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 does need to chill about an hour for best chilled results.
Table of contents
Chocolate pudding is one of my favorite easy desserts. I've stored a box of instant pudding in the pantry for years. But all of a sudden, it just didn't feel chocolatey enough and I didn't like the flavor that much.
Lucky me, and hopefully lucky you, making homemade single serving chocolate pudding (or more servings!) is actually very easy. This recipe just has 5 pantry ingredients in it, and it's something anyone can make.
Well with a whisk (I preferred using a small one), small saucepan, and 10 minutes, it's easy and totally doable. And it makes for a very easy single serving dessert.
Honestly I never got it perfectly smooth without straining it. There was often pudding mix that cooked more on the sides. But an easy strain, or not caring, it's delicious. Strain it or not, I only strained it for the photos and video.
I also like that I can adapt the chocolatey flavor in a homemade recipe, again the box mix wasn't chocolatey enough for me. So I used dark chocolate cocoa powder, and it's chocolaty enough without adding more chocolate!
Using just a bit of coffee helps that too. If you don't have brewed coffee on hand, keep some easy instant coffee granules around and mix them with a bit of water to make just a bit. That's what I did here, and it was great.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this single serving chocolate pudding as much as I do.
Ingredients
Scroll down to 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?), bigger sugar crystals won't dissolve as well to make a smooth single serving chocolate pudding.
- Cocoa Powder: I prefer dark cocoa powder for an intense chocolate flavor, use whatever cocoa powder you have or prefer.
- Cornstarch: This is your thickening agent, it thickens your pudding without changing the flavor
- Salt (optional):A pinch of salt brings the flavors together and slightly enhances the chocolate flavor of this single serving chocolate pudding.
- Milk: I tested this recipe with 2% milk. You can use whole milk or cream for a creamier texture.
- Brewed Coffee or Vanilla: Both will enhance the chocolate flavor, but I thought brewed coffee did that better. Use whichever 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 small saucepan. Whisk together or use a silicone spoon/spatula/spoonula to break up any chunks. This step is important for a smooth pudding recipe.
2. Turn on heat, to medium-low. Slowly stream in milk or cream, whisking constantly.
3. Continue whisking your single serving chocolate pudding until it thickens to about pudding thickness. Occasionally scrape down the sides, this will also help make a smoother pudding.
4. Once your pudding reaches pudding thickness, remove from heat and add coffee or vanilla extract. Stir.
5. You can pour pudding into a fine mesh strainer over a mixing or small serving bowl for the smoothest pudding, if you want.
6. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour, or longer until chilled.
7. Serve your 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 didn't find this necessary to prevent the top layer from thickening up, as long as you store the pudding in an airtight container.
But you can press plastic down onto the pudding if using it on a bowl without a lid.
Substitutions/Tips
- Use whatever type of cocoa powder that you have. Use dark chocolate cocoa for a stronger chocolate flavor in your single serving chocolate pudding.
- Use whatever type of milk you have, you may need to cook it longer with skim, or add a touch more cornstarch. Also use heavy cream or other cream.
- I see there are other recipes out there that use an egg yolk and butter and other ingredients to thicken this pudding and add richness. I didn't find these additions necessary, but you can test that too.
- Other great add-ins: chopped fruit, graham cracker crumbs, cookie crumbs, crushed oreos, chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc would be great add-ins for 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 to get it thickened right, and taste good. But try adding equal parts of granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and ½ that amount of cornstarch. Then add 4 times that amount of milk/cream.
Whisk it together well, then heat up the pan, and stir until thickened. Add a bit of vanilla or brewed coffee and chill for at least an hour.
Technically you can, but the texture and flavor 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 just half the liquid.
Other good dessert recipes
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
Did you make this single serving chocolate pudding? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Single Serving Chocolate Pudding (5 ingredients)
Equipment
- Measuring cups, spoons
- small whisk
- rubber spatula or spoonula
- Small Saucepan
- fine mesh strainer optional
- small mixing bowl or serving bowl
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 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 small saucepan. Whisk or press mixture with spoon to mix and remove chunks. (a smooth mixture will help your pudding be smooth)
- Turn on heat to medium-low. Slowly stream in ½ cup of milk or cream (I used 2% to test this recipe). Whisking while adding it. Whisk constantly.
- Scrape sides with silicone spatula or spoonula, if desired. This will help the keep it smooth.
- Cook until mixture thickens to about pudding thickness. Remove from heat once this happens. Add ¼ teaspoon brewed coffee or vanilla extract.
- For extra smooth pudding, pour through a fine mesh strainer.
- Chill, covered in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Serve with whipped cream and shaved chocolate, if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to press and mix the powdered ingredients. Larger chunks or balls of cocoa powder or cornstarch won't dissolve and will leave your pudding with chunks in it.
- I prefer dark chocolate cocoa powder for a stronger chocolate flavor. Use the type of cocoa powder that you have or prefer.
- I tested this recipe by adding chocolate chips to it too, it didn't set as well. You can add some to the top if you'd like, or add a bit more cornstarch.
- I preferred the flavor with coffee added, it enhanced the chocolate flavor better than vanilla in my opinion. But use whatever you have.
- The only way to have very smooth pudding is to strain it, it's very hard to get all the pudding mixture off the sides, where it thickens even more and makes for small chunks of pudding mixture. It's still tasty either way though.
- You could eat this pudding warm, but it's better chilled for at least half an hour, so make it before dinner or the day before for best results.
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chara says
Love this recipe, gonna make one soon. Saving this!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
enjoy!
kushi says
Love this simple 5 ingredient pudding recipe. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
enjoy!
suja md says
Outstanding recipe thanks so much! tasted so much good!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
yay! glad you enjoyed it
Angela says
Love, love, love this recipe! We're a dairy-free family so I used almond milk instead of dairy milk and I just can't believe how well this turned out. My kids are already asking me to make more! Great recipe - thanks.
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
yay! great swap
Justine says
I never knew pudding could taste so good, but I guess I've never had it homemade before - this was great!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
I know the feeling, it's so good!