Fudge Pudding Pops (GAPS, Paleo and Primal)
Long Before Starbucks . . .
Sub-zero chocolately goodness flowed out the back of the ice cream truck, and ice blue abominable snowman feet with gumball toenails danced on rainbows. The rainbows, of course, came from the band of My Little Ponies who’d joined the caravan of children chasing the truck down the street. What’s not to love, right?
The danger in thinking this way, of course, is that you just might have the audacity to chase down an ice cream truck when you’re sixteen. When this happens you’ll hear yourself say “I’d like a screwball, please” as if it were the very first time. And you’ll think, “Man, is there a popsicle name here that won’t make me blush?”
It’s Then That You Realize . . .
That you were right about the rainbows, but wrong about the source. They don’t come from Fluttershy’s home just behind the waterfall below the clouds . . . they come from the carinogenic and ADD-inducing red #40, yellow #5, and blue #2!
Fortunately, there is a healthier way to capture the joy of frosty goodness on a hot summer day . . . homemade popsicles! Delicious, tried-and-true recipes with a nutrient-dense twist. Take the fudge pudding pops below, for example. They contain magnesium-rich cocoa butter, collagen building gelatin, anti-oxidant rich avocado and even the option for bone marrow (hey, the french do it!).
You’ll love them, I promise. Ready? Set! Summer!
Note: Chocolate is GAPS legal if it doesn’t create digestive problems for you personally. More info here.
Homemade Fudge Pudding Pop Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Unlike juice pops, this recipe can hold a popsicle stick in place. Some of the recipes I’ll be sharing later this season will do much better with a mold like this stainless steel set I bought after my BPA-free mold broke last year. So much better, and BPA-free doesn’t mean anything anyway!
For now, you can just use dixie cups and popsicle sticks from the craft store 
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup raw honey (depending on your preference)
- heaping 1 ounce food grade cocoa butter (weight), or 1/4 cup melted (where to buy cocoa butter)
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder (or more to taste – please note that the chocolate flavor is less strong when frozen so you might want to use more than you’d think. And also, cocoa contains caffeine )
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon unrefined sea salt (where to buy quality salt)
- 2 teaspoons grassfed gelatin
- 2 cups hot coconut milk or raw milk if you’re not on GAPS (where to buy coconut milk, how to make your own coconut milk, where to find raw milk)
- 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup bone marrow (optional )
- nuts (optional – where to buy nuts)
Method:
- Place coconut milk on the stove until it is hot (but not boiling), then remove from heat and set aside
- In a medium mixing bowl add the gelatin and 2 tablespoons of coconut milk/milk to allow it to set up.
- In a double boiler or small pot set over simmering water, melt the cocoa butter completely.
- Remove cocoa butter from heat and stir in with the remaining hot coconut milk.
- Slowly add coconut milk mixture to gelatin, whisking thoroughly until the gelatin is completely dissolved
- Add coconut milk mixture and all other ingredients (except nuts) to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Taste and make sure it is chocolately/sweet enough. Add cocoa powder and honey as needed.
- Pour fudge pudding into popsicle mold/dixie cups and sprinkle base with nuts if desired. Freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Enjoy!
Merissa Renea via FB
Fudge pops are AMAZING!
Tamara
Just a little correction… Cocoa powder is actually not GAPS legal. Sorry!
Heather
Hi Tamara! It is my understanding that it is not SCD legal but is allowed on GAPS as long as it doesn’t cause digestive problems. http://www.wellfedhomestead.com/is-chocolate-gaps-legal
Lisa
That is correct, cocoa and unsweetened chocolate are legal on full GAPS if they don’t cause digestive problems. NCM states this in the FAQs at the GAPS website.
This recipe looks great!
Wyndie Pereira Mileski via FB
hahah I love your humor. Thanks for the recipe.
Courtney Shuman via FB
can you replace the gelatin with anything?
Erin Waterbury via FB
You’re amazing. You know that, right? Thank you!!
Alexis D
These look absolutely delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Melissa Holloway via FB
Oh those look so gooooood!
ashleyroz
Marrow as in from bones? or the squash?
Heather
Bone marrow. I’m always trying to get more in my diet so I add it to everything I can!
Mommypotamus via FB
Courtney Shuman – The gelatin makes the pop slow drip and adds a little protein but it’s not really necessary
Mommypotamus via FB
Aww shucks Erin Waterbury! I almost feel inspired to get out of my pj’s now!!!
Beth Salwaechter via FB
Yum!!! Cannot wait to make these!
Emily Brown
I’m SOOOOOO excited about this recipe!!! Thanks, Mommypotamus!!!!
Sarah Lenard Lancaster via FB
Well now, how convenient is it that we just finished our tray of popsicles and are ready to make some more?!
jillian
These look amazing! I follow the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for health reasons and if I leave out the chocolate these are a go! I am thinking cinnamon would work?
Heather
Cinammon might be a little strong but you could try it! And stay tuned, because I have a DELICIOUS key lime popsicle recipe coming up soon. It’s SCD friendly
Emily Van Horn
Dear Heather, These look delicious. Did you create this recipe? How did you learn to do that?
Heather
Hi Emily! I’ve been making chocolate pudding from scratch for years so I just tweaked things a little to make them freezer friendly
tara
oooh this recipe sounds amazing! i want to try it with the bone marrow but not sure what source to use or how to prepare it – any advice or info on what you use would be appreciated! thank you in advance!
Heather
Hi Tara! It’s really simple: I buy beef marrow bones (grassfed cows only) from Whole Foods and then let them simmer in a pot for 10 minutes. Once they’ve cooled I remove the marrow and then put the bones back on the stove for beef stock! Easy peasy!
laura
Hello
I had a question. I am breastfeeding my 7 and a half month old and am trying to start gaps. I am doing the intro to gaps diet and I’m just moving into stage 2 so maybe I should just wait it out but I’m really struggling with energy levels even when I take naps along with Ethan and I’m trying to eat plenty! My milk supply has gone down a little not a lot and I’m asking for your opinion. While breastfeeding should I maybe just go into full gaps? I’m eating plenty of fat, lots of broth, meat, and I fins myself hungry for energy (maybe cuz its digesting faster) but I have to be able to feed him so I’m kinda disappointed in myself maybe for feeling like I can’t or should not do the intro right now.
Heather
Hi Laura! The introduction diet is not recommended for breastfeeding mamas because it can cause you to detox too rapidly and the toxins will transfer to breastmilk. Full GAPS, however, is a wonderfully nourishing diet for nursing mamas . . . just make sure to get lots of good carbs like butternut squash and beans because they’re necessary to support hormone function in bf’ing mamas!
laura
By the way I think you are an amazing woman and have inspired me to live beyond the typical “healthy ” diet and pursue the best and most natural life for myself and my family .
Heather
Awww, thank you Laura!
Sarah
Looks great! How many does this recipe make if I use the dixie cup method?
Heather
I’d say 3-4 depending on how much you fill each cup
Megan
Is that a nut topping on your popsicles in the photo? It doesn’t really look like it…
Heather
Yep! I used macaddamia nuts
Debra @ Blue Raven Wellness
I’m curious about the cocoa butter. What is its role in this, and would a coconut butter be a good substitute? I have plenty of that and wouldn’t have to go shopping!
Heather
Hi Debra! Cocoa butter is what gives it the silky, chocolatey texture. I haven’t tried coconut butter so I’m not sure if it would work, but if you test it out please let me know what you think!
Genevieve Mama Natural
Heather,
I’m assuming you can’t taste the marrow? I think marrow has a strong “cow” flavor. This is awesome though if the other flavors mask it!
LOVE your dessert recipes
Genevieve Mama Natural´s last [type] ..How to Get a Picky Eater to Eat (Toddler)
Heather
Thank you, Genevieve! I love your Sh*t Crunchy People say videos! Regarding the marrow: I can’t taste it at all, but I put it in everything so I’m probably not be the best judge.
If you’re feeling adventurous you might add a tablespoon and see what you think before adding any more.
Genevieve Mama Natural
Sounds good!
Genevieve Mama Natural´s last [type] ..How to Get a Picky Eater to Eat (Toddler)
sarah
Hi,
Just printed this recipe and discovered that there is a big error! the ingredients say one thing and the method says to use other ingredients. HELP!
I just got back from the store with all the ingredients from the list, so I guess I just make up my directions and hope it turns out. PLease email with corrections- I would love to try the original recipe.
Heather
Hi Sarah! What ingredients are you seeing that are listed in the directions but not the ingredient list? I can’t seem to find them . .
Kelly Phillipson
Made these today – my kids TOTALLY LOVED THEM!! (so did I, btw). THANKS!
Heather
Yay, I’m so glad Kelly! Thanks for letting me know – feedback is awesome and helps me figure out which recipes to share next
Favorite Things from July
[...] And for those of you curious about the use of marrow in this vanilla custard, you might be equally impressed by these fudgecicles. [...]
I ♥ July | Gutsy
[...] delicious fudge popsicle recipe is one way to get gelatin and bone marrow into your kids! This is definitely a gutsy yummy [...]
My Favorite Things – July | Nourishing Joy
[...] speaking of cold treats for hot days, there’s also these fudge popsicles. These are as real food as you get – [...]
Julie
Heather, These look great — I’m looking for some “treats” for my teenage son on GAPS. His birthday is this weekend.
But I’m confused about you calling these popsicles. Do they go in the freezer for a bit before they are ready to eat?
Heather
Oh my goodnes, yes Julie! I can’t believe I didn’t add that into the instructions! They need to freeze for at least two hours (depending on how cold your freezer is) before serving. Thanks for pointing this out – I just updated the post!
July Happenings – what I cooked, uncooked, read and discovered | Food With Kid Appeal
[...] thinking of this fudge popsicle recipe for our next family [...]
Sara B
Can we sub anything for the cocoa butter? I would love to use it but can’t get my hands on any right now :/
Kristin
I usually don’t comment on posts, but these are amazing. We make them all the time. All four of my children love them. Sometimes we don’t freeze it and eat it as pudding. What a great, healthful dessert! Thanks so much!
Heather
Yay, THANK YOU for letting me know, Kristin! I love comments that begin with “I don’t usually comment on posts” because I know the author really means what they’re about to say!
Susie
Is the purpose of heating the milk to dissolve the gelatin? I’d love to do this with raw milk and kefir as the base, so I’d rather not heat it if I can get around it somehow. I might add an egg yolk or two as well…
Tiffany
I used some homemade yogurt that was more on the liguidy side. When you heat it, it won’t even boil. It will probably get just as hot as it does when it incubates which is a healthy temperature for the little critters. One suggestion when you soften or bloom the gelatin, double up on the milk. For instance, the recipe calls for two tablespoons so put four TBSP in a wide container so that as you sprinkle the 2 tsps of gelatin to soften it, you are putting down a thin layer so that it dissolves more thoroughly and faster. So, if your gelatin is soft, when you add it to the “heated” milk, it will dissolve easily. Ya, I love experimenting!
Linda
Holy Cow Batman!!!…those sound amazing. As soon as the weather gets out of the 50′s, I shall give them a try. Or…the pudding option sounds good too! Thank you for posting this!
Kristine Rudolph » Explore More : April 21st
[...] Mommypotamus offers up these Fudge Popsicles that I am dying to make with the kiddos. [...]
Tiffany
Thank You so much for this recipe! the texture is awesome! I even added a handful of walnuts and ground them in the mix. The taste is VERY banana-y. I think I might leave out the banana next time and see how it turns out. Very excited to try this again. I now have about 5 cups worth of popsicles to eat before trying again…oh darn
Fajr
How could I adjust this for my daughter who is allergic to banana and avocado but still get a similar texture?
LIz
wanted you to know have always made them with coconut butter instead of cocoa butter cause that’s what I have and they are wonderful. Also I didn’t have marrow but added liver powder!