• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Celebrating Sweets
  • All Recipes
  • Dessert
    • Brownies & Bars
    • Cake & Cupcakes
    • Cookies
    • Ice Cream/Frozen Desserts
    • Pies & Tarts
  • Drinks & Cocktails
  • Main Dishes
  • Breakfast
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Fall Favorites
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Drinks & Cocktails
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
×

Home » Dessert » Homemade Vanilla Pudding

Homemade Vanilla Pudding

Published: Aug 5, 2018 · Modified: Jan 12, 2021 by Allison · 584 Comments

  • Share
  • Email
Jump to Recipe

Put down the instant pudding mix. This creamy and flavorful Homemade Vanilla Pudding couldn’t be easier or more delicious! Serve this pudding on its own or with cookies, berries or whipped cream. VIDEO below.

Vanilla pudding in a glass with vanilla wafer cookies.

It’s time homemade pudding gets the attention it deserves. Pudding has to be the most underrated dessert ever. It’s not as fancy or decadent as a pot de crème, mousse, or crème brûlée. It’s comforting, nostalgic, and uncomplicated, and that’s what I love about it!

If you have only ever had boxed/store-bought pudding, you are missing out. Yes, this takes a little more effort than peeling back the foil on a plastic cup, but once you taste this, you will never go back to that stuff again. You probably have most (or all?) of these ingredients in your kitchen right now. Check out how easy it is.

PREFER CHOCOLATE PUDDING? CLICK HERE!

Vanilla pudding in a white ramekin with berries.

Homemade Vanilla Pudding

  • Milk: Whole milk is the base of the pudding. Feel free to swap up to ½ cup milk for half-and-half for a richer pudding.
  • Sugar: Regular granulated sugar sweetens the pudding. Nothing fancy here!
  • Thickener: Egg yolks and cornstarch thicken up the pudding. It will thicken as it cooks on the stovetop, and it will continue to thicken as it cools in the fridge.
  • Vanilla extract: This is what makes our pudding taste like vanilla. Use the best extract you can get – its flavor is coming through in every bite.
  • Butter: Just a touch of butter is whisked into the hot pudding. This adds a touch of richness that takes this pudding over the top. Don’t skip it!

The pudding ingredients get whisked together and cooked on the stovetop for about 10 minutes. Then strain it and place it in the fridge to chill. Easy peasy!

Vanilla pudding topped with whipped cream and crushed cookies.

One of the fabulous things about homemade pudding is its versatility. You can serve it on its own, or you can pair it with berries, whipped cream, cookies, or sliced bananas. It’s great layered in a trifle, or topped with fruit sauce. Note: you can also just place a huge bowl of pudding in your fridge and steal a bite (or two) every time you open the fridge door. ← Not a bad idea.

This is a classic, comforting dessert that I come back to time and time again – and I hope you will too!

NEVER MISS A RECIPE!

SUBSCRIBE to our free EMAIL LIST – LIKE us on FACEBOOK – Follow on INSTAGRAM

Vanilla pudding in a glass with vanilla wafer cookies.

Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding

This creamy and flavorful Homemade Vanilla Pudding couldn't be easier or more delicious! Serve this pudding on its own or with cookies, berries or whipped cream.
4.91 from 277 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 generous ½ cup servings (a little over 2 cups total)
Calories: 232kcal
Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2-¼ cups whole milk
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1-½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan whisk together sugar, cornstarch, salt, milk, and egg yolks. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking occasionally (every minute or two), until the mixture is bubbling all throughout (this took 7-8 minutes for mine).
    Once bubbling, continue cooking for one to two additional minutes, whisking once or twice, but not too vigorously (this can break down the binding properties). At this point the pudding should be thickened but still pourable, it will thicken more as it cools.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla extract. 
    OPTIONAL, to remove lumps: Place a fine mesh strainer over a large heatproof bowl. Pour the mixture through the strainer and into the bowl. Skip this step if you don't notice any lumps in your pudding.
  • Transfer the pudding into a large bowl or into individual serving bowls. Cool until it is lukewarm, then cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for several hours or until chilled.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 197mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
« Energy Bites
Soft Sprinkle Sugar Cookies »

Never Miss a Recipe

Get NEW POSTS delivered to your inbox!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. janice

    February 16, 2023 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    I made this pudding for cream puff filling and it was absolutely delicious!

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 21, 2023 at 1:20 pm

      I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
    • Cliff

      March 10, 2023 at 4:55 pm

      This pudding was great and so easy to make since our family stays away from sugar now I used one quarter cup of honey instead of the sugar. This pudding never makes it to the refrigerator our family loves it warm we add coconut flakes to it.

      Reply
  2. Felicity

    February 17, 2023 at 5:51 am

    1 star
    I don’t understand what has gone wrong, but there is nothing thick about my frosting! It just looks like milk with half melted butter in :\

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 21, 2023 at 1:17 pm

      This is not frosting. It is pudding/custard.

      Reply
  3. Barbie

    February 17, 2023 at 9:47 pm

    5 stars
    Is much tastier than the box!! Love it and easy directions!!

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 21, 2023 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Beatrice Wright

    February 20, 2023 at 4:18 pm

    5 stars
    Made it today. First time I made vanilla pudding from scratch for my banana pudding. Took it to a meeting. Everyone loved it!

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 21, 2023 at 10:05 am

      I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply
  5. SusieQ

    February 26, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    I am making a banana pie with cream cheese and pudding. I decided to use your scratch pudding recipe verses a box. I am so glad I did! It came out perfect! It was so easy! I will never use a box again. Thank you ever so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 27, 2023 at 9:58 am

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  6. Nicolette

    March 04, 2023 at 11:38 am

    I need to make this x 4 (for a big party with lots of kids). Should I make it one batch at a time? Looking at multiplying ingredients seems like things could go wrong fast!

    Reply
    • Allison

      March 06, 2023 at 9:18 am

      Hi! I’d make several batches. If the pan is too full and it doesn’t thicken properly it won’t set up.

      Reply
  7. Marion M.

    March 05, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for this simple yet amazing recipe….I had to make 6 times the amount for a party, but it was so simple and quick…loaded it into little vessels for banana pudding and it’s gone! There is no reason to ever open a packet of pudding…this was old time comfort in a matter of minutes..Thank you!

    Reply
    • Allison

      March 06, 2023 at 9:19 am

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Sandra

    March 11, 2023 at 10:33 pm

    5 stars
    This was easy and turned out perfect. I never knew it was so easy and will never go back to the store bought box.

    Reply
    • Allison

      March 15, 2023 at 9:40 am

      Yay! I’m so glad. 🙂

      Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

About

aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

Dessert Recipes

A slice of Greek yogurt cheesecake topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake

Trifle dish with cake, whipped cream, jam and raspberries.

White Chocolate Raspberry Trifle

Chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream in a white ramekin

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate chip cookies on parchment paper.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

A donut covered in cinnamon sugar on a white and light blue plate.

Baked Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts

Hot chocolate in a glass topped with marshmallows.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

More Dessert Recipes...

Popular Recipes:

Stack of almond croissants on a white plate.

Almond Croissants (shortcut recipe)

Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz

Whipped cream in a white bowl with strawberries.

Easy Homemade Whipped Cream

Closeup of sweet potato casserole on a white plate.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Streusel

Closeup of chocolate chip cookies with melty chocolate chips.

Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

Blueberry Pancake Casserole in a white baking dish.

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Casserole

More Popular Recipes...

Never Miss a Recipe

Get NEW POSTS delivered to your inbox!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
Logo for country living, food network, buzzfeed, msn, delish, good housekeeping

Footer

Connect With Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright 2013-2023 Celebrating Sweets

All images and content are copyright protected. Please contact me for permission to use my original images. If you want to republish a recipe, please re-write it in your own words, or link back to my post for the recipe.