Low-Carb Chocolate Pudding Recipe (2024)

This Low-Carb Chocolate Pudding recipe creates a creamy, decadent dessert. This rich pudding is fast and easy to make and can be part of a low-carb, keto, or Atkins diet.

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The recipe

Need an easy to make, quick dessert? Look no further. This chocolate pudding tastes rich and delicious.

This pudding does need time to set. I like to make it the night before I plan to use it, but 4-5 hours in the refrigerator should be sufficient.

This recipe is a bit simpler than other pudding recipes. I found that I didn’t need to bother with”tempering” the eggs before adding them to the mixture. Instead, I whisk them in with all of the wet ingredients, then heat the pudding slowly.

Be careful not to overcook this pudding. I just barely bring it to a simmer, then remove it from heat. It will be a little thick, at this point, but will thicken even more as it cools in the refrigerator.

The inspiration

The inspiration for this pudding comes from the puddings my mother used to make. Sometimes she would make it from scratch, but sometimes she would make the kind in a box. I remember thinking how the “instant” puddings almost magically thickened.

She would make all kinds, but my favorite was always the chocolate (or maybe the pistachio). Sometimes she would even pour it into popsicle molds to make pudding pops.

In creating this recipe, I went to my old Betty Crocker cookbook to see how regular high carb pudding was made. Then I went to work in the kitchen to make changes and recreate it in a low-carb package that would work for those on a low-carb, Atkins, or keto diet. I also changed the process to make it even easier to make.

Can you eat sugar free pudding on a low-carb or keto diet?

While sugar-free pudding is available in most grocery stores, we need to look beyond substituting the sugar to make pudding work on a low-carb or keto diet.

Most purchased puddings are thickened with starches. Since starch is high in carbs, they may not work for you if you are decreasing your carbs. You will need decide if they will fit into your specific diet.

Of course, there are other reasons you may choose not to eat purchased puddings. Some contain grains, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or sweeteners that you may prefer not to eat.

How do you make keto-friendly, low-carb chocolate pudding?

Most pudding is sweetened with sugar and thickened with cornstarch. While it’s easy to switch out the sweetener, the thickener is a bit more challenging.

In the pudding recipes I’ve created in the past, I’ve used chia seeds to thicken puddings. This works well in myLow-Carb Strawberry Cheesecake Chia Puddingand myLow-Carb Coconut Matcha Chia Pudding Recipe, I’ve also used cream cheese as a thickener in myLow-Carb Banana Puddingand avocado in myChocolate Almond Avocado Pudding Recipe.

For this recipe, I was looking for a thickener to create the same texture as that pudding I grew up with. In fact, I ended upusing a combination of three ingredients to thicken it–cream, egg yolks, and glucomannan.

Cream and egg yolks add flavor and creaminess to the pudding in addition to thickening it.

Glucomannan is a fiber that adds no flavor, but thickens quite well. It comes form the konjac root. I’ve only recently started using it and am grateful that I invested in a bag. I can’t wait to use it in more recipes.

Don’t let the total carb count scare you away from making this recipe. Most of those carbs come from fiber, which is non-digestible, but helps you feel full and maintain a healthy gut biome. It also helps prevent constipation as well as other health benefits.

I found that glucomannan worked quite well in this recipe, thickening the pudding, without creating a weird texture. In fact, the texture is very similar to the puddings that I grew up with.

Final words

This low-carb chocolate pudding recipe makes an easy, make-ahead dessert. Top it with a touch of whipped cream, sprinkle it with chocolate shavings, or add a strawberry on top to make it even more special. Enjoy!

-Annissa