Raw Strawberry Vanilla Pudding

raw vegan strawberry vanilla pudding

In my years of creating, consuming, and writing about vegan and raw foods, I’ve learned that the most delicious dishes often aren’t the loveliest to photograph (consider, if you will, my sweet bean dips). When I was in the middle of creating the lovely, avocado-based, raw strawberry vanilla pudding above, I was dismayed that it wasn’t a more perfect shade of bubblegum pink; instead, it was sort of a light pink that could easily be mistaken as tan. But the photographs came out alright in the end, and even if they hadn’t, who would care? This pudding is simple, delicious, and a perfect alternative to my classic chocomole. What more could I ask for?

In fairness, there are a lot of ways to make raw strawberry pudding. I could have used cashews and Irish moss, or I could have used young coconut meat (which is, by the way, a delightful base for any fruit pudding). But I didn’t. I used avocado, which is not only one of my all time favorite foods, but also probably my favorite base for a raw pudding. And it’s also much easier to use avocado if you don’t have a high speed blender than it is nut bases! Since I’m home with my Mom for one more day, I’m still sans-VitaMix. When I set out to make this recipe, I reached for avocado right away. That most wonderful of fruits always has a way of making me feel happy and satisfied; perhaps its all of those healthy polyunsaturated fats!

I used dates to sweeten this pudding, though maple syrup and agave would also be perfectly suitable. In all fairness, though, I didn’t test the recipe with either, and I would caution you not to use the almond milk called for if you use a liquid sweetener in place of dates.

raw vegan strawberry vanilla pudding

Raw Strawberry Vanilla Pudding (raw, vegan, gluten free, soy free)

Serves 2-4

6 large pitted medjool dates, soaked for 2 hours and drained
1 large avocado
1/4 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract OR contents of 1 vanilla bean
5 large straberries, quartered
Goji berries (optional)

1. Place avocado and dates in a food processor and pulse to combine. Turn machine on and drizzle in almond milk and vanilla with water running. Also with the motor running, drop strawberries in one by one; the may not blend evenly at first, but they will eventually!

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2. Garnish with goji berries, mint sprigs, or fresh fruit. Serve!

VitaMix option: If you’re using a VitaMix or another high speed blender, simply blend all ingredients and serve.

raw vegan strawberry vanilla pudding

raw vegan strawberry vanilla pudding

I love when raw desserts are this unbelievably easy to prepare, and don’t require a device that costs more than $100.00!

I also love the taste of fresh strawberries in the early summer months, and I’m delighted to say that this pudding marked my first fresh berries of the season. I can’t wait to stuff myself with more; blueberries and strawberries are my absolute favorites! Speaking of which, this pudding will also work really well with blueberries, mango, banana, and any other soft fruit. Raspberries are a great idea, too, but not if you don’t have a high speed blender—the seeds will drive you crazy!

Love avocado puddings? Check out my classic, rainy day chocomole:

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My lemon chiffon pudding:

lemon1

Or my Mexican spiced chocomole!

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All of these make wonderful desserts, sweet snacks, or spreads for sweeter breakfasts! I love chocomole on sprouted grain bread, and this new pudding would be great for dipping bananas and other fruit. Yum.

Have a sweet night, folks.

xo

NB: I am submitting this recipe to Ricki’s Wellness Weekend series!

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Categories: Raw Desserts
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, Raw

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    47 Comments
  1. Hi Gena! Do you know if these will stay the same color if made and then stored overnight for the next day? Just wondering if the avocado might make them turn color.

    Thanks!! Hoping to make these tomorrow (Saturday) evening for a Sunday event!

    • Hey Laura!

      I’m not honestly sure (I remember photographing and eating it all pretty quickly), but I wouldn’t take chances if you’re serving the pudding to guests — it could very well get a little brownish :-\ Sorry if that adds an extra step for you!

      You could totally do a chocolate version and count on the color not being an issue.

      Good luck 🙂

  2. I can’t live without avocados. Eat one or two a day. I am tired of millions of avocado-chocolate smoothies on the web. It is boring! I loved your recipe!
    Since I do not have a much of a sweet tooth, I substituted 1heaping tbs of coconut nectar for dates. It came out delicious!! Not too sweet, great for breakfast.
    Thank you!!

  3. I’m not a raw vegan (I’m just a normal vegan, though I go mostly low-carb with my dishes.) But this post is pulling me over haha, these puddings look amazing!
    So far I’ve only made one real raw dessert, which is a chocolate torte thing with an avocado base [from the Oh She Glow website. It tastes awesome]
    Think I might try this strawberry pudding soon, I have some quickly ripening avocados on hand 🙂

  4. Just made the strawberry vanilla pudding, delicious! Just got into the raw food eating in early May. I am a type 2 diabetic and want to change my eating habit for a healthy eating one. There is so much information out there that it does get a bit confusing. Wish me luck.

    Moee

  5. This is such a great idea: avocado and strawberries, fantastic. I also love the almond milk, which I’m guessing is sweetened? Great recipe!

  6. I actually love making an avocado pudding and freezing it so it has a kind of ice cream consistency. I need to make that chocomole!

  7. I am totally loving all of your puddings and the best part is that I can share them with my 2 year old daughter. I don´t let her eat sugar and finding ways to give her both healthy and delicious dessert is always fulfilling.

  8. That chocolate pudding looks AMAZING! I think each picture made me gasp more dramatically than the one before, haha. Pinning this for later!

  9. Wow! I made this one for dessert last night with two avocados and just about ate the whole thing myself. I topped it with goji berries and also sprinkled on some cocoa nibs. The real test will be serving it to my father next week (and I’m not going to tell him it’s made from avocados!) Thank you for sharing this lovely creation!

  10. I am surprised that this contains avocado. Sounds like a great recipe, thanks for sharing. I think chocolate avocado pudding has to be my favorite, hands down.

  11. Love all the puddings! Yes, cheers to raw food that is a cinch to make and doesn’t cost a fortune. Somehow I don’t think that the “real raw food” peeps are all about spending thousands on crazy a** supplements. Some are fine and if one is sick, fine. But it makes raw seem so uberly exclusive. When it should be more like this. Throw food in a common household appliance and blend!

  12. This looks delicious! Maybe I’ll make myself a birthday pudding tomorrow 🙂

  13. I substituted liquid vanilla stevia for the dates, and added more strawberries–AMAZING! Thank you!

  14. oh i love avocados in all their shapes and forms! chocolate avo pudding is one of my favourites, but i’ve never thought to adapt it to a fruity dessert. lovely!

  15. Oh yum. This looks awesome. Don’t know why I never thought to make more of a berry/vanilla avocado pudding rather than chocolate. But I’m about to make it now as I am with my in-laws sans Vita Mix and my father in law has bought me a bunch of what he calls mumbly fruit. That’s berries. He’s sure he can hear them mumbling away to each other in the fridge…

  16. And hurrah that you did, indeed, choose avocado, for irish moss does not seem to exist in Australia and I fear for my life when it comes to opening up coconuts. I know they’re not soft, but I’m currently addicted to crunchy raw persimmons and wonder if I could perhaps get away with using them here. Maybe if I processed them first? Hmm.

    Also, I absolutely think this looks gorgeous! The goji berries make me think of sparkles. Which I love in all my magpie glory.

    • hi Hannah,
      massive stab in the dark BUT i once found irish moss in my local afro-carribean shop marked as carrageenan. MUCH cheaper. Just might be worth keeping an eye out for
      xx

  17. Can you do a post on unripe vs. Ripe vs. Over ripe avocado? I have tried and failed a few times to love it and i wonder if it’s just because i’m not eating it at the right time?? How do you normally prepare it? Do i store it in the fridge?
    See? Lot’s of confusion here 🙂

  18. I’m surprised it’s not greener, I think the colour looks quite lovely considering it is a vanilla pudding after all, raspberries would definitely make the colour pop!
    Can’t wait to try this though, sometimes I feel I do have to stop adding cacao to everything, lol! I think this vanilla strawberry pudding might just do the trick 😉

  19. That lemon chiffon pudding looks amazing. Do you have a link to that by chance?

  20. I adore avocado based puddings/dips! This looks delish Gena. At first I thought “there’s no way its avo based – because of the color” lol. Looks so pretty with the gojis on top.

  21. I LOVE avocado puddings! I haven’t made a strawberry one yet, so I’m excited to try this one out. For some reason I always make my cado puddings either chocolate or lemon poppyseed flavored. And, I think it actually photographed rather well!

    http://www.good.is/post/june-s-good-30-day-challenge-make-your-own-meals-30daysofgood?utm_campaign=daily_good2&utm_medium=email_daily_good2&utm_source=headline_link&utm_content=June%27s%20GOOD%2030-Day%20Challenge%3A%20Make%20Your%20Own%20Meals. Random, but I thought you might find this interesting.

  22. Looks good. The first thought I had was to blend int he gojis for color. I once made this with lemon too, and it was divine. Strawberry lemon mousse, and a nice almond date crust. This reminds me of that. I like to goji berry touch though! Good inspiration/reminder that we can get our veggies and healthy fats in a tasty dessert.

  23. Definitely need to try this. My go-to is the chocolate banana avocado pudding but this looks like a great summery version. Awesome photos!

  24. if you have more ideas for goji berries please share – i have a ton and im kinda on the fence about them plain…

  25. Omg I have a hot “date” – literally – with this pudding SOON. Looks so delicious, and so simple. Was wondering what to do with the goji berries I have and can’t wait to go to the farmer’s market this weekend for some fresh strawberries, so this is perfect! Plus, a girl can only eat so much chocolate avocado pudding (though I am starting to wonder if I should take out a page in the guinness book of world records for cacao pudding consumption, I think I am the world victor ;), nice to have another option! Thanks, chef ! PS This recipe serves “2-4” ? I think it will serve ONE of me 🙂 Enjoy time with your Mom (though I can’t believe Momma Choosing Raw doesn’t have a Vita-mix? Sacre bleu! 😉

  26. this looks great! i am tempted to do it with frozen avocado though. i like the way that makes a colder pudding for the warmer months.

  27. Ohhh it looks so good!! What substitutions would you suggest if I want to make it now and don’t have dates at home? 😀

    Thank you Gena!! Have a great day!