Kozy Shack puddings can be used as ingredients for more complex desserts. The recipe for this Rice Pudding Parfait and other sugar-free desserts are below.
CAPSULE REPORT: Kozy Shack has added new flavors to their line of Splenda-sweetened versions of their pudding cups. At just 70 calories and 11g of carbs per half-cup serving, these portion-controlled cups provide a good comfort-food fix. They also serve as worthy ingredients for more elaborate desserts. Aside from the Splenda, the line is all-natural, gluten-free, low sodium, low cholesterol (made with 1% milk) and certified kosher. The products are approved by the American Diabetes Association and American Dietetic Association (and, if it matters, are marked as a “good source of dietary fiber”).
You’ve probably seen the the Kozy Shack line of puddings, packaged in individual cup containers and larger sizes, in the dairy case of your supermarket. Packaged for convenience, the puddings are slow-cooked in kettles complete with fresh milk and natural ingredients. While we wouldn’t call the basic line “specialty food,” the No Sugar Added line definitely counts as “diet gourmet.”
In a world of artificial-tasting diet foods, these natural-tasting puddings are a comfort food respite. They contain no artificial flavors or colors, no trans fats or preservatives; if it weren’t for the Splenda, they could be called all-natural. For those who seek a bit of pudding* comfort, the portion-controlled, 113g cups (a half-cup of pudding) provide a satisfying pudding fix for 70 calories (the rice pudding is 90). While the Butterscotch was the standout of the original NSA flavors (including Chocolate, Rice and Tapioca Puddings), three new flavors bring new excitement to the line.
*The No Sugar Added version, which does not contain eggs (as the regular pudding does), is not called pudding but "Naturally Flavored Dairy Dessert.” It does have milk and cornstarch (ingredients of pudding), looks like pudding, tastes like pudding and is virtually indistinguishable to the lay person from the regular pudding product. But apparently, the USDA code requires eggs to be used, in order for it to be called “pudding.”
New Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Flavors
There’s no indication in flavor that these are artificially-flavored. Despite the absence of the egg, the consistencies are almost identical to the regular line.
No Sugar Added Apple Pie A La Mode Pudding. We predict that this flavor will be the universal crowd pleaser. The equivalent of a cinnamon-spiked apple pie filling is added to a vanilla pudding base. The fruit is on the bottom of the cup (as with all the flavors), and it tastes just as good if eaten from the top down or mixed in.
No Sugar Added Black Forest Pudding. Much more interesting than either the regular Chocolate Pudding with sugar, or the No Sugar Added Chocolate (both of which tend to be light on chocolate intensity), this Black Forest is our favorite chocolate flavor. Vibrant pieces of black cherries and some almond extract significantly enliven the basic chocolate pudding. It’s festive, tastes like a special-occasion, and is the epitome of a chocolate treat.
No Sugar Added Cherries Jubilee Pudding. Here, the black cherry topping is added to the vanilla pudding base. It’s missing a seasoning, though. Unlike the Apple Pie A La Mode, which has cinnamon, and the Black Forest, which has almond extract, this cherry stands alone—and it isn’t enough. Please, Kozy Shack, go back to the formulation room and add a little something extra. Classic Cherries Jubilee sauce is made of cherries plus sugar, brandy and cornstarch. If brandy flavoring isn’t deemed appropriate for a “family” dessert, we’d take more of the almond extract.
Recipes
In addition to enjoying them straight from the cup, you can incorporate the puddings into more elaborate desserts. You can flavor whipped cream with non-caloric sweetener or use a non-dairy diet topping, as your food plan allows.
Black Forest Cherry Dessert
Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients
8 individual cups Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding or Black Forest Pudding*
2 cups pound cake, cubed; or sugar-free cookie crumbs
Whipped cream
Crushed almonds
Preparation
Divide cake or cookie crumbs into four individual dessert dishes. Spoon in ½ cup pudding.
Black Forest Dessert
2.
Top with ¼ cup sugar-free cherry topping. Garnish with whipped cream and almonds.
*Note: Kozy Shack Black Forest Pudding already contains cherries. You can add extra cherry flavor or make a simplified version of the recipe without the extra cherry topping.
Cool Berry Delight
Cool Berry Delight
Makes 5 servings.
Ingredients
10 individual cups Kozy Shack No
Sugar Added Rice Pudding or
Cherries Jubilee Pudding
1 pint strawberries (sliced)
1 pint blueberries
Whipped cream or whipped
topping
Preparation
Spoon about 1/5 cup of Kozy Shack Rice Pudding into 5 large wine glasses.
2.
3.
Evenly distribute a mixed layer of berries on top of pudding. Repeat with a second layer of pudding, and then another layer of mixed berries.
Top with whipped cream. Serve chilled.
Rice Pudding Parfait
Makes 2 servings.
Ingredients
4 individual cups Kozy Shack No
Sugar Added Rice Pudding or
Cherries Jubilee Pudding
8 tablespoons sugar-free cherry
topping
2 tablespoons whipped cream
Preparation
Spoon 1/3 cup rice pudding into parfait glasses. Top with 2 tablespoons of cherry pie filling. Repeat steps to create more layers.
Top the last layer of cherry pie filling with a dollop of whipped cream.
Rice Pudding Parfait.
Apple Pie Sundae
Makes 1 serving.
Ingredients
½ cup (one individual container) Kozy Shack No Sugar Added
Apple Pie A La Mode Pudding
1 sweet apple variety (Braeburn, Fuji, gala, Jonagold, red delicious)
1 graham cracker, crumbled (optional)
Preparation
Core and thinly slice the apples, as if for a pie. Layer in the bottom of a sundae dish or wine goblet.
Add the Apple Pie A La Mode Pudding.
Top with the crumbled graham cracker.
KOZY SHACK NO SUGAR ADDED PUDDING
Apple Pie A La Mode, Black Forest, Cherries Jubilee (Plus Butterscotch, Chocolate, Rice and Tapioca, not reviewed here)
Certified kosher by KOF-K (D)
4-Pack113g Cups
$3.69 to $3.99 Suggested Retail Price
Price and flavor availability are verified at publication but are subject to change.
Kozy Shack puddings are sold at supermarket, specialty food, health food, mass and club stores nationwide. Click here for a store locator.
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