Description
This family-friendly recipe for chocolate pudding cups uses basic pantry staples to create a silky smooth, rich, and decadent dessert, perfect for a quick sweet ending after a busy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Milk, dairy or non-dairy (whole milk or almond milk)
- 0.5 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Dutch-processed for darker color)
- 0.5 cup Granulated Sugar (reduce to 0.25 cup for less sweet)
- 3 tbsp Cornstarch (or 4.5 tbsp tapioca starch or arrowroot powder)
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 0.125 tsp Salt
- 1–2 tsp Espresso (optional, for richer chocolate depth)
- 1–2 ounces Dark Chocolate, chopped (optional, for richer pudding)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium 2-quart saucepan, whisk together the cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until there are no lumps and the mixture looks uniform. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth.
- Cook Until Thickened: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens significantly, bubbles gently, and coats the back of a spoon (around 170°F or 77°C). It should have a glossy finish. If it looks too thin after 7 minutes, continue stirring and gently boiling for another 1-2 minutes until it reaches desired thickness.
- Finish and Flavor: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in pure vanilla extract. For richer pudding, melt in 1-2 ounces (30-60g) chopped dark chocolate until smooth.
- Pour and Chill: Carefully pour hot pudding into individual cups or a larger bowl. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming. Chill for 2-4 hours, or until set.
Notes
To avoid lumpy pudding, whisk dry ingredients well before heating and vigorously off the heat if lumps appear, or press through a fine-mesh sieve. If pudding is too thin, return to medium heat and continue stirring until it thickens. To prevent a scorched bottom, always stir constantly and keep heat at medium, not high. For a healthier twist, reduce sugar by 0.25 cup for a less sweet pudding. Always use good quality cocoa powder and check its expiry date for optimal flavor.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 calories
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: chocolate pudding, easy dessert, creamy, family-friendly, quick dessert, pantry staples, chocolate, rich