This dessert always makes me feel like I’m at a ski lodge relaxing in a so-comfortable-I-can’t-get-out-of-it oversized chair soaking up the warmth of a blazing hearth fire. I’m wrapped in a warm blanket; all snuggled in and watching the snow lovers outside through ceiling high windows. This is actually a little more than a feeling; it’s the usual scenario when someone has coerced me into going skiing. I love snow. It’s a vision to behold; beautiful in paintings and photographs and definitely from inside a nice and cozy ski lodge. And it makes great ambience for tonic beverages like Pistachio Honey Superfood Tonic and this dessert. I just don’t like being right in the thick (or sleet) of it.
Having grown up in the northern Midwest and endured a great deal of winter snow (up to my ears at times) I find myself content now to enjoy it from a distance or just very occasionally. Everyone I know has tried to get me into the snow, luring me with every piece of extravagant equipment known to man at the finest ski resorts in the world. But I always end up right back inside the lodge sitting in front of a roaring fire. Just give up. I’m not leaving this comfortable chair and my drink…..unless it’s a snow mobile. To each his own right? Quirkiness is one quality all of us humans have in common. I hope.
This superfood pudding is an explosion of intense chocolaty heat, spices, and nutrients. It’s hot spicy-wise yet calming. I performed a bit of alchemy to get a certain degree of warmth and of course lots of flavor. But don’t worry, you won’t break out into a sweat or anything. I just wanted my dessert to accomplish something positive. It is after all, an elixir.
One of nature’s most outstanding achievements is giving us spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg that can effectively warm us up and cool us down. They also helps us burn more calories and balance out our metabolism. I wanted this double-sided effect when I formulated this delicious creamy dessert. One beautiful plus to this dessert is that you can eat it straight away or wait until it’s chilled and set to an almost mousse-like texture.
One of the main ingredients in this treasured pudding is hemp seeds. I think most people think of hemp seeds as unsuitable for desserts because of their slight bitterness. I’m here to tell you not so! Hemp seeds blend extremely well with other flavors and can even find itself lost in there. In fact, unless someone told you it was in this drink, I doubt you would even know it’s there. Needless to say, I’m a big fan of heart-healthy hemp Oregano Hemp Dip.
Hemp seeds are considered by many to be the most complete food source in the world. Now that’s a powerful statement when you think of all the millions of available foods out there.
Hemp seeds contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain a good health. No other single plant source in the world has such digestible essential amino acids or such a perfect ratio of essential fatty acids.
Hemp seeds also contain vitamin E, fiber, trace minerals, and no phytic acid (the anti-nutrient that keeps you from absorbing minerals) which means you don’t have to soak them before using.
Hemp is important for strengthening the immune system and can even help fend off immune diseases.
Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated foods in the world dating back to ancient China where it was used for everything from clothing to medicine.
Anyone thinking that hemp seeds are just hippie food needs to think again. Another benefit I noticed when eating (or drinking) hemp is that my mood and energy levels instantly improve. Never underestimate the importance of a mood-lifter. And unlike artificial mood-lifters, hemp has no side effects. So eat and be happy.
Warm, powerful and intense like a big wonderful hug; this intoxicating and powerful dessert will transform your taste buds and help take the chill out of any season. I hope you enjoy it.
This recipe is raw, dairy and gluten-free, and serves 2 – 4 persons.
Spice and Hearth Chocolate Elixir Pudding
- If using plain water you may want to increase the sweetener even up to the full amount recommended.
- The spices and super food powders are optional but highly recommended.
- You can substitute the cashews with any combination of other nuts, preferably blanched or without skins. You can also use about 1 1/4 cups fresh coconut meat instead of the cashews.
- 1 3/4 cups coconut water or water
- 2 cups unsalted cashews, soaked in water for 2 – 8 hours then drained and rinsed throughly
- 1/2 cup shelled hemp seeds or other nut/seed of choice
- 4 Tbsp carob or cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp maca powder
- 1/2 tsp mesquite powder (optional)
- 2 cardamom pods or 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 – 1/4 tsp cayenne or to taste
- 2 vanilla beans or 2 tsp vanilla or vanilla-flavored stevia to taste
- 1 – 3 Tbsp coconut/palm sugar or other natural sweetener to taste (optional)
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil (depending on how thick you want it)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- stevia to taste
- Add water, cashews, and hemp seeds to a blender and blend until very smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until well mixed and smooth.
- Pour into pudding containers and chill covered for at least two hours before serving.
- Garnish and serve immediately.
- Yields about 4 cups.
- Can be stored refrigerated up to 3 days.
yoru recipe is killing me. sorry i mean making me want to live! it looks so delicious! your photos are beautiful as the new site. thank you!
Thank you so much for the kind words Tani. I hope you get a chance to make it. It’s really quite delicious. Have a great day!
looks fantastic. will be trying this. thank you.
Thank you for the kinds words. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great evening!
made this as soon as i saw it. i didn’t have the mesquite or cardamom. it was amazing!! my mother in law loved it and she hates anything healthy. i didn’t have the cashew cream but used regular whipped cream. thanks so much! i want more now!
haha you described me to a t. i hate the snow love warm sunshine. i was laughing reading that. great brownies. i may need to try these since i dont’ normally like brownies. kudos for keeping them healthy and clean. thanks so much for your work here. it helps keep me in line.
Awe you are so welcome Amie. I try to keep all the recipes as clean as I can since that’s how I mostly eat. I’m glad the website inspires you. It helps keep me in line too. :) Have a great day!
oops i meant to comment on your other post for the brownies. this looks fantastic too. i need to try both of them!
No problem Amie. I get confused at times too. :) I hope you enjoy both of them.
great dessert! never even heard of an elixir pudding. what a genius you are! many thanks for all the stuff you do. i am definitely trying this out. one thing, can i use another nut besides cashews? i’m allergic to them. thanks.
Thanks so much for your support. My go to nuts in place of cashews are macadamia nuts. You could also use blanched almonds and you would add a bit of almond flavor to your pudding. Either of those would work really well. I hope that helps. Have a great day!
thank you for the suggestion. i used macadamia nuts. you weren’t kidding when you said intense. it really WAS intense but so good i couldn’t stop eating it. i still feel a buzz from the ingredients. best high there is! thanks so much for another great recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Healthy eating IS the best buzz isn’t it? Have a great day!
what an awesome recipe. i guess it’s sort of a drink made into a pudding. its looks so good and your photos are gorgeeeeeous. you just keep me coming back for more. lived in st. louis for 20 years. said good-bye to snow when i moved to the bay area in cali. never looked back. i only miss it during the holidays. great post.
Thank you so much for your nice compliment. Snow can hit people in so many ways. Some of my relatives love it and wouldn’t live anywhere there wasn’t snow. To each his own right? I hope you enjoy the recipe. Have a great day!
luv it. luv the new site too.
i am in love. this looks awesome!
Thank you. I hope you get a chance to try it. Have a great evening!
wow. i want this. i’ll be making. thanks so much.
You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy. Cheers!
oh my. it looks so good! but I do love the snow! it makes me happy. as you say to each his own. thank you for posting.
Your so welcome! I hope you get a chance to try it. Have a wonderful day!
looks awesome!!!! major yum going on. I have to make this!!!! funny post. i love the snow but only on the holidays. thanks!
Thanks for commenting. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Have a wonderful weekend!
drooling. i want this so bad. thanks you have a great site. just love this.
Thanks so much for the nice words. It’s really very easy to make. I just made it this morning and it’s gone already! I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful weekend!
amazing. best pudding ever! i’m not sure how you get 4 servings out of it because the two of us ate all of it in one sitting! i was buzzing along for hours after. thanks so much! wow will make again for sure.
You are so welcome! I’m so glad you loved it. One of my favorites as well. Have a great day!
most amazing pudding ever. i left out the cayenne but next tine will include it. great even without the spices. doing paleo and most impressed with your recipes. stellar.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m so glad you loved the recipe and the site. I agree it’s delicious without all the super foods and spices but a little more powerful and decadent with them. Have a wonderful evening!
Greetings again from Norway! This was fantastic. My wife and I could not stop eating. It was our main course and dessert. Such deliciousness. Thank you very much!
Thank you for the kind words and I’m so glad both of you enjoyed it. I make it about once a week but I think hubby could eat it everyday. Have a wonderful day!
Fantastic recipe. I felt full and so good afterwards. Truly epic. Thanks a bunch!
This looks so good. Your recipes look amazing healthy and delicious. I have diabetes and am starting to use coconut sugar instead of white sugar. It is helping. I also love the flavor of it. It’s been a blessing discovering a new healthier way to eat (trying to eat mostly raw now) and I’m already getting much better. My doctor is amazed at the progress I am making although he’s still skeptical. I am making this pudding tomorrow now that I have all the ingredients. I hope to make many more of your recipes soon. You seem like a great person to do such a good thing to help people. Thank you so much. Many blessings to you!
Update: I made the pudding. I used most of the superfoods but not all but did use all the other ingredients. It was so delicious! I’m looking forward to the next batch. I didn’t know pudding could be this good and healthy. Thanks much!
Thank you for the feedback. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I get a request for this at home almost every week. Have a wonderful evening!
OMG so so good. I didn’t have the maca or mesquite and used maple syrup it was a breeze. I’m so hooked. Oh no! Now I need this all the time. wow you are super for posting this awesome recipe! I could live on this!
Thank you for commenting and I’m so glad you loved it. It’s a healthy addiction of my husband’s too so you’re in good company. Have a wonderful day!