Protein Pudding
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Published Jun 14, 2024, Updated Dec 15, 2024
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This chocolate protein pudding is made with Greek yogurt and whey protein powder and cocoa powder. It’s delicious, creamy, packed with 45 grams of protein and comes together in just five minutes!
I’m all about looking for new ways to add more protein to my diet. I love my protein pancakes for breakfast, protein balls for a snack and protein ice cream or this chocolate protein pudding for dessert. It’s creamy, delicious and comes together quickly!
Store-bought pudding is typically loaded with questionable ingredients, but this recipe is made with real food ingredients. No preservatives, artificial sweeteners or weird additives!
Not only is this pudding tasty, but it requires minimal ingredients and as the name suggests, it’s packed with protein (45 grams per serving to be exact!).
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Pudding
- Easy – Can be made in one bowl with just 5 simple ingredients! Yay for minimal clean-up. Plus, it doesn’t require any “setting up” like traditional pudding does.
- Customizable – This pudding is totally customizable. Feel free to make this recipes your own with your favorite toppings!
- Protein-packed – It’s packed with a whopping 45 grams of protein per serving making it perfect for a post-workout snack or satisfying dessert.
Ingredients Needed
- plain Greek yogurt – for this high protein pudding plain, full-fat is the way to go. Not only is it lower in sugar, full fat Greek yogurt won’t have that tangy, tart taste you get from low or no fat varieties. It also has a richer mouthfeel and a creamier body that’s perfect for making pudding. Vanilla Greek yogurt would also be delicious, but your pudding will have more sugar. My go-to yogurt brands are Fage 5% plain Greek yogurt and Siggi’s plain whole milk yogurt.
- chocolate protein powder – I highly recommend using whey protein powder for this recipe as plant-based protein powders tend to soak up more liquid and will result in a texture that is super thick like muffin batter. I used Clean Simple Eats Brownie Batter protein powder for testing this recipe and it works great!
- cocoa powder – for extra chocolatey flavor I added cocoa powder to the mixture. Just make sure you’re using unsweetened cocoa powder. Cacao powder works as well.
- vanilla – a great flavor enhancer that adds a subtle sweetness to the pudding.
- maple syrup – I love using maple syrup as the natural sweetener in this pudding recipe.
Substitutions & Variations
- Maple syrup: You could also use honey, agave or stevia, for a sugar-free option.
- Protein powder: If you want to use plant-based protein powder instead of whey my original protein pudding recipe featured vegan protein powder. See the recipe in the notes section of the recipe card for how to make the original version.
- Vanilla: Skip the cocoa powder and use a vanilla protein powder instead. You could also use vanilla greek yogurt and skip the maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Strawberry: Skip the cocoa powder and use a strawberry protein powder instead. The Clean Simple Eats Strawberry Cheesecake protein powder would be SO good! For more strawberry flavor you could mix in fresh chopped strawberries or freeze-dried strawberries.
- Banana: Skip the cocoa powder and use the Clean Simple Eats Bananas Foster instead. For more banana flavor you could mix in mashed or sliced bananas.
- Peanut butter: Use the Clean Simple Eats Chocolate Peanut Butter protein powder or just try my peanut butter protein pudding instead!
How to Make Protein Pudding
Step 1: Add the yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, protein powder and cocoa powder to a bowl and whisk until smooth with no clumps remaining.
Step 2: Add toppings of choice and enjoy!
How to Serve
Personally, I like eating this pudding as is, but if you want to mix it up, you could try adding:
- Coconut whip – this pudding would be delicious with a dollop of coconut whip cream on top!
- Caramel sauce – I’m drooling just thinking about how delicious my date caramel sauce would be drizzled over this pudding.
- Granola – this pudding is so creamy and smooth, but if you are craving a little crunch why not sprinkle a little granola on top for added texture and flavor. This chocolate granola would be delicious for more chocolatey flavor or you could add this protein granola for even more protein.
- Coconut flakes – add some crunch with coconut flakes. For even more flavor, use toasted coconut.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, place this chocolate pudding in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
With this said, this protein pudding is great for meal prep. Feel free to make a few batches (leaving out the toppings) on Sunday for the week ahead. I like prepping them in wide-mouth 16 oz mason jars. When you’re ready to eat, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
FAQs
I recommend using whey protein powder for this recipe as it’ll give you a smoother and creamier pudding. Plant-based protein powders will soak up more liquid and will result in a grainier texture that is much thicker. I used Clean Simple Eats Brownie Batter protein powder for testing this recipe and it works great!
This said, you can still make this chocolate pudding with a vegan protein powder. Just follow the recipe in the notes section of the recipe card.
This protein pudding is healthy enough to enjoy after a workout or as an afternoon snack to curb those mid-day cravings, but delicious enough to enjoy as an after-dinner treat. All that said, you can enjoy it whenever you like… even for breakfast.
Absolutely! This pudding is made with minimal, good-for-you ingredients and has no refined sugar or artificial preservatives. It’s protein-packed and has less sugar than traditional pudding as well . It’s also loaded with probiotics (aka good bacteria) which is important for a healthy gut and immune system!
Popular Protein Snacks
- Protein Overnight Oats
- How to Make a Protein Shake (6 Flavors)
- Easy Protein Bars
- Protein Cookies
- Protein Muffins
- Peanut Butter Protein Fluff
- Hard Boiled Egg Chocolate Pudding
- Protein Hot Chocolate
- Protein Cinnamon Rolls
Be sure to check out the full collection of high protein snacks on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Protein Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup full fat Greek yogurt
- 1 scoop whey chocolate protein powder, I used Clean Simple Eats Brownie Batter
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ Tablespoon maple syrup
- Whipped cream, shaved chocolate and berries or Chocolate chips, for topping
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine until smooth and no clumps remain.
- Top with toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, I used whole milk
- ½ scoop (12.5 grams) vegan chocolate protein powder, I used Nuzest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon milk, plus more if needed to thin
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, or 5-6 drops of stevia, to taste
- Chocolate chips, for topping
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine until smooth and no clumps remain. Top with chocolate chips.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m not a huge fan of protein shakes, so this protein pudding is an awesome alternative. I’ve made the recipe exactly as written, and I also tried it with the chocolate peanut butter powder, and both taste great!
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Sam. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Wonderful recipe! Thank you! I made it as written, but halved it. I love CSE protein, I used the brownie batter as well. I topped it with a little whipped cream and toasted coconut. Delicious!
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Catie. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I used vanilla protein powder because that’s all I had and I really enjoyed this. I want to try it again with chocolate protein powder to really make it taste like chocolate pudding. But with the high protein Greek yogurt and the protein powder I used, this was a great high protein snack that kept me full and satisfied!
Yay!! So glad you loved this recipe, Kelly. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I was so hopeful … i almost vomit. bitter, taste is off, straight up gross.
Hi Joseph – I am sorry to hear this recipe wasn’t a hit for you. Did you happen to change anything about the recipe? What type of protein powder did you use?
Good night, Brittany 🌙. How are you? I’m fine. Today I tried vanilla protein pudding that I made. I added triple mixed berry 🍓 🫐 on top. Mmmmmm 👌! It turned out very delicious 😋, well-flavored, nutritious, pleasant 😁, appealing, and heavenly 😇. I loved your recipe 🥰.
YUM! Sounds amazing, Ana. I am so glad you gave this one a try and are loving it. Thanks for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, means so much to me!
So good, so easy – this is going to be a weekly staple for me!
YAY! I am so excited to hear that you are loving this recipe, Jackie. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
I LOVE THIS! I have never been a big fan of yogurt, but I have had the peanut butter version of this every day for a week. I use vanilla Greek yogurt (because that’s what my kids like), so I don’t add the maple syrup or vanilla. It is creamy, peanut buttery, and so so good!
Ah YAY! This is so exciting, Caroline! I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying this recipe. Thank you for your review + star rating, I so appreciate you being here!
I made this but didn’t have any vanilla extract. And I also made it with 1/4 chocolate protein powder. Still pretty good. I will be buying some vanilla extract to put in next time.
I am happy that you enjoyed this recipe, Justine! Adding the protein powder is a great idea. Thank you for your review + star rating, I so appreciate it!
Can you use dairy free so delicious coconut yogurt? Almond milk? Almond butter? I’d love to try this. Thank you. I’d like a response back
I’m not the author but I think while the PB and milk change don’t seem like they’d change much, the greek yogurt density/texture is key to this recipe as a pudding…
Also, once you’ve proposed changing three ingredients of a recipe with so few ingredients, you can’t expect the same success, can you? You’ve fundamentally changed what it is.
Why don’t you just try and see if you like the outcome; why ask the author presuming she’s tried those exact and numerous substitutions?
Good luck to you