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Chocolate Pudding Mix

Growing up, making Jell-O instant pudding mix was a quick and easy dessert that could also be made into a more complex one. I remember when premade pudding cups hit the market as a welcome treat for because moms did not have to make the pudding AND it often came in layers with more than one flavor. BUT fastfoward to adulthood, parenting and allergy life and these options are a no-go due to the various allergens as listed on the Jell-O Chocolate Pudding package:

SUGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE (FOR THICKENING), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE (FOR THICKENING), SALT, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES (PREVENTS FOAMING), ARTIFICIAL COLOR, RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1.

Allergy Mama Solution

Pudding is such a versatile treat, so I developed my own mix so that mixed-allergy household could enjoy the dessert together. The recipe is great not only because it is diary, gluten and corn free, but also because it is free from artificial ingredients and unhealthy sugars. And the bonus? The mix makes enough for several recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup (powdered) coconut sugar

• 1 cup arrowroot flour

• 1 cup coconut milk powder

• ¼ cup cacao powder

• pinch sea salt

• ½ Tbsp. vanilla powder, optional

Method

1. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.

2. Store in airtight container.

To Make Pudding

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut milk (or water)

• ½ cup pudding mix

Method

1. Bring milk (or water) & mix to boil in a saucepan.

2. Reduce to simmer stirring constantly until pudding thickens (approximately 5 minutes).

3. Remove from stovetop.

4. Place in serving cups allowing to cool to desired temperature.

*Note: Use as pie filling for a no-bake pie.

               Use in Homefree Dessert Lasagna. (Recipe forthcoming)

HomeFree Pudding Delight

This dessert is an allergy-friendly way to replicate an Azorean dessert my mother used to make using an instant pudding mix by Boca Doce that was layered with Bolacha Maria cookies (known in English-speaking countries as Maria Biscuits). In this version, which is free from wheat & gluten as well as diary and corn which are present in the original dessert, the above Chocolate Pudding is layered with HomeFree Sugar Cookies.

The dessert can be prepared in individual cups or in a pie dish and served by dividing up. I find that it is a prettier presentation when the dessert is made in individual serving dishes.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. Homefree Sugar Cookies*

• 1 recipe Chocolate Pudding

Method

1. Open Homefree Sugar Cookies package.

2. Place a layer of cookies in individual serving dish & set aside.

3. Make Chocolate Pudding according to above directions.

4. Scoop first layer of pudding over cookies.

5. Place a second layer of cookies on pudding layer.

6. Scoop a second layer of pudding over cookies.

7. Repeat previous steps is you have more cookies & pudding which will depend on serving dishes or place a final layer or sprinkle cookie crumbs on top for presentation.

*Notes: Other Homefree flavors that will go well in this dessert include Chocolate Mint, Vanilla or Chocolate Chip (if you can tolerate the ingredients) & even Gingersnaps.