Easy Eggless Chocolate Pudding

Just the other day my three-year old came up to me and made what looked like an unassuming request, Amma (mom) can I have “choca-lake pudding”?
Simple as it seemed, it startled me to bits, pleasantly of course. A never-heard-of food request of this sort from my little one whom I have known to be or rather labelled as a picky-eater ages back, was quite a welcome surprise. It was no ordinary day for me, it was a dream come true for a mother who was all-ears yearning to hear at least something remotely similar to ‘any food request’. Overwhelmed, I showered her with hugs and kisses, in turn all she gave me was a bewildered look and the same request repeated few times more than my little girl could count.
That did it for me. I had to make the chocolate pudding, who cares if she might reject it after the first lick?
I was whole-heartedly thankful for mickey mouse clubhouse for rousing the curiosity to explore a new food in an otherwise reluctant and judgemental (of food) pre-schooler. And secretly for once, an ever-pricking guilt over the few hours of ‘idiot box’ babysitting I had left her in didn’t seem to hurt my conscience.

This is a real simple chocolate pudding recipe fit to be enjoyed as a dessert or just as a pick-me-up treat a la balmy comfort food for a lazy day for which the silky chocolaty mouth feel seems perfectly paired.

All the recipes I looked up either had heavy cream or butter called for, which meant either the devil or the deep-sea. Guess I chose the deep-sea. The pudding came out perfectly set with the right amount of sweetness we relish except that I was craving for a bit more depth to the chocolate flavor. Cocoa powder alone felt a little flat, so the next time around I would surely add some semi sweet chocolate to bring forth another dimension of chocolate goodness.
Here’s the question, what is your favorite pudding? Do you ever reach out for a Chocolate pudding for comfort?

Psst: In case the curious cat in you wants to know what my tiny tot’s verdict was, she ate half the serving bowl just so you know and it is much more than what I expected – remember?

Easy Egg-less Chocolate Pudding Recipe

adapted from allrecipes.com


Printable Recipe
Things you’ll need:

3 tbsp corn starch
3 tbsp cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s)
1-1/2 cups milk (I used 3/4 cup non fat & 3/4 cup whole milk)
2-3 tbsp cane sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract


For garnish (optional)

toasted, slivered or crushed almonds or pistachios

How it’s done:

Bring 1 cup milk to a boil in a thick bottomed saucepan. In the mean while, whisk together corn starch, cocoa, sugar and salt and stir the mix into 1/2 cup milk at room temperature making sure to avoid dry lumps from forming.
When the milk comes to a boil, reduce heat and stir in the cocoa milk. Let simmer stirring continuously until thick and creamy for about 10-12 mins. It is done when the saucepan bottom can be seen when scraped with a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and butter until butter melts and blends in.
Pour into individual serving dishes or bowls of your fancy. To avoid pudding skin from forming, cover with cling wrap on the surface of the pudding (not at the rim of the dish) and let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or store up to 2 days. Serve cold as is or with suggested garnish.

Note If you need an intense chocolate flavor, you can add 2-3 tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips. Next time I make this, I am sure to add them.

Few other Chocolate Pudding Recipes I liked:

Egg-less Chocolate Custard from Divine Taste
Silky Chocolate Pudding from Smitten Kitchen
Very Orange Chocolate Pudding from Kitchen Daily
Hasty Microwave Chocolate Pudding from allrecipes.com

Sending this easy to prepare Egg-less Chocolate Pudding to Food Palette series Brown hosted by Torview

Torview presented this award as a token of appreciation for participating in the food palette series.

Thank You Torview!

 

Chocolate Pudding I feel is my best recipe of this month and hence sending it to Your Best Recipe Roundup for March held by Nancy of Spicie Foodie

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