Vanilla Pudding really doesn’t get any more perfect than that. This recipe is a hefty portion for two. Perfect for a simple classic dessert.
Looking for the best homemade Vanilla Pudding recipe?
Then, you’ll love this vanilla pudding. This isn’t your average store-bought pudding in a cup or instant pudding mix. This is a classic vanilla pudding made from scratch right in your own kitchen. It’s the perfect dessert for sharing or single-serve!
Vanilla pudding is a classic nostalgic dessert that takes us back to our childhood when we’d peel back the lid on those plastic pudding cups. Now that we’re adults, we can make ourselves the homemade version. It’s the perfect base for your favorite dessert recipes.
What Is Vanilla Pudding?
This easy vanilla pudding recipe is made just like any other pudding, with sugar, heavy cream, egg yolks, and corn starch. Whether you’re making nutter butter banana pudding or salted caramel butterscotch pudding, they all have the same base.
Although you might think of pudding as a classic childhood treat, it can actually be traced back to Europe in the Middle Ages. However, the version you’re probably more familiar with comes from the 20th century.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This creamy homemade vanilla pudding only requires a handful of ingredients, making it a simple dessert for those who want something sweet but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. One bite and you’ll be transported back to the good old days.
Ingredients
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the pudding.
- Corn starch: Acts as a thickening agent.
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and a creamy texture to the pudding.
- Whole milk: Adds more creaminess.
- Egg yolk: Adds richness and helps create a smooth texture in the pudding.
- Salt
- Pure vanilla extract: Gives the pudding a classic vanilla flavor. You could also use vanilla bean paste if you prefer.
- Unsalted butter: Adds a subtle richness and silkiness to the pudding.
How to Make Vanilla Pudding
In a large saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cream, and milk until the mixture is smooth. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until you see bubbles forming and the liquid thickening.
In a medium bowl, take the egg yolk and whisk it. Slowly, while whisking continuously, pour in ½ cup of the milk mixture. Keep whisking until the mixture becomes smooth, and then pour it back into the saucepan.
Bring the saucepan back over medium heat and let it come to a simmer, making sure to stir continuously. Allow it to simmer and thicken for about a minute. Remove it from the heat.
Once off the heat, stir in the vanilla and butter until the mixture is smooth. Cover the pudding with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly over the pudding’s surface, making sure it touches. Chill the warm pudding for 4 hours before serving to set.
Expert Recipe Tips
- If you don’t want to use white sugar, feel free to use brown sugar or maple syrup.
- Use whole milk. It has more fat in it and lends to a more decadent dessert.
How to Store Leftovers & Reheat
Store leftover pudding in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. Eat it cold or heat it up in the microwave for at least 10 seconds or until warm.
What to serve with Vanilla Pudding
Serve up a bowl of vanilla pudding with some fresh fruit, chocolate chips, or anything else you want to add to the top of the pudding.
Recipe FAQs
Pudding is a general term for creamy, often starch-thickened desserts. It can be eggless and made with various ingredients. Custard, a specific type of pudding, always contains eggs, which is the main thickening agent rather than starch.
Yes! To make the chocolate version, just add 2/3 cup cocoa powder!
This recipe is made from scratch and doesn’t come in powdered form like instant vanilla pudding. Homemade vanilla pudding also has a depth of flavor that you just can’t get from a box!
More Dessert Recipes
With a few simple ingredients, you can whip up the best vanilla pudding that puts pudding mixes to shame! If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!
Vanilla Pudding for Two
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbs cornstarch
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 teas salt
- 1 teas vanilla
- 1 tbs unsalted butter
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, cream, and milk together until smooth. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally until bubbles begin to form and the liquid thickens.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolk. Carefully, while continuously whisking, pour in 1/2 cup of the milk mixture. Whisk until smooth and pour back into the saucepan.
- Return the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer, always stirring. Let simmer and thicken for one minute Remover from heat.
- Off heat, stir in the vanilla and butter until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap – pressing the wrap directly over the pudding so that it covers the surface, touching it, and chill for 4 hours before serving.
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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Love that cookbook! It was so hard deciding which recipe to make first.
Thanks for all the kind words, Kita! I know you’re not far behind me, and I can’t wait!! 🙂
XO
YUMM! I always loved vanilla pudding more than chocolate!