Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Homemade vanilla pudding is easy to make with simple ingredients and tastes so much better than pudding mixes or pre-made pudding. Vanilla pudding is delicious as is, or it can be dressed up in a variety of ways.
How long it takes: less than 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: saucepan
Servings: 4
100% Comfort Food
Nothing compares to the delight of homemade pudding. It’s totally different than over-processed commercial products. Homemade vanilla pudding is ultra-comforting especially when it’s warm. It reminds me of my childhood, and my mom’s cooking.
When I was young, she grew alfalfa sprouts under the kitchen sink, made her own yogurt, canned homemade applesauce every year, made jam and pickles, and froze Michigan sweet corn. Life had a slower pace back then. (Now I make Instant Pot applesauce which is delicious, by the way, but yeah, slower pace of life back then…)
Let’s take a deep breath and slow down a bit. Maybe it’s time for homemade vanilla pudding. I think so.
What makes mine special:
- Creamy, smooth, and satisfying. This is the real reason why you’ll want to make homemade pudding. It’s so delicious! You can enjoy it just plain, or you can dress it up.
- Wholesome ingredients. If you have milk, butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, you have everything you need to make vanilla pudding.
- No straining required. This vanilla pudding recipe is a lot easier than some classic pudding recipes where egg yolks are tempered before adding them to the hot mixture, and then the mixture has to be strained for an ultra-smooth consistency. My simple recipe is a little more homestyle but equally as delicious.
“This recipe is 10/10! I love the creaminess, and the texture is superb! … I love this recipe and will definitely make it again!”
Ingredient Notes
- Milk: I recommend using whole milk but 2% works okay too. Nonfat milk is too watery and doesn’t make the creamiest pudding.
- Sugar: Plain old granulated sugar is all you need. This pudding isn’t super sweet because there’s only a half cup of sugar in the whole batch. I also add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
- Egg: An egg adds richness and helps thicken the pudding.
- All-purpose flour: Flour also acts as a thickener for the pudding.
- Butter: A tablespoon of butter makes the pudding taste rich. If you like, brown the butter first for an even richer flavor. Look for instructions on the recipe card.
- Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to give this pudding its signature flavor.
- Optional garnishes: These garnishes really are totally optional because the pudding is absolutely delicious just as it is. However, here are a few suggestions: mini chocolate chips, fresh or canned fruit, canned pie filling, sliced bananas, granola, graham cracker crumbs, Oreo cookie crumbs, and so on. And don’t forget about nuts. Spiced pecans, roasted pepitas, or simple toasted pine nuts are delicious on pudding, too.
What Is Vanilla Bean Paste?
My mom always used pure vanilla extract but I really love vanilla bean paste because the specks of vanilla bean add so much visual appeal. Vanilla bean paste is simply vanilla beans in a sweet syrupy base. It can be substituted 1:1 for vanilla extract.
How To Make Vanilla Pudding
Combine ingredients. Measure out the sugar, flour, and salt into a medium-sized saucepan. Add an egg and whisk briskly until the mixture is smooth. It will look a little grainy but don’t worry.
Whisk in milk while heating. Put the pan over medium heat as you slowly whisk in the milk. Continue to stir as the mixture comes to a boil. It will take about ten minutes, depending on how large your saucepan is. Once the pudding comes to a gentle boil, continue to cook it for one more minute.
Add butter and vanilla. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter and vanilla until the butter is completely melted.
Chill. Pour the pudding into serving bowls. Use bowls that are fairly sturdy so they don’t crack when you fill them with hot pudding, or let the pudding cool slightly before pouring it. The pudding will continue to thicken slightly as it cools. If you refrigerate it overnight, it will set up even more.
Cooking Tip
If you don’t like a “skin” on top of your pudding, press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding while it cools. I personally like the skin but some folks don’t
Make A Pudding Pie
Banana pudding pie: Bake a pie shell as directed and cool completely. Slice 2 bananas and arrange them in pie shell. Pour warm (not hot) pudding over bananas. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until set, 3 hours or overnight. Top with whipped cream and garnish with additional bananas.
Coconut pudding pie: Bake a pie shell as directed and cool completely. Stir 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (toast it first, if you like) into the pudding; pour into pie shell. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until set, 3 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and toasted coconut, if desired.
Chocolate pudding pie: You’ll love this chocolate pudding pie recipe with homemade chocolate pudding.
Recipe Variations
- Brown butter vanilla pudding: Take a few minutes to brown the butter before adding it to the pudding. The result is a rich, nutty flavor that will make you want to lick the bowl clean.
- With cornstarch: This recipe is made without cornstarch. It’s thickened with flour instead. If you prefer a pudding made with cornstarch, substitute 2 tablespoons cornstarch for the flour.
- Double the recipe: This recipe makes four ½ cup servings but it’s easy to double it. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan!
Homemade vanilla pudding is a good dessert to make ahead because it keeps well in the refrigerator for up to five days. Cover with plastic wrap and add any garnishes right before serving.
More Pudding Recipes
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding (another one of my mom’s recipes)
- Lemon Pudding Recipe – super easy!
- Easy Pumpkin Pudding (only 4 ingredients!)
- Instant Pot Rice Pudding
- Chia Seed Pudding or Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Blueberry Bread Pudding Recipe
More Dessert Recipes
Homemade Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- pinch salt
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups milk (I recommend whole milk or 2%)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- In medium-sized saucepan, whisk together sugar, flour, salt, and egg until blended and smooth.½ cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, pinch salt, 1 large egg
- Place over medium heat and gradually whisk in milk. Continue to heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thicken, about 10 minutes (see note). Cook and stir 1 additional minute.2 cups milk
- Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla.1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- Serve warm or cold. If refrigerating, place a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Pudding will thicken more if chilled overnight.
Notes
- Cook time: How long it takes for the pudding to come to a boil depends on the size of pan you use, and cooking temperature. I recommend using medium heat; higher heat can scorch the bottom. Stirring the pudding constantly prevents lumps from forming.
- Optional garnishes: Mini chocolate chips, fresh or canned fruit, sliced bananas, toasted coconut, pie filling, granola, graham cracker crumbs, Oreo cookie crumbs.
- Make ahead/storage: Pudding can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Cover it with plastic wrap, and add garnishes right before serving.
- Brown butter variation: In a saucepan or frying pan, melt butter over medium heat, simmer until browned, about two minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Stir into cooked pudding with vanilla.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Can this be made with honey instead of granulated sugar?
No, sorry, I don’t think that would work well in this recipe.
Heart recipe. Used it for banana pudding. Thickened up great and was delicious.
So glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Looks good will be making soon and commening.
I appreciate that!