Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Pudding
This Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Pudding is dangerously good. Rich, fudgy, and packed with chocolate-almond flavor, it comes together in under 15 minutes with no baking required. Made with Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Spread, whipped cottage cheese, and cream cheese — it's thick enough to stand a spoon in.
If you've ever picked up a jar of Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Spread and thought "this is good but almost too sweet to eat straight," you are exactly right and you are also a great candidate for this recipe. That intensely sweet, chocolate-almond spread becomes something extraordinary when you blend it with cream cheese and cottage cheese. The sweetness mellows, the chocolate deepens, and the result is a pudding that genuinely tastes like a chocolate almond cheesecake filling.
This started as my attempt to finally use the cocoa almond spread in a way that felt purposeful rather than just eating it off a spoon. Weeks earlier I'd made a Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pudding that became an instant favourite, so applying the same idea to chocolate almond felt like a natural next move. The addition of 1/4 tsp almond extract might seem like a tiny amount but almond extract is potent it transforms the whole thing and really makes the almond flavor sing.
One thing I deliberately left out: extra sugar. The cocoa almond spread already has sugar listed as its first ingredient, so the whipped cottage cheese does the balancing work, cutting the sweetness without losing the chocolate intensity. A couple tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder added back in ensures that chocolate flavour isn't muted at all.
The Texture
Chilled, this pudding becomes genuinely thick and fudgy. Think ganache that you can eat with a spoon. It's not the kind of light, airy mousse you might expect it's dense and rich, which means a small portion goes a long way. I served two portions on back-to-back evenings and genuinely felt a little bereft on the third night when it was gone. So yes double the recipe. You'll thank yourself later.
| Name: | Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Pudding |
|---|---|
| Cuisine: | Fusion |
| Prep Time: | 15 minutes |
| Cooking Time: | 10 minutes |
| Total Time: | 2 hours and 25 minutes (including chilling time) |
| Servings: | 6 servings |
| Yield: | 3 cups of pudding |
Ingredients (2 servings)
- 3 Tbsp Trader Joe’s Cocoa Almond Spread (available online here if you don’t have a TJ’s near you)
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup whipped 1% cottage cheese, such as Friendship
- 1 oz neufchatel (1/3-less-fat) cream cheese
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/8 tsp chocolate extract, optional
Instructions
In a mini food processor (or medium-sized mixing bowl) combine the cocoa almond spread, cocoa powder, cottage cheese, cream cheese, almond extract, and chocolate extract (if using). Puree (or beat with an electric mixer) the mixture until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Serving Ideas
- Top with toasted sliced almonds and a dusting of cocoa powder for an elegant look
- Fresh raspberries on top cut the richness beautifully
- A light drizzle of melted chocolate makes it extra indulgent for a dinner party dessert
- Serve in small espresso cups or shot glasses for a dinner-party-ready presentation
Nutritional Information Per Serving
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 260mg
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 26g
- Protein: 7g
Please note that these nutritional values are approximate and may vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients you use.
The values provided are for a single serving of Chocolate Almond Cheesecake Pudding. Enjoy your delicious dessert while keeping these estimates in mind!
