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!
Made as you posted + really shocked at how good this is + so simple to make.
Perfect recipe. Your pudding will only be as good as your ingredients though. I used good quality milk and high quality cocoa powder and butter. The taste is very good with the chocolate flavor being center and not too sweet.
Everything cooked up very nicely, no lumps. Will make this again for sure.
Chicken casserole with stove top I started to make it on my phone but lost recipe
You can find the Chicken Stuffing Casserole Recipe here.
This recipe is a keeper! The only change I made was that I only used 1 c. Of sugar. This is easy, peasy comfort food…..my very favorite kind of recipes. It brought back happy memories of my Momma making pudding for dessert but hers came out of a box. No more boxed pudding for me. Thank you for sharing.
This did not thicken up for me.
Sorry to hear that Donna. Thank you for trying the recipe.
I love how simple this recipe is, especially great because all the ingredients are always available in my pantry. I read the comments and adjusted the amount of sugar and cocoa powder and also converted to metric so in the end I don’t know how similar my recipe is (1100 ml milk, 80 gr cocoa powder, 100 gr sugar, 60 gr cornstarch), but this is definitely a good base recipe. What I ended up with is a mild chocolate pudding which I like, but I could definitely up the sugar and cocoa powder. My first attempt was a semi failure because I was impatient, but second attempt turned out great. My tip is to only use low-medium to medium heat (never medium-high), aim for a slow boil nothing too agitated, use silicon spatula to stir (first time I used a whisk and ended up with burnt crust at the bottom of the pan). Just from experience working with cornstarch, this should be a forgivable recipe. If you don’t like the consistency you could always add more water or cornstarch, even after chilling you should always be able to reheat it and add whatever you think you need.
Thank you Mia, so happy you love the pudding recipe. Once you make it, you’re right, it’s easy to adjust to your liking!
I love how simple this recipe is, especially great because all the ingredients are always available in my pantry. I read the comments and adjusted the amount of sugar and cocoa powder and also converted to metric so in the end I don’t know how similar my recipe is (1100 ml milk, 80 gr cocoa powder, 100 gr sugar, 60 gr cornstarch), but this is definitely a good base recipe. What I ended up with is a mild chocolate pudding which I like, but I could definitely up the sugar and cocoa powder. My first attempt was a semi failure because I was impatient, but second attempt turned out great. My tip is to only use low-medium to medium heat (never medium-high), aim for a slow boil nothing too agitated, use silicon spatula to stir (first time I used a whisk and ended up with burnt crust at the bottom of the pan). Just from experience working with cornstarch, this should be a forgivable recipe. If you don’t like the consistency you could always add more water or cornstarch, even after chilling you should always be able to reheat it and add whatever you think you need.
Thank you for sharing your tips Mia! So glad you enjoyed the pudding.
This recipe is not only easy, but is absolutely delicious! Will definitely use this recipe again sometime soon!
Thank you Sophia!
I Am only 13 years old love making new things but often find that recipes are not simple enough i made this pudding for my family. My mom said that my grandma always made this and that i did a great job. This is an amazing dessert. Highly recommended❤
Great job Fietca! Thank you for coming back and letting us know how it turned out. Happy Cooking!
Mine did not set I re-read the instructions multiple times and remade it the next day and it still did not set. I don’t know what to do except use a different recipe please reply if the same happened to you!
This has never happened to me. Cornstarch is a thickener and in these quantities should definitely thicken the mixture.
Hi Jane! I actually had the opposite problem (with thickness) – but it was my fault (I’m the worst about stepping away from the stove when I shouldn’t) – it’s absolutely delicious, still yet. That to say, I’m wondering if it didn’t cook long enough by chance? As Holly mentioned, the cornstarch is sufficient – maybe try boiling it a bit longer? I followed the recipe – only change, I was out of milk, so I used 4.5 c dry nonfat milk powder and 4.5 c water – I mixed the milk powder with the other dry ingredients then added the water, hot from the tap. Since the powder is fat free I used the top measure of butter (4 TBS) – we love it!
The reason many people complain of the watery texture is the probability they are over-cooking the pudding. Starch should not be heated over 185 a F just until the pudding thickens and coats the spoon. Once the temperature goes over 185F, starch irreversibly dissolves and will not set again, starch gelatinization.
That applies to all custard and pudding or sauces thickened with starch.
Thank you for the tips Teresa!
It was a very delicious recipe. After reading the comments I subtracted 1/3 cup of sugar, in all honesty I think I could have left it in and it still be delicious. This will now be a family treat! Added whip cream and raspberries…. yum.
Delicious & very easy to make… the highlight of our meal today! :) … I just reduced the amount of sugar .. Thanks for this recipe! It’s a keeper!
Super delicious! I made mine with almond and coconut milk and it is amazing!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for this!
Loved the chocolate pudding recipe… delicious
I will be using this in the future!!!!
Wow! Really delicious and very easy to make.
Can you use chocolate milk?
Oh boy! I bet that would be so delicious Khloe! This recipe has a strong chocolatey flavor already but if you love chocolate that should work well!
I used Beatrice Choco Milk with the buttermilk that is in it, it was divine!
Holly! Oh my days this recipe is fantastic! Thank you! I read a few of the comments first and halved the recipe and decided on a third of the sugar, and the same quantity of cocoa. Added half a tsp of vanilla and half a tsp of peppermint extract. It turned out super delicious and refreshing and oh so chocolatey. I disagree that there is too much cocoa; it’s chocolate pudding (!) it should be chocolatey. Although depending on your taste, you could alter the amounts of cocoa and sugar and whatever particular flavouring you like. The key is to use the correct ratio of milk and corn starch and boil/cook/thicken it long enough so as to make sure it turns into a custard/pudding consistency. I boiled/simmered it for longer than a minute just to make sure it thickened (maybe even 2-3 mins keeping close eye on it not to burn); I suppose it’s just like making store-bought custard powder which is basically corn starch flavouring. If u can make that on the hob or in microwave, it’s simple. Took no time at all and can’t wait to share it! Will be making again and again. Way better than the chocolate puddings you buy in the shops as you can make it as chocolatey and as sweet (or not) as you like! Could even mess around with flavourings! Thank you so much for this recipe! Nom nom…
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it and all its chocolatey deliciousness, Leena!
I was so looking forward to this but it was inedible to my family. It was such a rich chocolatey flavor and so much sugar it was an instant stomachache, and it had a bad aftertaste. It also didn’t set up completely. I don’t recommend this recipe.
I’m sorry to hear that Audrienna. Did you let it boil for the full minute? That helps it set up properly.
I just poured it down the sink. Yes. Poured. Wasted alot of time and ingredients. Followed directions to a t. It got watery in the refrigerator and was inedible. Like extra sweet chocolate milk. Very disappointing.
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that Tricia. Did you let it come to a boil for the full minute? That helps to thicken the pudding.