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I have a huge sweet tooth. I will try just about anything in the dessert department, especially anything chocolate. What I really love is dark chocolate. It’s my go-to…I always have some stashed away for “emergencies”. And last week, I was having a chocolate emergency and whipped up with Dark Chocolate Orange Pudding.
I love chocolate and orange together, it’s such a great combo. What made it even better was that I had some great quality chocolate in the pantry to whip up this pudding. Chocolate was the star of this party and I wanted it to shine in my pudding recipe.
Santa Barbara Chocolate Co. sent me several bags of chocolate to play around with. They were very generous and sent plenty of dark chocolate. Honestly, I had never heard of Santa Barbara Chocolate company before and was a bit intrigued. How could it even compare to some of the other names in premium chocolate. Let me tell you, it’s definitely a contender.
What I find fascinating is that the founder of Santa Barbara Chocolate has had chocolate in his blood since the beginning. His family has been in the chocolate business for over 100 years and SBC was founded 20 years ago in 1992. They pride themselves on organically grown and fair trade chocolate and their attention to every detail shows in the quality of their products! My favorite has to be the 75% cacao from Peru! It is perfect in every way! Although in this recipe I used a 72% cacao, I think next time I will try it with my favorite! Use whichever you have!
Back to my pudding….it’s the first time I’ve ever made pudding from scratch. I guess I’ve read too many super complicated recipes with crazy ingredients that it just scared me half to death. Besides that little packet that costs about a buck is so easy, so why not just use it?!?! Because after having this Dark Chocolate Pudding, there will be no other chocolate pudding in my house.
It’s also just happens to be vegan. Wait…Don’t Run Away! It’s good and no one will know and your friends that are vegetarian or vegan, or with dairy allergies or whatever reason they are eliminating dairy will love you if you make them this. And even your dairy loving family and friends won’t notice anything but the amazing chocolate and hint of orange.
Pinky Swear…yes, it’s that good!
Dark Chocolate Orange Pudding (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 3 cups vanilla soy milk
- 6 ounces 72% chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4-6 drops pure orange essential oil*
- 1 tsp instant coffee (*opt*add if not using premium chocolate)
Instructions
- Combine the coffee (if using), cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a medium-sized sauce pan over medium low heat. Slowly whisk in the milk, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan to fully incorporate the dry ingredients. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom and sides. Use a whisk to work out any lumps if they begin to form.
- After 15 to 20 minutes, when the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, add the chocolate. Continue stirring for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the pudding is smooth and thick. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and orange.
- If your pudding is a bit lumpy, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a serving bowl or into a large measuring cup with a spout (and then pour into individual serving dishes).
- Cover with plastic wrap. To prevent pudding skin, place plastic wrap on top of the pudding and smooth it gently on the the surface before refrigerating. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Notes
Note: This pudding is best if made a day in advance. It will keep several days in the fridge if you can keep yourself from eating all of it!
*Not a fan of orange and chocolate....just leave the orange oil out!
Disclaimer: I was compensated for this recipe. All opinions, recipes, and photos are my own.
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I have a huge sweet tooth too! I think my body sleep walks and eats brownies and cookies while I’m asleep. I found your pin on Pinterest. It looks delish! Thanks for sharing.
This sounds great. We’re eliminating soy as much as possible due to it being hard on the thyroid… do you think coconut milk would work?
I don’t see why you couldn’t. The only problem I see is that soy milk is pretty thin so you’d want another thin “milk”.
Beautiful pudding, beautful colour. Actually I love to make chocolate ‘pudding’ with fresh avocado but yours looks amazing!! I have to give this a try!
Thanks Soya! It really was so good and super easy to make.
I used 100% dark chocolate but it was unsweetened, is unsweetened what you want to use? It turned out good, I was just wondering.
Selggismt, I think mine was 72%, so yes it was a little sweetened from the chocolate and a little from the sugar.
Sounds yummy! Need a sub for the potentially GMO cornstarch though.
Cyndi…you can get organic cornstarch or even try something like ultragel. Flour would probably work too, but I’m allergic to wheat so I couldn’t use it.
Wow, that looks absolutely heavenly…as do all of your recipes!
Thanks Jodi!
This recipe looks absolutely amazing. My daughter is allergic to soy. Do you think coconut or rice milk would work?
Thanks Ashley, I know regular cow’s milk will work. I bet coconut milk would be a better choice than the rice milk. If you give it a try let me know how it works out. I’d love to know!
Oh man. I too have a big ole sweet tooth, and this would do me in!
Wow, this looks amazing Wendy! Fabulous pictures!
I just made some orange, chocolate chip muffins a couple days ago. I hadn’t combined orange and chocolate like that before and really liked the flavor, so I’m excited to see your recipe for the pudding, especially since it’s vegan. Yayh!! Maybe you’ll help some people see they don’t need to be afraid of vegan food, and that it can be awesome!
I agree. It can be really tasty so I hope people will give it a try. Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins sound delish!
mmmm~looks amazing! can’t wait to try it:)
This will be made soon for a special Vegan treat. My family loves Dark Chocolate. <3
Stumbled! I never thought of using orange essential oil in that way. Sounds great!
Thanks! And thanks for the stumble. 🙂