Chocolate Protein Pudding

Creamy and delicious chocolate protein pudding with 24g of protein per serving! It’s easy to make and includes greek yogurt, maple syrup, and your favorite protein powder. Enjoy as a midday snack or for dessert!

I love making homemade pudding. In our home, it instantly becomes a dip for our favorite snack foods, including strawberries, gluten free graham crackers, chocolate chip gluten free cookies, and granola bars! While I often make my dairy free chocolate pudding for my kids, I wanted to come up with a creative way to make a creamy snack with a bit more protein. Turns out, making chocolate protein pudding is incredibly easy and delicious, and it mixes up in minutes!

I love coming up with creative ways to use protein powder beyond the typically protein shake or smoothie. I often make protein overnight oats, protein powder mug cake, or even protein hot chocolate! Even with all of the options, this pudding has become my favorite because it takes zero prep work. You can even make a double batch ahead of time and throw it in the fridge for a quick grab and go high protein snack. Eat plain, or add your favorite toppings for variety!

Ingredient Notes

Here are my notes on specific ingredients in the recipe:

• Greek yogurt – Greek yogurt can vary in taste and texture based on the brand and type of milk used. Whole milk greek yogurt has a bit more fat and creaminess than non-fat greek yogurt. While the fat and calories can vary, the overall protein content remains consistent. I really like Stoneyfield’s grass fed greek yogurt and use it regularly.
• Protein powder – Any protein powder will work for chocolate pudding, including beef protein isolate, whey protein, or plant based protein powders.
• Cocoa powder – Make sure to use an unsweetened cocoa powder
• Maple syrup – I like to use a pure, dark maple syrup for the best flavor

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

• Yogurt: Can’t do dairy? Use your favorite plant-based yogurt! Note that this will decrease the overall protein content, but still provide a significant protein boost!
• Protein powders: I like to use a chocolate protein powder for the best flavor, but you can also use vanilla or plain protein powder in the pudding! Just add an additional tablespoon cocoa powder to make it more chocolatey.
• Sweeteners: The flavor of your pudding will largely depend on the protein powder you use. If your protein powder is super sweet, your pudding will be also. You can skip the maple syrup, or add 1-2 tablespoons to taste. I find that the maple syrup helps to balance the overpowering flavor of some protein powder sweeteners.

How to Make Chocolate Protein Pudding

Craving chocolate and want to boost your protein intake? Try making pudding with protein powder! Here’s the recipe:

1. Mix: Add the Greek yogurt to a medium bowl. Add the chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Gently fold everything together until combined and smooth.
2. Taste: Taste the pudding. If it needs a bit more sweetness, add the maple syrup and mix until combined.
3. Serve: Serve plain or add your favorite toppings!

Toppings

I love adding a few different toppings to change up the flavor! My favorite ones include:

• Fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries
• Sliced bananas
• Whipped cream (I love coconut whipped cream!)
• Chocolate chips
• Drizzle of peanut butter
• Granola—I love Purely Elizabeth!

Recipe Tips

• Adjust the sweetness to taste. Some protein powders are super sweet, so add maple syrup to taste! Even if you use a protein powder with sweetener, you may want to add a little to help balance the flavor.
• This recipe works with all protein powders. If you use plain or vanilla protein powder or you like your pudding more chocolatey, add an additional tablespoon of cocoa powder. 
• Made it in advance. Just mix and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• If you use whey protein powder, it may get a little clumpy while mixing. Just keep stirring, it will become smooth!

FAQs

Storage

STORE: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

MEAL PREP: For a quick grab and go high protein snack, just make the pudding ahead of time! To meal prep, mix up a double batch of the recipe in a large bowl and transfer to four small glass containers. Cover with a lid or food storage wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More Protein Recipes

• Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
• Protein Mug Cake
• Protein Hot Chocolate Recipe
• Protein Banana Muffins
• Pumpkin Protein Balls

Recipe by: Noelle Tarr and Kelsey Hite / Coconuts and Kettlebells | Photography by: Casey Colodny / The Mindful Hapa