If you love chocolate pudding, you’ll love this creamy carob pudding, too. Carob comes from the pod of a tree that grows along the Mediterranean Sea, and when dried and ground into a powder, resembles cocoa powder in look and flavor – but without the caffeine.

An avocado base makes the pudding rich and creamy, and maple syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness. The best part? You only need 5 minutes and 5 ingredients.

Check out some of the benefits:

Carob: delivers a chocolate-like flavor, but without the caffeine, which can be problematic for some people.

Avocado: Avocado is a delicious source of not only healthy monounsaturated fats, but a variety of vitamins (including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K) and perhaps surprisingly, even fiber. Because fat is filling and increases satiety hormones that help you eat less overall, avocados are a great food if you’re trying to lose weight.

Maple syrup: A good alternative to refined sugar. Choose 100% pure maple syrup, either dark or very dark in color (as opposed to amber) for the most antioxidants.

Here’s the recipe:

Creamy Carob Pudding

Ingredients:

2 avocados

2 tbs. maple syrup

1/3 cup carob powder

1 tbs. coconut oil

½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Remove the pit from the avocados, and scoop the creamy flesh into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high until silky smooth and well combined. (You may need to scrape down the sides a couple times before it’s fully combined.)

Serve as is, or chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Will last in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.