Sweet & Simple: Caramel Macchiato Pudding

For me, the day has got to end with dessert. I need that something sweet to finish off a long day of hard work. As much as I love indulgent, decadent desserts like PB & J Tiramisu or Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes, sometimes I just don’t have time or the ingredients to whip some up. Furthermore, one shouldn’t eat that indulgently every day. Luckily, I’ve got a few quick, easy, and guilt-free go-to desserts that are just as delicious as they are simple. They satisfy my sweet tooth with minimal effort & minimal guilt.

This yummy Caramel Macchiato Pudding is one of those desserts. It sounds a lot fancier than it actually is. In fact, it’s so simple it’s ridiculous. You start with Jello sugar-free pudding. This is one of my secret weapons. I always have a flavor or two in the fridge. It’s awesome for several reasons, the most obvious being that it’s 60 CALORIES. What’s also great is how you can dress it up. I spread it on CocoPop, top it with Cool Whip, or mix in some fruit.

This tasty twist is my latest obsession. I use the Dulce de Leche flavor of pudding (which is yummy all on it’s own) and mix in instant espresso powder to give it that coffee kick. Espresso powder is an underrated add-in, my little cookies. It’s not just for making espresso! In fact, it’s often used in baking chocolate treats to deepen the chocolate flavor. You can add it to your coffee for an extra kick, stir it into hot cocoa to intensify that chocolatey goodness, and use it for making Tiramisu. The possibilities are endless. The very best part is that it’s zero calories, hence why I love it for jazzing up guilt-free desserts.

So, now you’ve got your caramel and you’ve got your espresso kick. Viola! Instant caramel macchiato-flavored pudding. And how long did it take you to whip up? 30 seconds? That’s what I call sweet and simple.

Let us not forget to talk about how delicious this is. It is smooth, creamy, and sinfully good. The rich coffee flavor perfectly pairs with the sweet caramel. It’s a match made in heaven. You’ll never eat plain pudding again!

I like to finish off this cafe-inspired snack with a dollop of Cool Whip for some added indulgence. Counting that creamy, fluffy topping, you’re looking at 85 calories for this whole delicious dessert (60 without the Cool Whip). Score!

A Few Tips Before You Get Cooking:

1. Experiment with different pudding flavors! Chocolate is always a great choice, seeing as it will yield a tasty mocha flavor when combined with the espresso.
2. If you’re really feeling indulgent, add a cherry on top! It’s 5 extra tiny calories, and totally worth it, if you ask me!

All You Need is:

• 1 Dulce de Leche Sugar-Free Jello Pudding Cup
• 1/2 tsp. instant espresso powder
• 2 tbsp. Cool Whip, for topping

To Serve it Up:

1. Spoon the pudding into a bowl. Add espresso powder and mix until well combined.
2. Top with Cool Whip & go to town!