Classic Chocolate Pudding Recipes

Steps:

• Put 1 1/2 cups of the milk, the sugar, and the cocoa in a nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a simmer, over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup of the milk, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla in a bowl. Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Return to the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat whisking constantly, until the pudding comes to a full boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and continue whisking until thick, about 2 or 3 minutes more.
• Pour the pudding into 6 small cups. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight until set.
• Just before serving pour the cream into a chilled bowl. Whip the cream with a whisk or a hand held mixer, and continue beating until soft peaks form. Take care not to over-beat the cream or it will be grainy. Serve each pudding with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt with whisk. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until pudding boils and is thickened. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 2 minutes longer.
• Remove from heat; gently stir in butter and vanilla until butter is melted. Pour into large bowl; cover surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm, or refrigerate until serving time. Garnish with whipped cream.

Steps:

• Spread out the chocolate in a heavy-bottomed 2-quart saucepan and melt over very low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Mix the starch and 1/4 cup milk in a cup or small bowl, making sure the starch is well dispersed.
• When the chocolate is melted, stir in the rest of the milk, the cream, and the sugar; raise heat to high-medium and cook, stirring repeatedly with a rubber spatula, until steam is starting to rise (it will not yet be at a simmer, and will not have a skin on top). Remove from heat.
• Give the starch a stir to re-disperse it, then pour it in, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly across the bottom and around the sides of the pan, until the pudding thickens and the first bubble or two appears -- there should be no raw starch taste any more.
• Without cooling or stirring further, immediately pour the pudding into 3 1-cup custard cups. Set them on a rack to cool, then cover each one with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and firm.