Rich Creamy Chocolate Pudding (Printable)

A silky smooth chocolate dessert with deep cocoa flavor and luxurious texture. Perfect for entertaining or simple weeknight indulgence.

# What You Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 2 cups whole milk
02 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Dry Ingredients

04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
06 - 3 tbsp cornstarch
07 - 1/4 tsp salt

→ Chocolate

08 - 3.5 oz dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa), finely chopped

→ Flavoring

09 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan until thoroughly blended.
02 - Gradually whisk in milk and cream until smooth, ensuring no lumps remain in the mixture.
03 - Place saucepan over medium heat. Cook while whisking constantly until mixture thickens and bubbles, approximately 5-7 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and butter, whisking until completely melted and pudding is silky smooth.
05 - Stir in vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
06 - Pour into individual serving glasses or ramekins. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent skin formation.
07 - Refrigerate for minimum 2 hours until completely set and firm.
08 - Serve chilled. Optionally top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or fresh berries.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dessert that makes people think you spent all day making it, but it comes together in about twenty minutes
  • The texture is incredibly silky and rich, like something you would order at a fancy restaurant but better because you made it yourself
02 -
  • The transition from thin to thick happens suddenly, so do not walk away from the stove even for a minute
  • Pressing the plastic wrap directly onto the pudding surface is the secret to avoiding that dreaded skin, unless you actually love pudding skin, in which case, skip this step
03 -
  • If you accidentally get a few lumps, simply press the warm pudding through a fine mesh sieve before chilling
  • Add a splash of coffee or a pinch of espresso powder to intensify the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee
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