Layered Mocha-Cappuccino Pudding Cups

Ingredients

½ cup sugar

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder

2 cups water

¾ cup evaporated fat-free milk

½ cup pasteurized liquid egg whites

1 tablespoon light butter

¾ teaspoon coffee extract

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup chocolate-covered espresso beans, coarsely crushed

2 cups frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed

8 fresh mint leaves

16 whole chocolate-covered espresso beans (optional)

 

Preparation

  1. For pudding, in a heavy medium saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and espresso powder. Whisk in the water and evaporated milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Place egg whites in a medium bowl; gradually whisk about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the egg whites. Slowly pour mixture back into hot mixture in saucepan, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat about 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; whisk in butter, coffee extract and vanilla. Transfer to a medium bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
  2. Fold crushed espresso beans into the whipped topping.
  3. Using eight 6-ounce clear dessert cups or glasses, spoon 3 tablespoons of the pudding into each cup; spoon 2 tablespoons of the whipped topping mixture over pudding in each cup. Repeat layers. Garnish with mint leaves. If desired, top with whole chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Layered Mocha-Cappuccino Pudding Cups