This Chocolate Pudding Recipe is one I’ve been wanting to make for years, and now I’m happy to share its perfection with you! Watch the video showing you how to make this recipe. Scroll to the bottom to print out the complete recipe so you can make it at home!
To be perfectly up front here, chocolate would not be my flavor of choice for homemade pudding. It would be butterscotch for me! Butterscotch pudding has always been a huge draw for me on restaurant dessert menus. I must order it every single time I spot it!
But this chocolate pudding recipe I’m sharing with you today was made especially for the boys in my house. My husband and my son are big on chocolate, and a homemade chocolate dessert like this is met with great enthusiasm!
What’s the difference between chocolate mousse and chocolate pudding?
Chocolate mousse is definitely similar to chocolate pudding, but it’s lighter and airier than pudding. Its airy texture comes from folding whipped egg whites or whipped cream into the base mixture. This is what “thickens” the mousse. Chocolate mousse tends to be very rich.
Chocolate pudding is typically made using cornstarch as a thickener. It’s much creamier and dense than chocolate mousse.
What is chocolate pudding made of?
When you take a peek at the list of instructions below, you’ll notice that it’s very short. Chocolate pudding is made of egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, milk, chocolate, vanilla extract and a touch of salt. This chocolate pudding could not be simpler to make.
If you’re one who tends to buy the prepared chocolate pudding cups at the store (guilty here!), you don’t need to do that any more. Making it homemade is so very easy to do. And believe me when I tell you that it’s 110% better than anything you’d buy at the store too!
Did I mention how creamy this pudding turns out? Yes. The texture is super C.R.E.A.M.Y!
What’s the difference between bittersweet and semisweet chocolate?
The type of chocolate you choose to use will have an affect on the flavor. Use bittersweet for a deeper, richer chocolatey flavor, and use semisweet for a more traditional chocolate flavor. I usually use bittersweet chocolate for this chocolate pudding recipe, and there are zero complaints.
Top it all off with a little bit of freshly whipped cream and some chocolate shavings to give it some “fancy.” Every dessert needs some sort of fancy garnish, right?
Here are a few more chocolate dessert recipes you might enjoy:
- Chocolate Mascarpone Brownies
- Heavy Chocolate Brownies
- Chocolate Pudding Cake
- Easy Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
- Chocolate Glazed Cake
- Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Mousse
Chocolate Pudding Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cups whole milk
- 5 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- whipped cream and chocolate shavings, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, chocolate and salt and warm over medium-heat; stir until the chocolate melts. Gradually whisk the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture (1/4 cup at a time), whisking quickly, until you have warmed up the egg mixture. Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and keep whisking until thickened- 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla, then divide among 6 serving cups. Cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well set (at least 2 hours).
Notes
- To make whipped cream: use an electric mixer to whip 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream in a medium bowl. When it begins to thicken, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar and continue to mix until it reaches "whipped cream consistency."
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN-FREE, just be sure to use brands of chocolate and vanilla that are known to be GF.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love butterscotch pudding too (and homemade vanilla) but this..whoa, looks amazing, Lori! Pinned 🙂
Lori,
You make this recipe look so easy. I’ve never made chocolate pudding from scratch. I’m so making this!
Annamaria
Love this recipe and the single servings are so cute!
My mom used to make pudding for us all the time when we were growing up! Yum 🙂 I adore chocolate pudding and I’m always looking for any excuse to serve a recipe in my ramekins 😉
Homemade pudding is the best! Love how creamy this looks!
There’s nothing better that rich, creamy chocolate pudding with whipped cream on top! I’ve loved it forever and I never make it! Pinning this to try. 🙂
Yummy pudding:) Chocolate is my favorite. Pinned It
I lovvvvve chocolate creamy pudding. Yummy recipe, Lori!
I love, love chocolate pudding!! I am so excited to try out this recipe since I have a terrible habit of only making pudding from the box mixes. I’m sure this is a million times better! Pinned 🙂
Classic chocolate pudding is the best! I love your recipe – it truly does look perfect.