Stovetop Chocolate Pudding Recipe

About

A rich, creamy chocolate pudding made entirely on the stovetop with simple pantry ingredients. Ready in under 30 minutes and far better than anything from a box.

1. 1

   Whisk Dry Ingredients

   prep 2 min

   In a medium saucepan off the heat, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt until evenly combined with no lumps. Taking time to combine the dry ingredients first ensures the cornstarch disperses evenly and prevents clumping when the milk is added.

2. 2

   Whisk In Milk

   prep 2 min

   Gradually pour the milk into the saucepan with the dry ingredients, whisking constantly as you pour to form a smooth, lump-free mixture. Make sure to scrape the bottom corners of the pan where dry ingredients can hide.

3. 3

   Cook Pudding

   cook 12 min

   Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, whisking frequently, for about 8–10 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken noticeably. Once you see the first large bubbles break the surface, continue cooking and whisking constantly for 2 more minutes — this fully activates the cornstarch and ensures the pudding sets properly. The finished pudding should coat the back of a spoon thickly.

4. 4

   Finish With Butter and Vanilla

   cook 1 min

   Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately whisk in the butter pieces and vanilla extract until the butter is fully melted and the pudding is glossy and smooth. These additions add richness and round out the chocolate flavor.

5. 5

   Pour and Set

   rest 120 min

   Ladle the hot pudding evenly into 4 serving cups or ramekins. For a skin-free surface, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of each pudding. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully chilled and set.

6. 6

   Serve

   serve

   Remove the plastic wrap and serve the pudding chilled, straight from the cups. Optionally top with a dollop of whipped cream or a light dusting of cocoa powder for presentation.