Is Chocolate Hummus Really That Good For You?

So you've got a seriously strong craving for chocolate and need something to satisfy it in a hurry. Sure, you could reach for that pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream in the back of the fridge or rip through a sleeve of Oreos, but may we make an alternative suggestion? Hummus. That's right, mashed up chickpeas hummus — but not exactly the standard kind. Instead, have you ever considered picking up a tub of chocolate hummus?

Hummus may seem more of like a pre-dinner snack than a dessert, but it's been growing in popularity and can be found everywhere from Walmart to Trader Joe's. Even better, it's healthy — well, for the most part.

Just like regular hummus, chocolate hummus is made from mashed up chickpeas, but there's a little more dessert action in its ingredient list, as it's sweetened with cocoa powder and syrup, honey, or coconut (via Women's Health). With flavors like "brownie batter" and "snickerdoodle," one has to wonder — just how healthy is chocolate hummus? After all, if it's simply cake frosting masquerading as a healthy dessert, then eating an entire container of it probably won't do your diet any favors (via Bon Appétit). 

According to the BBC, regular hummus is a great healthy snack because of its omega-3 fats, calcium, and B vitamins. Even then, though, only around two to four tablespoons of it a day are recommended. Chocolate hummus and other dessert hummus tends to have around 60 calories and five grams of sugar per two-tablespoon serving, registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk explained to Women's Health. Considering that two tablespoons of chocolate frosting have 163 calories and 24 grams of sugar, chocolate hummus is a far healthier option (via Nutrionix.) "Dessert hummus is a sensible way to satisfy that after-dinner dessert craving by using it as a dip for fruit," Michalczyk said. Like any dessert, however, portion control is always important. 

While chocolate hummus is a rather healthy option for a little sweet snacking, don't expect it to taste just like cake frosting — even though some folks do like to use it as a substitute. The chickpeas tend to give it a grainier texture than frosting. Still, Mark Cuban liked it enough on Shark Tank to invest half a million bucks in it so that's gotta say something, right?