, at worst, sacrifice both.

LIGHT ‘N’ EASY CHOCOLATE PUDDING helps. More than once, when supper’s seemed a little skimpy, I whip up a batch and within a few minutes, feel indulged and satisfied but know I’m eating virtuously.

The trick is the fat-free but flavorful cocoa powder. Like low-fat buttermilk and egg whites, cocoa powder is an ingredient to seek out in recipes if you, a thoroughly modern woman, or man, watch your weight.

With a winner like this for every day, it’s an easy decision, then, to occasionally splurge on some cream- and egg-rich chocolate mousse.

Or yes, please pass the cake.

ALANNA's TIPS This makes a soft pudding that could also substitute for chocolate sauce.

For a richer version, substitute whole milk, at 158 calories and 3 Weight Watchers points, still a healthful dessert.

Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences.

Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com.

How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe.

If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture.

Become a Kitchen Parade fan on Facebook!

LIGHT ‘N’ EASY CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time to table: 25 minutes
Makes 2 servings (may be doubled)

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir together sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch in a medium saucepan until thoroughly mixed. Slowly whisk in milk.

[TIPS for NEW COOKS: If you add the milk all at once, the pudding will turn out lumpy. “Slowly whisk in milk” is kitchen code for the technique used to mix dry and liquid ingredients without lumps. It’s simple to master. First, make sure the dry ingredients are completely mixed. Here, that means that no lumps, even tiny ones, of sugar, cocoa or cornstarch remain. Work out any last remaining pesky ones with the back of a spoon pressed against the saucepan. Next, pour the milk into a liquid measuring cup, that is, one with a spout for easy pouring. Pour a tablespoon or two of milk into the cocoa mixture and stir until the liquid is fully absorbed. Repeat tablespoon by tablespoon until the combined mixture is more liquid than dry, then add the remaining milk.]

Cook until thick over medium heat, stirring regularly, especially as mixture gets hot. Stir in vanilla. Pour into two small dishes and refrigerate at least 15 minutes to continue the thickening process.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE Per serving: 133 Calories; 1g Tot Fat; 1g Sat Fat; 26g Carb; 2g Fiber; 74mg Sodium; 2mg Cholesterol; 6g Protein.

This recipe has been 'Alanna-sized' with reductions in sugar, fat and portion size.

WEIGHT WATCHERS Old Points 2 & PointsPlus 3.

LATER NOTES Since starting to write Kitchen Parade in 2002, I've made a concerted effort to change recipes to make them more healthful. My friends call it Alanna-sizing. This is how I do it, you can do it at home, too. I create reasonable portion sizes (yes, they're smaller than has become 'normal') and remove unnecessary fat and sugar. But there's no sacrifice here because at the same time, I also increase the good stuff, adding fiber and low- or no-calorie ingredients, including flavor. This chocolate pudding is a perfect example. It's not a rich chocolate mousse to serve at a fancy dinner party. But it is one to make every week, fast, simple and satisfying. I hope you love it!

More Recipes for Light Desserts

(click a photo for a recipe)

Lemon Pudding Cake (Low-Cal & Low-Carb Version)

~ more low-calorie recipes ~

~ more Weight Watchers recipes ~

Craving Chocolate?

(hover for a description, click a photo for a recipe)

~ more chocolate recipes ~

Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ cocoa powder ~
~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

Page Permalink |

E-Mail This Recipe

Join the Conversation!

To read comments from other readers, please scroll down.
To leave your own comment, please scroll down to 'Post a Comment'.

Thanks! I'm always happy to find a new pudding recipe, esp. chocolate. Delicious and light--my kind of dessert.

1/19/2007

Susan on 7/21/2007

I love pudding and this way I can eat it and not feel guilty. Thanks for that!

1/20/2007

Sher on 7/21/2007

Susan & Sher ~ Tis lovely yes and even better, no guilt!

1/20/2007

Alanna on 7/21/2007

I can't believe it: what a simple recipe for a rich-looking comforting dessert. I think I will make it sometime this week as an unexpected treat for V.

1/21/2007

Nupur on 7/21/2007

Alanna, I did make this pudding last night, and we loved it! Very chocolate-y and delicious, and it took all of 5 minutes to make in the morning. Perfect weeknight dessert.

2/15/2007

Nupur on 7/21/2007

This pudding is excellent I recommend covering the actual surface of the pudding with plastic wrap before putting it in the fridge to prevent a skin from forming...

Anonymous on 3/23/2009

This really was so good—creamy and chocolate-y. What I really liked is that the pudding tasted so fresh! My son loved it!

I assume evaporated skim milk would also work and maybe even create a creamier consistency without added fat?

Donna on 3/27/2009

This is nearly identical to the chocolate pudding I make -- I just use a little more cornstarch (1 1/2 T) and 2% milk. I cook it on the stovetop or in the microwave. 2 minutes on high, stir, then about another 30 seconds. I cook it in a 4 cup measuring cup then pour into serving dishes. Yum!

wosnes on 2/05/2010

If you use Almond milk and splenda you can cut the calories in this recipe in half and its still soooo yummy!!!!!!!

Meaghan on 2/22/2010

Alanna, this is a great pudding! I like to add a little instant coffee (or Kahlua)--not enough to make it taste like a mocha, but just enough to enhance the chocolate flavor.

Earlier this week, I made a large batch (with 5 cups of milk) and poured it into 10 little ramekins to keep in the fridge for the week. The recipe scaled up just fine and the pudding keeps well in the fridge. My husband loves to take one to work with his lunch, and it's a nice sweet something to enjoy after dinner. Thanks for the great recipe!

Libby on 4/02/2010

HOLY SMOKES! This is FANTASTIC! I poured it into 2 bowls. 1 made it to the fridge. I ate the other straightaway. It was like eating the 'guts' from a lava cake! I can see curling up with this and watching the snow fly! (in a few months! It's only October!)

Jessica on 10/14/2010

This pudding turned out perfectly, but I did not like it. I'd rather have a 2 pt piece of good chocolate candy.

jancd on 2/03/2011