Chocolate Pudding Creamy Rich (Printable)

Velvety chilled chocolate dessert with deep cocoa notes and a creamy texture, perfect for a sweet elegant finish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dairy

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

→ Dry Ingredients

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

→ Chocolate

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

→ Flavoring

09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan.
02 - Gradually whisk in whole milk and heavy cream until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
03 - Place over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and starts to bubble, about 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat and whisk in finely chopped dark chocolate and unsalted butter until fully melted and combined.
05 - Stir in pure vanilla extract thoroughly.
06 - Pour the pudding into individual serving glasses or bowls and cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent skin formation.
07 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until the pudding is fully set.
08 - Present chilled, optionally garnished with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or fresh berries.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under 30 minutes with no fussy tempering or special skills required.
  • That silky texture comes from a foolproof method you'll nail on your first try.
  • Feels impressive enough to serve at dinner parties but tastes homey and real.
02 -
  • Cornstarch needs heat to activate, so don't skip the heating step or your pudding will be disappointingly thin.
  • Plastic wrap directly on the surface is non-negotiable if you hate that rubbery skin as much as I do.
  • Add the chocolate off-heat so you don't accidentally seize it or make the whole thing grainy.
03 -
  • Whisk constantly while the pudding cooks—there's no shortcut here, and it's what separates pudding from scrambled chocolate.
  • If you do end up with lumps, pour the warm pudding through a fine sieve and no one will ever know what almost happened.
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