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Need a chocolate fix? This chocolate snack tastes rich and chocolaty, but it’s just Greek yogurt, cocoa powder and maple syrup. It’s made in only 2 minutes!
Want a chocolate fix? Here’s one I invented by chance, and it’s not really even a recipe! I stir it together when I get an impromptu chocolate craving. Here’s the great part: it tastes just like dark chocolate pudding! But it’s only Greek yogurt, dark cocoa powder, and maple syrup. So, you get the protein and probiotics of yogurt and get your chocolate fix at the same time.
Even better, you can make it in 2 minutes! My mom tried it recently and said, “You have to share this recipe!” If you’re a dark chocolate lover like we are, keep reading for this irresistible healthy dessert.
My chocolate snack obsession
This post is oddly personal, because I eat this a lot as my “secret” late night snack. I was absolutely not going to share it here on my professional recipe website. However: my mom was visiting and saw me whipping this up. We’re both dark chocolate fiends. She eats dark chocolate every single day. When she tried this, she could not stop talking about it.
You have to share the recipe! she urged me. People are going to love this! So though it’s more of an idea than a recipe, and I never measure it, I unveil my secrets to getting your dark chocolate fix. If you’re a dark chocolate lover too, let us know if you try our healthy chocolate pudding and what you think.
What’s a healthy chocolate snack?
First, what does the term healthy even mean? I used this word to modify “chocolate snack” because it’s healthier than most chocolate treats. But healthy is hard to define. If you really want a healthy recipe, eat a salad! But if you need your chocolate fix, this chocolate pudding can be a healthier option than most. Here’s why:
- It’s got lots of protein (8 grams per serving). This is why I prefer this snack to eating a bar of chocolate or chocolate cake. Alex and I have been working out more and protein is helpful for building muscle and staying strong.
- You can enjoy the probiotics of yogurt. The probiotics in yogurt are helpful for gut health. You don’t get that from a cupcake!
- It’s about 200 calories per serving (or eat half for less!). Alex and I don’t count or restrict calories. But I wanted to make sure my “healthy” chocolate snack wasn’t loading on 500 calories in the evenings. To cut down more, you can eat half and it’s still enough.
- It’s naturally sweet, but it does contain sugar! While maple syrup is not refined sugar, guess what? It still contains sugar! This chocolate snack is not sugar free.
Key ingredient: Dutch processed or dark cocoa powder
Here’s the most important thing about this chocolate snack recipe. YOU MUST USE DARK COCOA POWDER! Please tell us you read that? I’ll say it again in normal case now. That’s right, please use dark cocoa powder, also known as Dutch process cocoa powder or Dutched cocoa. The package may also say “100% cocoa”.
What is it? Dutch process cocoa powder is essentially like a dark chocolate version of cocoa powder. It’s been treated with an alkali to make it pH neutral, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor. The dark cocoa powder is what gives this snack its dark chocolate flavor. I’ve tried it with regular cocoa powder and it’s not nearly the same flavor: it almost tastes fruity. The dark cocoa is what combines with the maple syrup to taste like chocolate. Please heed this advice!
Where to find dark cocoa powder
You should be able to find dark chocolate or Dutch process cocoa powder for this chocolate snack at your local grocery store, next to the regular cocoa powder. Here are the two brands I’ve used and liked:
- Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder: This is the one that’s easiest to find at groceries, but here’s a link for it online. (I may have stocked up on 4 containers.)
- Ghirardelli Dutch Process Cocoa Powder: This one is much more expensive, but we tried it when I ran out of Hershey’s once. WOW is the flavor rich and delicious! If you have the budget, use this one for the highest quality chocolate snack experience. (Ha!)
Dietary notes
This chocolate snack recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, naturally sweet and refined sugar free. We don’t recommend trying it with vegan yogurt; go to Vegan Chocolate Pudding instead.
Healthy Chocolate Pudding Snack
Need a chocolate fix? This chocolate snack tastes rich and chocolaty, but it’s just Greek yogurt, cocoa powder and maple syrup. And it’s made in 2 minutes!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Dutch process or dark cocoa powder (not regular cocoa powder)*
- ½ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt**
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Mix everything together in a bowl. It will be very thick at first, but it will smooth out once the cocoa powder incorporates. If your yogurt is very thick, you can add ½ to 1 tablespoon water to get a bit lighter texture, but all yogurts vary. (Also, you can always add a little more cocoa powder or maple to adjust to your own taste.)
Notes
*The secret to this recipe is the dark cocoa powder! It is also called Dutch process cocoa powder and can be found at most grocery stores. Don’t buy the regular kind! See the section above for more about what it is and where to find it.
**We have not been able to find a dairy-free yogurt that we like, so we don’t recommend trying a vegan version of this. If you’d like, try our Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse for something similar.
More chocolate recipes
We’ve got that too. Here are a few favorite chocolate recipes that could count as a chocolate snack:
- Chocolate Lava Cake Showy and decadent, with a molten lava center!
- No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies These no bakes are a step above the rest.
- Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Wholesome cookies, with a bit of real chocolate.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups These homemade peanut butter cups are truly perfect! They’ve got a glossy sheen and make a mouthwatering peanut butter filling.
- Chocolate Covered Bananas The perfect easy and healthy dessert! Store them in the freezer for whenever you crave a sweet bite.
- Ultimate Chocolate Mug Cake This is the absolute best chocolate mug cake recipe: made in 2 minutes!
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake Super rich and chocolaty, it’s filled with zucchini to make it moist and chocolate chips.
- Easy Chocolate Banana Bread This easy chocolate banana bread recipe is moist and rich. Perfect for brunch, a snack, or even dessert! Add dark chocolate chips for an even richer experience.
- Or if you’re just looking for decadent chocolate heaven…try our Triple Chocolate Cookies or Flourless Chocolate Cake.
This is SO good. I used buckwheat honey which is what I had on hand and it also pairs really well!
THis was very yummy even using Fage Greek Yogurt 0%. I’ve also done something similar using pumpkin purée, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice. You can do so much with Greek yogurt!!!