I’m crazy for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and recently, seeing a box of firm tofu, I made a pudding version that is easy, healthy and delicious. It may seem too good to be true but it is true. Don’t fear the tofu. Here, water-packed firm tofu does the work of adding creamy body to this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Tofu pudding, but you’ll never know it is there.
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Using Tofu in Vegan Desserts
When I left the traditional pastry world nearly 30 years ago (yikes!) to create a modern vegan pastry kitchen, I shunned tofu. It seemed to be in every dessert, from baked goods to creams and frostings. Cakes made with tofu were heavy, and puddings and icings tasted beany and bitter to me. I set out to explore other ingredients and techniques and keep the tofu for sandwiches. (I actually love tofu- grilled, baked, scrambled and more.)
Over time, with better tofu available in various forms and an understanding of vegan pastry technique, I rethought this useful ingredient. I welcomed it back into my now fully loaded vegan pastry kitchen. Used correctly, tofu is versatile, neutral in flavor, plus it is a good source of protein. Do use organic tofu to avoid GMO soy and chemicals, and get to learn its various forms.
This recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pudding uses water-packed firm tofu to get a good thick, creamy pudding without needing bar chocolate. Cocoa powder is unsweetened and lower in fat than chocolate, and here, bloomed in pure maple syrup, it adds a deep chocolate flavor. You’ll see sugar on my mise en place try but I didn’t need to add any.

How to Bloom Cocoa Powder
One of the keys to getting desserts to taste deeply chocolate is to bloom the cocoa in liquid. I did so simply here by pouring the maple syrup over the cocoa powder while I prepped the tofu. It also meant using one prep dish instead of two.
Today’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Tofu Pudding is a super easy blender-made dessert. And of course, it is vegan.
- High protein
- Sweetened only with maple syrup
- No added fats
- One mixture, several desserts
- chocolate pudding, chocolate peanut butter pudding, sauce
- Tastes great
- It can be frozen to make no-churn ice cream balls.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Tofu Pudding for kids & adults – Loads of Variations
By dividing the 1 ½ cups of the pudding, I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Cup Sundae (a lot easier than painting the inside of molds to make peanut butter cup candies), Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Toast, and with the addition of a few tablespoons of plant milk (I used soy) a Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Sauce. Finally, I put a few tablespoons into the freezer as a test and was rewarded with Ice Cream balls.
Just Chocolate Pudding
Taste the pudding before the peanut butter is added. You will have made Chocolate Pudding. Add in some spices, for example, cinnamon or ancho chili to vary the flavor.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Sundae
- Melt some chocolate. Cover each serving with enough chocolate to cover the top. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens.
- Chop some peanuts and mix with a little bit of maple syrup. Spoon some onto the Puddings.
- Slice a banana, add a few slices to the Pudding.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Toast
- Spread your toast thickly with Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pudding.
- Sprinkle with flaked sea salt
- Add some sliced bananas.
Sounds like brekkie to me.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce
Mix in a tablespoon of milk at a time until you get the consistency you like.
Try the sauce at room temperature or even slightly warm over pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
Allergic or Not a Fan of Peanut Butter?
Use Hazelnut butter or Tahini instead of peanut butter.
Ready to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pudding?
Get the full ingredients and instructions in the printable recipe card found below.
- Place prepared tofu in the bowl of a food processor and process until no large chunks remain.
- Add the cocoa – maple syrup (the bloomed cocoa), the salt and the vanilla and chocolate extracts. If you don’t have chocolate extract, use more vanilla.
- Process until smooth and creamy. Stop here if you prefer a chocolate pudding.
- Add the peanut butter and process until smooth. Taste and add more maple syrup if desired.
- Garnish and serve.
Not a fan of tofu?
Try our Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pudding made with Avocado.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Tofu Pudding
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons/ 1.5 ounces dutched cocoa powder
- ½ cup pure maple syrup grade A dark, more for a sweeter pudding
- ½ 14 t o 16 oz box (about 8 ounces) organic firm tofu I like to blanch it in boiling water, and pat dry
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 3 ounces heaping ¼ cup peanut butter-sugar-free
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp chocolate extract optional
- 2-4 tablespoons soy milk or another plant milk to adjust consistency or to make a sauce
- Melted chocolate
- Chopped peanuts
- Banana
Instructions
Measure the cocoa powder into a medium bowl and pour the maple syrup over. There is no need to stir. This is called blooming the cocoa and results in a deeper chocolate flavor.
Set aside.Dip the tofu into boiling water. Let it sit in the water for 2-3 minutes, remove and pat dry.
Crumble the tofu into the bowl of food processor. Add the salt and puree until the tofu is creamed and no chunks are visible. Add the cocoa-maple syrup, the extracts, and process until the mixture is perfectly smooth and creamy. Stop the processor once or twice to scrape the sides.
Taste the pudding. I know the peanut butter isn’t in yet, but I was so surprised to find this to be a delicious Chocolate Pudding. If you like this, so, stop right here or divide the mixture to make 2 flavors.
Add the peanut butter and process until it is incorporated. Taste the pudding. You may want to add another tablespoon or so of maple syrup or you may not.
It’s ready to eat now or to assemble into a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Parfait.
For Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Parfaits
Melt some chocolate and spoon enough to cover over each serving.
Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens.
- Chop some peanuts and mix with a little bit of maples syrup. Spoon some onto the Puddings.
- Slice a banana, add a few slices to the Pudding.
For Chocolate Peanut Butter Toast
Spread your toast with as much Chocolate Peanut Butter as you like.
- Sprinkle with flaked sea salt
- Add some sliced bananas.
- Sounds like brekkie to me.
For Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce
Mix in a tablespoon of milk at a time until you get the consistency you like.
- Try the sauce at room temperature or even slightly warm over pancakes, waffles or French Toast.
Recipe Notes
Allergic to peanuts: Use hazelnuts or tahini. I bet these would be delicious alternatives.
Pin this Chocolate Peanut Butter Tofu Pudding recipe for later.
Oh dear… I think it’s one you’ve gotta make if you love pudding but haven’t eaten it since you became vegan… it’s so rich you can’t eat much of it at once, but omg, this email came in at a time when I needed some chocolate (like just a few minutes ago!), so I made it. And. Ate. It. I think I need to unsubscribe! I might be in serious trouble here. Hi Fran!
Just a side note here – after making it once (yeah, I made a second batch!) I had no banana, but added a teaspoon of Dandy Blend (a coffee replacement) and it made it even deeper of a chocolate flavor.
Omg! You made my day. Actually I had a very small amount left and ate it midday. So yummy & easy & healthy. I love your addition of Dandy Blend. I don’t know it but will check it out now!
Yours in solidarity for not shunning tofu!
Have a lovely weekend.
Stay safe and happy.
Fran
I’m so glad I made a double batch of this pudding, because it was such a hit with everyone. Thank you Fran for this wonderful recipe! I think I’m going to use it to fill my chocolate cupcakes and then drizzle the melted chocolate on top. It is very rich, so a little goes a long way!
Hello Gloria,
I am so glad you like the recipe for the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding,. It does taste rich- and it is creamy but it’s still on the healthier side. I am all in favor of your using it to fill chocolate cupcakes. What a great idea.
Take care and thank you for commenting.
Fran
This was so delicious and thank you for the recipe!
I used it as a frosting for your Mother’s Day Chocolate Cake!
https://francostigan.com/mothers-day-chocolate-cake/
We felt like we could reduce the sweetness for both this pudding and the Mother’s Day Chocolate Cake. Do you have a recommendation as to how much to start out reducing?
Thank you!
Hi Cathy,
You can reduce the sweetener in the pudding but it is tricky, if not impossible to do the samne in the cake recipe. I use the minimum amount of sweetener and fat in my recipes. Changing ingredients in baked goods, most desserts really, will likely give different results. In most cases, the differences won’t be good ones. It’s better to look for a different kind of cake.
I hope this helps.
Fran
Oh my goodness! This is the best thing I have ever eaten. I’m almost scared I will want it everyday! Lol. I made it with agave and honey and added cut up strawberry on top and crumbled a homemade vegan pb cookie in the bottom and tips. Just enough for added texture. And for my hubs and kids, I threw on a mini sunbutter cup. Topped them off with tempered chocolate mixed with a bit of coconut oil and popped them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. So delicious!
Does this need to be refrigerated? Can it be used as a cake filling?
Wow Wow Wow
I love that you loved the recipe!
Yes it has to be refrigerated because the base is tofu. If you think it’s firm enough, then sure use it as a cake filling or frosting. Or stiffen it with more. Nut butter. Enjoy!
Fran