This homemade Chocolate Pudding is a chocolate lover’s dream come true with a velvety texture and a rich deep chocolate flavor. Once you make this easy treat made with only wholesome ingredients, you will never go back to store-bought pudding again. For an over-the-top treat, serve with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Why this recipe works!
- The ingredients for this recipe are common pantry staples or are readily available at any grocery store.
- With a couple of simple tips (which are in the recipe notes), this pudding is goof-proof. This is a true pudding. It does not contain eggs as a custard does.
- It turns out rich, creamy, velvety, and smooth every time.
- Everyone I know loves pudding, and the most popular flavor is, of course, chocolate.
How to make Chocolate Pudding
Start by combining the brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Now for best results, run it through a sifter to break up any lumps. As you run it through the sifter, add it to a medium saucepan. Now whisk the milk into the mixture over medium heat. Continue whisking and stirring to make sure all the inside edges of the pan are scraped. I alternate between the whisk and spoon to make it creamy and ensure that it does not stick or scorch to the bottom of the pan. Bring it to a full boil and then reduce it to a simmer and cook for about 2 minutes or until thickened, all while whisking and stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Pour the pudding into a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding. This will keep skin from forming on the pudding. For best results, chill for several hours.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder like Ghirardelli. It will give you a richer chocolate flavor.
- Pull the butter out of the fridge and let it soften on the counter while you prepare the pudding.
- If available, use real vanilla extract. I know it is pricey, but it really does make a difference. Costco sells a large bottle of it for a fairly reasonable price if you do a lot of baking. I always check the expiration date before I purchase it to calculate if I will be able to finish the bottle.
- Reduce the heat if need be to keep the pudding from a hard boil or from sticking or scorching to the bottom of the pan.
- Don’t stop stirring and whisking. Both steps are very important in the final outcome of the pudding.
- After the pudding is cooked, continue stirring every couple of minutes to prevent a skin from forming.
- This pudding is delicious and served either warm or chilled.
- To keep a skin from forming, place a piece of plastic wrap right on top of the pudding after pouring it into a bowl.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Other chocolate recipes you will love!
Well, what are you waiting for? Put the ingredients on your shopping list today and leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
PrintChocolate Pudding Recipe
This rich and velvety smooth kid friendly chocolate pudding comes together quickly right on your stovetop in less than twenty minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: dessert
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup cocoa
- 4 cups milk 2% or whole
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan sift together brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and cocoa.
- Whisk in the milk until combined. Turn heat to medium/medium low and continue whisking and stirring.
- Bring to a full boil and then reduce to a simmer while whisking and stirring. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
- Pour the pudding into a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap directly on to the surface of the pudding. This will keep a skin from forming on the pudding. For best results chill for several hours.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder like Ghirardelli. It will give you a richer chocolate flavor.
- Pull the butter out of the fridge and let it soften on the counter while you prepare the pudding.
- If available, use real vanilla extract. I know it is pricey, but it really does make a difference. Costco sells a large bottle of it for a fairly reasonable price if you do a lot of baking. I always check the expiration date before I purchase it to calculate if I will be able to finish the bottle.
- Reduce the heat if need be to keep the pudding from a hard boil or from sticking or scorching to the bottom of the pan.
- Don’t stop stirring and whisking. Both steps are very important in the final outcome of the pudding.
- After the pudding is cooked, continue stirring every couple of minutes to prevent a skin from forming.
- This pudding is delicious and served either warm or chilled.
- To keep a skin from forming, place a piece of plastic wrap right on top of the pudding after pouring it into a bowl.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Keywords: how to make chocolate pudding, how to make chocolate pudding from scratch, best chocolate pudding recipe
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Mary T Eldracher
Amazingly delicious!!! My new “go to” recipe for chocolate pudding. 🙂
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Mary! So glad that you like it!
D S
First try… delicious! I saved this recipe to make again and again! Thank you!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks DS! So glad that you like the pudding! We love it too!
Beth
This is the best chocolate pudding I’ve ever tasted! It’s is velvety smooth with a rich chocolate flavor. I’ll be making this again.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Beth! I love it too!
Naiby
I couldn’t agree with you more by using vanilla extract. So much better than the fake stuff. That pudding seems so smooth! Time to go to the kitchen!
Phyllis
FYI – I used aging 1% and oooo doggie is it delish! I could eat it with a spoon. Yeah, I know that’s the way most people eat it.🙄. Don’t let the low-fat milk deter you like it almost deterred me. 🤤
★★★★★
Kate
Chocolate pudding is THE ultimate comfort food and yours looks incredible, and straightforward to make. Yum!
★★★★★
Jacqueline
Love that this recipe is egg-free! My kids love this chocolate pudding and I love it because its so quick and easy to prepare! Thanks
★★★★★
Beth Sachs
This reminds me of a chocolate pudding my grandmother used to make. I’ll be making this soon for my kids. It looks so smooth and silky.
★★★★★
wilhelmina
This homemade pudding is so delicious! I have plans of using it in a pie, but it didn’t last that long, Time to make another batch!
Stephanie
I love chocolate pudding and this recipe looks so easy. Can’t wait to give it a shot!
★★★★★
Jen
You are a lifesaver! My youngest was begging for pudding but I ran out of the box kind. This was a total hit!
★★★★★
Toni
This is really good!! I can’t stop eating it! So yummy!
★★★★★
Kathryn Donangelo
This chocolate pudding is exactly what I was looking for! This is super easy to make too, thank you for this recipe!
★★★★★
Alisa Infanti
My husband is a chocolate pudding fanatic and loved this recipe!
★★★★★
Maria
What an easy treat to make! I’ll could never go back to the instant kind after seeing this recipe. Thank you!
★★★★★
Jen
This was surprisingly easy! I’ve never made it from scratch before so now I can officially ditch the box now, thanks!
★★★★★
Sandra McCollum
Such a delicious and impressive dessert!! Everyone at my house loved it!
★★★★★
Suzy
The kids loved it! Homemade is so much more tastier than boxed!
★★★★★
Sharry
Can this be a pie?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can make this pudding into a pie.
Tara
Definitely looks absolutely incredible with that velvety texture! So much better than homemade. I love how easily the pudding comes together too. Yum!
★★★★★
Kevin
This is going to be the only way I eat pudding now!
★★★★★
Cathy
Homemade chocolate pudding is my new favorite!
Catalina
Who can resist to this chocolate pudding?! It’s the best!
★★★★★
Cate
Ohh yum! I’ve never made my own pudding, and these looks so creamy and delicious, saving!
Julia
My kids loves chocolate pudding! I have to try this homemade version of chocolate pudding:) It looks so delicious!
★★★★★
Pam
I’m going to make some of this pudding today and eat it warm! There is nothing like warm chocolate in my opinion.
★★★★★
veenaazmanov
Delicious, easy, quick and kid friendly recipe. Looks yum and definitely super delicious.
★★★★★
Shelley
Definitely a chocolate lover’s dream! All that velvety, rich chocolate flavor! Great tips to make sure it turns out perfectly – like how to avoid the dreaded “pudding skin” lol!
★★★★★
j german
Could I sub 2/3 cup gran. white sugar for the brown ? I’m not a big fan of brown sugar.
Beth Pierce
Yes you most certainly can!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This homemade Chocolate Pudding is looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
★★★★★
Sara Welch
What a delicious treat and so easy too! Excited to try this for dessert tonight; this is exactly what I need to cure my sweet tooth!
★★★★★