Simple Chocolate Pudding (from scratch) 

If you love a rich chocolate pudding, creamy and luscious, you’re going to love this recipe. Best of all, it comes together in minutes and only calls for a few ingredients. 

Cornstarch Pudding or Egg Yolk Pudding

What’s the Difference? 

When it comes to puddings and pie fillings, there are two ways to go—the cornstarch route or the egg yolk route. 

Using egg yolks results in a thick custard. But that route can be tricky. Sometimes the yolks cook up into tiny little clumps, forming a nice-so-nice texture. 

The other route is the cornstarch method. Like the yolks, the potential for clumps is still there. But when you work in the cornstarch with a whisk and slowly incorporate the milk, you can avoid this. 

Which Method Did I Choose?

I was in a hurry and wanted a quick, foolproof dessert, so I decided to use the cornstarch method. 

I also whipped up some homemade whipped cream because I decided it would only add to the experience. Boy, was I right! 

This is a similar recipe to my mom’s chocolate pie filling, so I suppose this could be used in that way. But on this particular night I just wanted a bowl of warm homemade pudding. 

I’ll tell you more about the outcome in a bit but let’s start by looking at the ingredients. 

Chocolate Pudding Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your kitchen. 

• 1 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• pinch salt
• 4 cups milk
• 3-4 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

How to Make Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Combine sugar, corn starch, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan. Whisk together all dry ingredients until combined. 

Slowly work in the milk, a little at a time, whisking as you go along. Turn on heat to medium.

Bring to a low boil. Cook for three minutes stirring nonstop or until it begins to thicken. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Stir well.

Spoon into dessert bowls and set in refrigerator to cool for an hour or more.

Add a dollop of whipped cream if you like. Serve and enjoy!

Store leftovers in refrigerator. They should stay good for about 3 – 4 days.

What to Expect from this Recipe

I just love a good chocolate pudding and this one did not disappoint. It’s an easy recipe, which was perfect. I wasn’t in the mood for a full evening of cooking. I will say that you have to keep stirring frequently so that the pudding doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Other than that, you’ll find this recipe to be a complete breeze.

And it’s delicious, too! You can control the amount of cocoa powder you want to add. Some recipes call for more (up to 2/3 cup). I prefer milk chocolate pudding to dark chocolate (which is ironic, since I’m usually a semi-sweet chocolate kind of gal). Regardless, you can get choose, which is nice. All in all, this is a simple and delicious recipe you’re going to love. 

Variations on this Recipe

There are so many fun way to mix up this recipe!

Vanilla: If you’re not a fan of chocolate, make a vanilla pudding. Skip the cocoa powder. You might need to add a pinch more cornstarch to make up for the loss of the 1/2 cup of dry cocoa powder. 

Layered Dessert: Layer dessert cups with layers of broken cookies (Oreos), pudding and whipped cream. Top with shavings of chocolate. 

Pie: Use this as a pie filling. You might need to up the cornstarch a bit to get it thick enough to slice. 

Other Puddings and Mousses

If you like this recipe you’ll also love these pudding and mousse-based desserts from Out of the Box Baking. 

Easy Cheesecake Mousse: The foundation of this creamy mousse is softened cream cheese, which is whipped to perfection. 

Best Banana Pudding with Biscoff Cookies: If you love Banana Pudding but you’re looking for a twist, one that involves the warmth of a Biscoff cookie, you’ve come to the right place! This creamy pudding will leave your guests swooning. Best of all, it’s simple to make and requires no cooking whatsoever.

Easy Chocolate Pie from Scratch: If you’re looking for a creamy, dreamy chocolate pie–one filled with the warmth of yesteryear, you’ve come to the right place. This “from scratch” pie comes straight from my mama’s recipe book and it’s the one that’s made my children swoon for years.

Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie: If you love the tart creamy goodness of a key lime pie but the simplicity of an icebox pie, have I got a treat for you! This easy no-bake key lime pie is simple but delicious!

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

See this recipe at  

• Full Plate Thursday 
• Weekend Potluck

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.