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.
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!
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!
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!
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Recipe
Easy Homemade Vanilla Pudding
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
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!
Rloder
Awesomely delicious and soooooo easy. Jerry’s idea for adding a Mars Bar opens a whole lot of options.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Donna Johndon
As another person did, I was looking for how many cups it made. Your reply was very helpful, but I would suggest you add that information to the recipe itself so people don’t have to hunt through the comments for that info. Just a thought!
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Donna. I have the servings listed in the recipe card, but not the actual “cup” yield. I just added it. Thanks for your suggestion. Enjoy!
Celeste Peacock-Coleman
Nice, easy recipe. Tastes better than the packet, costs less, and hardly takes any more time. Better for you, too! I appreciated the tip about straining the pudding—mine definitely developed lumps, and I probably wouldn’t have noticed until I was serving people a lumpy dessert! Straining them out was simple and effective.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Carla W.
This was a pleasant surprise!!! The recipe was so easy and I had all of the ingredients already!!!
The flavor is so rich yummy! Will never be content with box pudding again!
Do you think it can be converted to chocolate pudding? A girl has to have some chocolate every now and then!
Be safe ?
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I do have a chocolate pudding recipe (below), but I have also successfully added a generous handful of chocolate chips into this vanilla pudding right at the end. I also reduce the vanilla by half so that it doesn’t compete with the chocolate. Enjoy!
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
Noreen
Delicious! I used whole lactose-free milk and it turned out great. A definite “keeper.”
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Dottiebaby
Noreen, thanks for that. We’re new to lactose-free and always wonder if there will be any difference in the end result.
Molly
My first ever time making pudding and it turned out perfect! Thank you so much for the recipe and instructions!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Casey
Easy way to get no lumps is to mix the cornstarch with the 1/3 cup of milk!
Celebrating Sweets
Great suggestion. Thanks! 🙂
Carmen
This was amazing! I used vanilla sugar instead and it came out perfect. So silky and smooth. Will definitely make again.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Tj
Was perfect. Wondering if cream can replace cornstarch? Also, will try with real vanilla bean seeds next time.
Celebrating Sweets
The cornstarch helps to thicken the pudding, so if you replace it with cream it will likely be too thin. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Bea
Gonna use this with banana pudding using chess cookies. Should be delicious. Thanks
Celebrating Sweets
Enjoy!
Sue
I am looking to use this the same way instead of a box of instant pudding but wasn’t sure how to use it that way having never made homemade pudding before. Did you replace the box with this recipe in your banana pudding recipe? I hope that question makes sense lol
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Sue. You should be able to use this recipe in place of one box of pudding. It makes approximately 4 half cup servings.
Chris
I love this recipe. I make it 1-2x a week.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂