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    Home » Desserts » Vanilla Pudding

    Vanilla Pudding

    Published: April 18, 2022 · Jill Baird · 4 Comments

    vanilla pudding in a small cup

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    Jump to Recipe
    easy vanilla pudding recipe
    vanilla pudding recipe

    Our homemade Vanilla Pudding is rich and creamy, silky smooth, and easy to make that you’ll never return to store-bought pudding cups.  Serve with whipped cream and berries for a simple, comforting, and family-friendly dessert.

    Jump to:
    • The Best Homemade Vanilla Pudding
    • Ingredients in Vanilla Pudding
    • How to Make This Classic Vanilla Pudding Recipe
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing
    • Vanilla Pudding Recipe
    • More of the Best Simple Homemade Desserts

    The Best Homemade Vanilla Pudding

    This homemade Vanilla Pudding could not be more simple and the flavor is totally incomparable to those pre-packaged pudding cups.  It’s made with sweetened milk, egg yolks, butter, a hint of vanilla and cornstarch to thicken.  Served with whipped cream and fresh berries, it’s hard to think of a more nostalgic and comforting dessert.

    You can stick with plain vanilla, or feel free gussy up your pudding by adding different flavor extracts, swirling in your favorite dessert sauces or topping with cookies, crumbles, candies and more.  It’s the perfect no-nonsense dessert for both kids and adults. And if you're in the mood for chocolate, be sure to check out our Chocolate Pudding Recipe.

    Vanilla Pudding in a small white ramekin topped with whipped cream and fresh berries with a spoon taking a bite.

    How to Serve Vanilla Pudding

    The way we usually serve Vanilla Pudding in our house is in little cups or dishes with fresh whipped cream and berries.  But there are so many great ways to use it, including:

    • As a layer in a dessert parfait
    • Frozen into popsicle molds
    • Served with cake and bananas to make a banana pudding dessert
    • With mix-ins such as candies, crushed Oreos, butter cookies, caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, caramel popcorn, candied pecans and so much more!
    Three plastic cups full of homemade pudding on a table surrounded by fresh berries.

    Ingredients in Vanilla Pudding

    • Milk - whole milk works best for a custard like this.  You could also substitute half and half - the higher fat content will make the pudding even richer.  
    • Sugar - regular granulated sugar is best for this recipe.
    • Cornstarch - this helps to thicken the custard.
    • Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract tastes best.  You could also use other types to create other flavors, such as banana extract, coffee extract, almond extract and more.
    • Egg Yolks - these thicken the custard and make it silky smooth.
    • Butter - use unsalted butter for the filling.
    Photos showing the process of cooking pudding in a pot, including adding the milk, whisking over heat, and tempering in the egg yolks.

    How to Make This Classic Vanilla Pudding Recipe

    1. Boil the milk mixture.  In a saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking frequently.  Once it reaches a boil, whisk and cook for 1 minute, or until the mixture thickens.
    2. Temper in the eggs.  In a separate large mixing bowl, add the egg yolks and whisk.  With one hand, stream about ⅓ of the hot pudding mixture into the bowl while whisking constantly with the other hand.  Slowly add the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan while whisking.  Whisk the entire pudding over medium heat until it comes to a boil.
    3. Cool.  Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter is melted.  Transfer the hot pudding to a large bowl or baking dish and cover the surface with plastic wrap.  Place in the fridge until completely cooled.
    4. Serve.  Serve either warm or chilled, depending on the use.  Enjoy!
    Two photos from above showing a pot full of homemade pudding with a whisk mixing in butter.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What’s the difference between pudding and custard?

    While they are both cooked dessert bases that start with roughly the same ingredients, custards generally contain milk, cream, sugar and eggs - the eggs being the thickening agent.  Pudding, on the other hand, also contains milk (or cream) and sugar, but not always eggs.  The main thickening agent for pudding is some kind of starch - often cornstarch.  Sometimes it also contains eggs, as in this recipe.

    Why is my pudding runny?

    If you find yourself with runny pudding, it’s most likely because you didn’t cook the mixture long enough.  Make sure you cook for a full minute at a boil prior to adding the egg yolks.  Then, once the egg yolks have been tempered in, make sure the mixture comes to a boil once again so that the eggs have fully cooked.

    Can you freeze Vanilla Pudding?

    Yes!  Store in freezer bags or another airtight container for up to 2 months.  To thaw, simply transfer to the fridge overnight.

    A white ramekin full of vanilla pudding on a table with a decorative napkin and fresh berries.

    Storing

    • Refrigerator: store your Vanilla Pudding in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 
    • Freezer: store in freezer bags or another airtight container for up to 2 months.  To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight.
    how to make vanilla pudding recipe
    Print

    Vanilla Pudding Recipe

    Our homemade Vanilla Pudding is rich and creamy, silky smooth and so easy to make that you’ll never go back to store bought pudding cups.  Serve with whipped cream and berries for a simple, comforting and family-friendly dessert.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 421kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups Milk
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
    • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 4 large Egg Yolks
    • 3 Tablespoons Butter

    Instructions

    • In a saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking frequently.  Once it reaches a boil, whisk and cook for 1 minute, or until the mixture thickens.
    • In a separate large mixing bowl, add the egg yolks and whisk.  With one hand, stream about ⅓ of the hot pudding mixture into the bowl while whisking constantly with the other hand.
    • Slowly add the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan while whisking.  Whisk the entire pudding mixture over medium heat until it comes to a boil.
    • Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla, stirring until the butter is melted.  Transfer the hot pudding to a large bowl or baking dish and cover the surface with plastic wrap.  Place in the fridge until completely cooled.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 1mg

    More of the Best Simple Homemade Desserts

    • Butterscotch Coconut Cream Pie
    • Chocolate Cream Pie
    • Strawberry Pretzel Salad
    • No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
    • Chocolate Oreo Parfaits
    • More No-Bake Desserts
    • More Dessert Favorites

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Pinterest pin for Vanilla Pudding.

    This classic homemade Vanilla Pudding couldn't be more simple and tastes so much better than those pre-packaged pudding cups. Serve with whipped cream and berries for a simple, comforting and family-friendly dessert.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gina

      April 19, 2022 at 6:44 am

      This is such a delicious simple pudding recipe. Love making it from scratch like this, the flavor is so much better and the fact that I control the ingredients and eliminate all the junk in the processed stuff is a huge perk!

      Reply
      • Jill Baird

        April 19, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        Thanks for your comment! So happy to hear you love it too!

        Reply
    2. Natalie

      April 19, 2022 at 5:15 am

      Such a simple recipe for vanilla pudding. I always buy them in stores but I think I'll give your recipe a try and surprise my kids with homemade. Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
      • Jill Baird

        April 19, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        I hope they love it as much as we do!

        Reply

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