The ‘Pudina tal-Hobz’ is Arguably Malta’s Favourite Recipe! (2024)

If you look through any collection of Maltese recipes, you’re sure to find a recipe for ‘Pudina tal-Hobz’. This is the Maltese version of Bread Pudding. Growing up, I loved this dense and chocolatey pudding and especially enjoyed biting into yummy bits of hidden melted chocolate. It always felt like biting into a surprise rainbow!

Additionally, many Maltese people prefer Pudina tal-hobz to a chocolate brownie, and I have proof! I asked this question to The Healthy Malteser followers on Facebook. And guess what? The vast majority agreed that Maltese Bread Pudding is indeed better than a brownie!

As much as we all LOVE Pudina tal-hobz, the traditional recipe is not particularly healthy. It calls for an unhealthy dose of melted butter or margarine (full of saturated fats), brown sugar, white bread, and a whole combination of not so great ingredients. This Healthy Malteser version features a number of substitutions to make it a nutritious treat that can be enjoyed guilt free!

First off, I substituted the white stale bread with a brown loaf, packed with fiber and wholemeal goodness. I also subbed unhealthy margarine with a blend of coconut oil and soy-based Greek yogurt – sneaking in some more protein. I used unsweetened almond milk in lieu of normal milk (fewer calories) and ditched the sugar.

What can I substitute sugar with?

For me, sugar is one of the easiest ingredients to replace. My favorite substitution will always be fresh or dried fruits. If you chop these very finely, you’ll never even realize they’re there! Finely chopped dried fruits will easily give you the same consistency as brown sugar. Nevertheless, you can also use sweeteners, such as xylitol, erythritol and stevia, or liquid sweeteners such as agave and date syrup. The best result is probably a combination of the above.

For this recipe, I went with a mix of dried fruits, agave syrup and some stevia. Although the traditional recipe calls for dried fruits anyway, I added dates to the mix. By chopping these finely, using a food processor, the sweetness is spread out more evenly as a result.

What mix-ins can I use in my Pudina?

When it comes to mix-ins, the chocolate is not optional by any means! It is, without a doubt, the best thing about the recipe. You can use chopped pieces of sugar-free dark chocolate or vegan chocolate chips.

In my household, everyone hates the lemon and orange peel found in the traditional Maltese bread pudding. Consequently, I opted for alternative mix-ins: coconuts and chia seeds – chock full of fibre, healthy fats and antioxidants.

Using the mentioned ingredients, this Maltese Pudina tal-Hobz comes in at only 166 calories and a whopping 4.3g of dietary fibre per serving. This delicious treat can be served warm straight from the baking dish. Personally, I much prefer it after it sets in the fridge for a few hours or even better the next day.

If you love healthy chocolate-y treats, you’ll probably also enjoy my healthy chocolate cake, baci and vegan chocolate frosting.

If you useMy Fitness Palto log your food, you can find this recipe listed on the database as ‘The Healthy Malteser Pudina (Bread Pudding)’

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