This single serving chocolate pudding is rich, creamy and smooth. With just 5 pantry ingredients, it’s easy to make in about 10 minutes, any day. It needs to cool for about an hour for best results.
Chocolate pudding is one of my favorite easy desserts. I have stored a box of instant pudding in the cupboard for years. But suddenly, it didn’t seem chocolatey enough and I didn’t like the taste that much.
Lucky for me, and hopefully lucky for you, making one batch (or several batches!) of homemade chocolate pudding is actually pretty easy. This recipe only has 5 pantry ingredients and is something anyone can make.
Well, with a wire (I preferred to use a small one), a small pot and 10 minutes, it’s easy and totally doable. And it’s a very easy one serving dessert.
Honestly, I’ve never gotten it perfectly smooth without draining it. Often there was pudding mix that cooked more on the sides. But an easy strain, or indifferent, is delicious. Drain it or not, I only drained it for the photos and video.
I also like that I can adjust the chocolate flavor to a homemade recipe, again the box mix wasn’t chocolatey enough for me. So I used dark chocolate cocoa powder, and it’s chocolatey enough without adding more chocolate!
Using just a little coffee helps that too. If you don’t have brewed coffee, keep some easy instant coffee beans and mix them with some water to make some. That’s what I did here, and it was great.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chocolate pudding as much as I do.
Components
Scroll down on the Single Serving Chocolate Pudding recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here’s a quick visual + description of what’s in this recipe.
- Sugar: use granulated sugar (maybe powdered would work too?), larger sugar crystals won’t dissolve as well to make a smooth single serving chocolate pudding.
- Cocoa Powder: I prefer dark cocoa powder for a strong chocolate flavor, use whatever cocoa powder you have or prefer.
- corn starch: This is your thickening agent, it thickens your pudding without changing the taste
- Salt (optional): A pinch of salt brings the flavors together and slightly enhances the chocolate flavor of this single serving chocolate pudding.
- Milk: I tried this recipe with 2% milk. You can use whole milk or cream for a creamier texture.
- Brewer Coffee or Vanilla: Both will enhance the chocolate flavor, but I thought brewed coffee did it better. Use whatever you prefer or have.
Instructions
Scroll down to the single serving chocolate pudding recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here’s a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Add sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and optional salt to a small saucepan. Mix together or use a spoon/spatula/silicone spoons to break up any lumps. This step is important for a smooth pudding recipe.
2. Turn on the heat, medium to low. Slowly pour in the milk or cream, stirring constantly.
3. Continue to beat single-serve chocolate pudding until it thickens to about pudding thickness. Scrape down the sides occasionally, this will also help make a smoother pudding.
4. Once your pudding has reached pudding thickness, remove from heat and add coffee or vanilla extract. Agitation.
5. You can pour the pudding through a mesh strainer over a mixing bowl or into a small serving bowl for the smoothest pudding, if you like.
6. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour or more until chilled.
7. Serve the single serving chocolate pudding as is or with some whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Storage Tips
Store leftover single-serving chocolate pudding in an airtight container for about a week.
Many recipes call for placing plastic wrap directly over your homemade chocolate pudding, I haven’t found this necessary to keep the top layer from curdling, as long as you store the pudding in an airtight container.
But you can press plastic over the pudding if you use it in a bowl without a lid.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use whatever type of cocoa powder you have. Use dark chocolate cocoa for a stronger chocolate flavor in single serving chocolate pudding.
- Use whatever kind of milk you have, you may need to cook it more skimmed or add a little more cornstarch. Also use heavy cream or other cream.
- I see there are other recipes out there that use egg yolk and butter and other ingredients to thicken this pudding and add richness. I didn’t find these plugins necessary, but you can try this one too.
- Other great extras: chopped fruit, graham cracker crumbs, cookie crumbs, crushed oreos, chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc. they would be great additions to this single serving chocolate pudding.
FAQ
Top chocolate pudding with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, you can also add any of the following toppings: crushed cookies, sprinkles, fruit, peanut butter, caramel sauce, etc.
I would recommend using a recipe so it thickens properly and tastes good. But try adding equal parts granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and ½ that amount of cornstarch. Then add 4 times this amount of milk/cream.
Beat them well, then heat the pan and stir until it thickens. Add some vanilla or brewed coffee and let it cool for at least an hour.
Technically you can, but the texture and taste will be different. It won’t be as creamy. Also, the protein and fat in milk help thicken the pudding, so when you don’t have either in water, start with only half the liquid.
Other good dessert recipes
What to do with leftover materials
When you cook for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of any ingredients, etc. Here are some ideas on how to use up leftovers. It will help you save money by wasting less ingredients.
Did you make this single serving chocolate pudding? Leave me a comment and rating to share how it went!
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Single serving chocolate pudding (5 ingredients)
This single serving chocolate pudding is rich, creamy and smooth. With just 5 pantry ingredients, it’s easy to make in about 10 minutes, any day. It needs to cool for about an hour for best results.
Equipment
Measuring cups, spoons
small wire
rubber spatula or spoon
Small pot
mesh strainer optional
small mixing bowl or serving bowl
Components
- 2 tablespoons crystal Sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 Tablespoon corn starch
- pinch salt optional
- ½ cup milk or cream i used 2%
- ¼ teaspoon brewed coffee or vanilla extract
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and optional pinch of salt to a small saucepan. Beat or press the mixture with the spoon to mix and remove the lumps. (a smooth mixture will help your pudding to be smooth)
Turn on the heat to medium-low. Slowly pour in ½ cup milk or cream (I used 2% to test this recipe). Stirring while adding it. We hit all the time.
Scrape down the sides with a silicone spatula or spoon, if desired. This will help keep it smooth.
Cook until mixture thickens to about pudding thickness. Remove from heat as soon as this happens. Add ¼ teaspoon brewed coffee or vanilla extract.
For extra smooth pudding, pour through a fine mesh strainer.
Chill, covered, in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Serve with whipped cream and shaved chocolate, if desired.
Notes
- Be sure to press and mix the powdered ingredients. Larger chunks or balls of cocoa powder or cornstarch will not dissolve and leave your pudding with chunks in it.
- I prefer dark chocolate cocoa powder for a stronger chocolate flavor. Use whatever type of cocoa powder you have or prefer.
- I tried this recipe by adding chocolate chips to it as well, it didn’t set as well. You can add a little on top if you like or add a little more cornstarch.
- I preferred the flavor with added coffee, it enhanced the chocolate flavor better than the vanilla in my opinion. But use what you have.
- The only way to get very smooth pudding is to strain it, it’s very difficult to get all the pudding mixture from the sides, where it curdles even more and creates little pieces of pudding mixture. Still delicious though.
- You could eat this pudding hot, but it’s best chilled for at least half an hour, so make it before dinner or the day before for best results.
