Pudding is a classic American dessert that’s easily made at home. It’s a simple combination of sweetened milk, cocoa powder, and sugar with a hint of vanilla. It’s perfect served as a dessert or topped with whipped cream.
How to make pudding
First, you need a few basic ingredients that will help to form the base of your pudding: sugar, cornstarch, and salt. These are all necessary to give your pudding its thick, creamy texture and a rich flavor.
Next, you’ll want to add milk and butter. These ingredients provide a sweet, creamy, and salty flavor to your pudding. They’ll also help to give it a smooth texture.
Finally, you’ll want to add a small amount of chopped chocolate (or your preferred flavoring). This helps give the pudding a more rich and deep taste.
You can also use a pinch of vanilla extract to add even more flavor. The higher the quality of the vanilla extract you choose, the more intense the flavor will be.
For best results, sift the dry ingredients before measuring them out into your saucepan. This will prevent the ingredients from clumping together and making lumps in your pudding.
The key to a smooth pudding is to whisk constantly while the ingredients cook. This will prevent the bottom of your pan from browning, and it will ensure that your mixture thickens evenly throughout.
Test Kitchen Tip: Using a flat whisk will allow you to reach into the corners of your pan more easily. It also allows you to whisk the entire contents of your pot without having to slosh it around.
If you are making your pudding on a stovetop, be sure to heat it up slowly. If you don’t, the pudding will bubble over quickly and may scorch the bottom of the pan.
Once your pudding is cooked, you can chill it. This will make it thicker and hold longer.
You can also freeze it. This will make it easier to transport or store and will keep it fresher for up to 4 weeks.
When ready to serve, top your pudding with whipped cream and optional garnishes such as mini chocolate chips or fresh fruit, pie filling, granola, or graham cracker crumbs.
For an extra special treat, you can also add a dash of dark, rich, chocolate syrup to your pudding! It’s a delicious way to finish off your dessert and it will definitely make you feel like a child again.
If you are serving your pudding with a dessert, such as cookies or cupcakes, it’s a good idea to place a piece of plastic wrap on top to prevent a skin from forming. This will keep the pudding from absorbing too much moisture and will make it a more solid pudding when you’re ready to eat it.
If you are trying to cut back on your diet, you can try a low-fat version of this recipe by using half and half instead of milk. This will still result in a thick, creamy pudding, but the consistency will be different.
