Chocolate Pudding is a classic favorite dessert! This easy, kid friendly treat is a cinch to prepare and a great make-ahead option!
My family loves fruit desserts like Rhubarb Crisp and Strawberry Pie but sometimes I just need my chocolate fix! Light, creamy, rich, and chocolatey, this easy chocolate pudding recipe goes perfectly with fruit or on its own!
How to Make Chocolate Pudding
This chocolate pudding recipe takes no time at all on the stovetop, and then a quick chill while you’re eating dinner and voila! Homemade chocolate pudding can be made in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy it.
To make homemade chocolate pudding:
- Combine dry ingredients (sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch). Whisk in milk.
- Bring to a low boil and remove from the heat as soon as the pudding has thickened.
- Cool the chocolate pudding completely.
Tips for Making Pudding
- Use medium heat and sugar and milk can scorch or burn at a higher temperature.
- Whisk constantly while it comes to a boil.
- To keep the pudding from having a skin, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding while it cools.
How Long Does Homemade Chocolate Pudding Last
Homemade chocolate pudding has to be stored in the fridge. I like to store it in serving-sized plastic containers for ease. It will last 5-7 days.
This recipe makes a pretty good amount so it’s perfect for packing in lunches. Grab some single-serving plastic containers and you have delicious chocolate pudding to send with your kids (or yourself) for the whole week.
Chocolate pudding can change texture when frozen because of the corn starch so it’s not great to defrost but it does make great drip-free pudding pops!
More Chocolate Love
- Caramel Chocolate Trifle – always impresses
- Best Ever Chocolate Cake – decadent!
- Chocolate Macaroons (No Bake) – so easy
- Easy Triple Chocolate Cookies – kid approved
- Easy Chocolate Truffles – a holiday favorite!
- Oreo Dirt Cups – fun snack or dessert
Did you enjoy this Chocolate Pudding? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- pinch salt
- 4 ½ cups milk
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and cornstarch. Mix well. Add in cold milk, whisk until combined.
- Turn heat to medium, stirring constantly until mixture reaches a boil*.
- As soon as the pudding has thickened, remove from the heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
- Allow mixture to cool completely, stirring occasionally to avoid a skin forming on the pudding.
- Serve chilled or warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert
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Even More Chocolate Desserts You’ll Love
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Ganache Frosting – Just 2 ingredients.
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies – Popular recipe!
Very rich and delicious but did take a long time to bring to boil when constantly mixing. Great recipe 👍
My whole family loved this! Mine didnt thicken properly – so I dont htink i liet it simmer for long enough… but it was still delicious
hi my name is Patricia and I like to make cooking and I will love to have more recipes and thank you for posting this recipe
I have so many wonderful recipes to choose from Patricia, happy cooking!
so easy and turned out great!
This is one of those easy recipes that if you use quality chocolate and other ingredients it shines. Very well written
So glad that you love the pudding Tina!
Has anyone made this with chocolate milk? I have some chocolate milk going bad and we won’t be able to drink it all in time. Big shock they are actually.
Will it be disgusting? Should I cut down in sugar and cocoa? Any other tips or hesitations?
I haven’t made this with chocolate milk but other readers have with good results. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
I covered mine with parchment paper. Just something to keep in mind. the chocolate pudding is good and easy to make. Thank you!
Hello Holly,
What do you mean when you say …..allow it to cool completely? Do you mean once all the ingredients are in..I mix it slightly to make sure it’s all mixed well then I let it sit on the counter to cool before putting in the refrigerator? I was curious as I have made puddings and custards many times and just want to make sure I am following your recipe correctly. It also said to put the plastic wrap on while it’s still cooling. So I’m wondering …does the pudding with plastic wrap on top sit in a glass dish until it’s cooled and then I put it in the refrigerator?
Also I think this recipe might have confused some people because they might not have realized it could take some minutes to get to a boil first…then once at the boil…a minute of boiling time works out good. Not sure but I think that’s where some ppl might have gotten confused. Also small bubbles is a simmer but once you get those big bubbles popping then you know you have a boil and not to go over a minute seems to be a good guide. Once the mixture cools all wrapped up ..I will put in the refrigerator and will know the results tomorrow🙂
Stirring as it cools will help it avoid forming a skin on top, alternatively, you can pour it into your serving dish and place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding while it’s still warm so it doesn’t form a skin. I let it sit at room temperature for about 20–30 minutes, then transfer it to the refrigerator to chill completely. You’re right about the boil — it can take a few minutes to reach that full rolling boil with big bubbles. Once it hits that stage, one minute of boiling is perfect. Enjoy!
Delicious, thickened well. Not sure what’s going on with some of the other low star reviews, it’s not hard to thicken something that has cornstarch! All you need to do is bring it to a boil. I had no problems. I stirred constantly while waiting for it to boil so it wouldn’t stick to the bottom of my stainless pot, and stirred every 30 seconds or so while it cooled for a few minutes in another dish and then covered with plastic wrap directly and put in fridge to finish cooling. It’s a recipe, read the whole thing first from start to finish, then read through it as you go to remind yourself of the steps. The writer can’t make the pudding for you. I thought it was very easy and delicious.
I also love this recipe, on the other hand I don’t feel the need to point out how bad other people are at cooking. Everyone has varying strengths.
Amazing. Easy to make and so delicious. I’m so excited as my vegetarian loves it. Boxed mixes contain gelatin and holy Toledo this is so much better and so incredibly easy. Just stir, stir, stir and as soon as it starts to boil shut off your burner and add butter and vanilla. Going to try with Oat milk next time for my vegan friends.
Leaving a 5 star review to help water down these insane 1-3 star reviewers who don’t know how to read instructions and are taking it out on the author. News flash – if the only reason the pudding didn’t set right is because of your error, maybe don’t leave a review and try again. Leaving a bad review just because YOU messed up is insane to me. I am possibly one of the most cooking illiterate humans on earth and thanks to using this wonderful device called my own two eyes I was able to recreate the pudding for my wife to enjoy.
Thank you to the author
I have been making this puddling for several years now and still love it. I also make evaporated milk into whipped cream to company it. Thank you.