This is the BEST chocolate pudding recipe! Thick, rich, and velvety smooth, this homemade chocolate pudding will be your go-to pudding recipe and it's the perfect amount for one or two people to enjoy.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
- Extra rich and with an intense chocolate flavor: We stir in a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips or morsels along with vanilla extract for extra depth. A tablespoon of butter stirred in at the end helps the pudding set up with a silky consistency.
- Easy to make: Making pudding from scratch is easier than you might think. Once you just see how simple it is, you'll wonder why you haven't been making pudding on your own before. Boxed pudding brags that you can make "homemade" pudding in minutes. Well, I urge you to ignore that claim and make real pudding from scratch with this easy recipe.
- Pudding made from scratch: With this small batch chocolate pudding recipe, you won't find any artificial thickeners or flavorings - just real ingredients, many of which you likely already have in your fridge and pantry.
- Tested and perfected recipe: In this chocolate pudding recipe, I've taken my large batch chocolate pudding recipe and played around with the ingredient amounts. This new pudding recipe yields the perfect amount if you're cooking for one or two people.
RELATED: 20 Single Serving Meatless Recipes
Ingredients
- Milk: I recommend using whole milk. I do not recommend using skim milk or reduced-fat milk because it won't give you a pudding that is as rich and thick. You can use half and half (half whole milk - half heavy cream) instead.
- Sugar: Sugar helps to sweeten the pudding, enhances the flavors of the vanilla and chocolate, and helps to thicken the pudding.
- Cornstarch: This ingredient helps to thicken the pudding beautifully.
- Cocoa powder: Use any type of unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe.
- Egg yolk: One egg yolk adds structure, stability, and richness to the pudding. Don't toss the egg white, though. Save it and use it in any of our egg white recipes below.
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds a wonderful flavor.
- Butter: Adding a little bit of butter at the end gives the pudding a smooth texture, a glossy finish, and a richer flavor.
- Chocolate: A handful of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks helps to make the pudding even richer! I've used semi-sweet (my favorite!), dark chocolate, and bittersweet chocolate.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
How To Make Chocolate Pudding
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch in a 1-quart saucepan.
- Add ½ cup of milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the remaining milk and the egg yolk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. This process takes me about 5 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, stir constantly until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken, lower the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- Pour into a bowl or two dessert dishes, top with whipped cream if you'd like, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have leftover chocolate pudding, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Yes! This recipe doubles well.
I use a 1-quart saucepan when I make this chocolate pudding. For best results use a pot of similar size.
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
Expert Tips
- Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section of the post, take a look at the process photos above, and gather your ingredients before starting.
- Be patient when making the chocolate pudding. You will be able to feel and see the pudding getting thicker.
- For a more decorative topping, add some shaved chocolate on top of the whipped cream. To make chocolate curls or shavings, I use a vegetable peeler.
- Make chocolate pudding with homemade whipped cream. Use our small batch whipped cream recipe to add a dollop of whipped cream to the top of the pudding.
RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy chocolate pudding recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Milk: Strawberry Milkshake, Pralines, Mashed Potatoes, Flan, Biscuits, Baked Oatmeal
- Cornstarch: Chess Pie, Blueberry Pie, Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken, Lemon Meringue Pie, Mini Boston Cream Pie, Coconut Cream PiePie
- Egg white: Mini Texas Sheet Cake, Coconut Macaroons, Flourless Chocolate Cookies, Two Vanilla Cupcakes, Two Chocolate Cupcakes, Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Cocoa Powder: Mini Texas Sheet Cake, Hot Chocolate, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, Deep Dish Brownie, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Mini Devil's Food Cake
- Chocolate chips: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Muffin, Mini S'mores Dip, Two Ingredient Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Scones, French Silk Pie
- Vanilla: Buckeyes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Coffee Cake, Peanut Butter Fudge, Morning Glory Muffins, Banana Nut Bread
More Single Serving Pudding Recipes
If you like this chocolate pudding recipe, be sure to try any of these single serving pudding recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this chocolate pudding or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Recipe
Homemade Chocolate Pudding For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ cups whole milk , divided
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- Optional: whipped cream for topping
Instructions
- Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch in a 1-quart saucepan.
- Add ½ cup of milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the remaining milk and the egg yolk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.Pro Tip: This process takes me about 5 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, stir constantly until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken, lower the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- Pour into a bowl. Refrigerate, covered or uncovered, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Enjoy with whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
- Read through the entire recipe and the Ingredient Notes section of the post, take a look at the process photos above, and gather your ingredients before starting.
- Be patient when making the chocolate pudding. You will be able to feel and see the pudding getting thicker.
- For a more decorative topping, add some shaved chocolate on top of the whipped cream. To make chocolate curls or shavings, I use a vegetable peeler.
- Make chocolate pudding with homemade whipped cream. Use our small batch whipped cream recipe to add a layer of whipped cream to the top of the pudding.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Teresa Peeples says
In the first three steps of instructions is any heat involved or just combining ingredients? Thanks for your time in advance.
Joanie Zisk says
No heat is involved in the first 3 steps.
Car gal says
Due to lactose intolerance, could I use all almond milk?
Joanie Zisk says
Yes, almond milk is fine to use. The pudding won't be quite as thick and rich but will still be delicious.
Dana Sarsona says
Oh my goodness I am going to make this again and again. It’s so creamy and I love the deeply chocolate flavor. Joanie, what would I need to do if I wanted to make this a filling for a chocolate cream pie, maybe just increase the cornstarch?
Thank you
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy you love the pudding, Dana. You can use the pudding recipe as-is, without any additions, and spoon it into a small pie crust. I like using our recipe for a mini graham cracker crust (https://onedishkitchen.com/graham-cracker-crust/). If you'd like to make a little more pudding, this chocolate pudding recipe doubles well.
Carolyn Thompson says
I learned how to cook for 7 people about 60 years ago. I've never managed to learn how to cook for just me. I am so happy to have found this site.
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy you found us too and I hope you find many new recipes you love.
Sharyn Doyle says
Husband is very particular about his foods and he loved this. Incredibly smooth, no gumming and brings out the best chocolate flavor possible. We use a chocolate 70% cocoa...so it is dark. No need for whip cream at all and we had 2 nice size serving dishes full using the one recipe.
Joanie Zisk says
I'm so happy to know you both love the pudding. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know.