This vanilla pudding recipe is a quick and creamy homemade dessert with just a handful of ingredients
Holly’s Highlights For Vanilla Pudding
- Flavor: This recipe is creamy and sweet with a light vanilla flavor.
- Skill level: So simple! Just mix, whisk, and cook.
- Flavor booster: Cut a slit along a pod of vanilla and scrape the seeds to add extra vanilla flavor.
- Prep ahead: Make the pudding ahead of time! It chills nicely in the fridge and it tastes even better after a few hours.
- Serving suggestions: Top with whipped cream, fresh berries, or a sprinkle of cinnamon or chocolate shavings. It’s also amazing as a topper, sauce, or cake layer filling.
Ingredient Tips
- Milk: I use whole milk but any type (including non-dairy) should work just fine.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch thickens the pudding.
- Sugar: Use granulated sugar.
- Vanilla: Vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste can be used instead of vanilla extract. If using beans, slice them open and scrape out the seeds.
Variations: Keep this foundation recipe on hand and change the flavor by adding other extracts like banana, lemon, orange, coconut, or maple.
Storing Homemade Pudding
Keep leftover vanilla pudding in the refrigerator for up to 3 days covered with a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding to keep a skin from forming on the top.
More Easy Desserts
Did you enjoy this Vanilla Pudding Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Gradually whisk in the milk.
- Turn the heat on to medium and continually whisk the mixture until it comes to a boil and thickens, about 10 minutes. Let it boil for 1 minute while whisking.
- Remove from the heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dessert, Snack
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This is good! I’m not a big fan of either vanilla or puddings but this is really good. I will make it again.
Nancy, glad you enjoyed the pudding.
When finished, stir in one to two cups cool whip…..next level pudding!
Sounds yummy Mike, thanks for the tip!
does this equal to one box of vanilla pudding. could you used this in place of the box pudding/
thank you
This would make a little bit more than a small box of vanilla pudding which uses only 2 cups of milk. I may work in place of a box depending on which recipe you’re using it for.
I absolutely love vanilla so I decided to try this recipe and boy am I happy I did. Super easy to make and super creamy, next time I’ll throw in vanilla pod seeds for an extra little vanilla boost
So glad you loved it Joanne!
Delicious
Thanks, Kathy!
Where are the bananas & vanilla wafers
Hi Mildred, this is a vanilla pudding recipe. We do have this banana pudding recipe that has vanilla wafers and bananas in it!