Rich Creamy Chocolate Pudding (Printable)

Silky smooth dark chocolate dessert with rich cocoa flavor and elegant presentation.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How-to Steps:

01 - In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt until well blended.
02 - Gradually whisk in the milk and cream until smooth and no lumps remain.
03 - Place the saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble, about 5–7 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and butter, whisking until completely melted and the pudding is smooth.
05 - Stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
06 - Pour the pudding into individual cups or ramekins. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
07 - Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until completely set.
08 - Serve chilled, optionally topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or fresh berries.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Its the kind of dessert that makes people lean in and ask what you put in it, even though the ingredients are things you probably have in your kitchen right now
  • The texture is somewhere between silk and satin, and it manages to feel both fancy and incredibly comforting at the same time
02 -
  • If you walk away from the stove even for thirty seconds while its thickening, you will come back to something that tastes like chocolate scrambled eggs
  • The plastic wrap trick sounds fussy until you eat pudding with a skin on it, and then suddenly it makes perfect sense
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate more smoothly than cold ones straight from the fridge
  • A splash of coffee or espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee
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