Homemade Chocolate Pudding: 5 Simple Ingredients

This Homemade Chocolate Pudding recipe from scratch is an easy and frugal treat! It’s so delicious and rich you can enjoy it for a snack or as dessert; you’ll never want to buy those plastic pudding cups again!

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that are so good. What do you think about when you think of chocolate pudding? If you think about those little plastic cups you stick in a lunchbox then throw that image away!

The best chocolate pudding recipe doesn’t need to be an expensive one. This one does not use expensive ingredients like eggs or butter. Instead, it uses kitchen staples like milk and chocolate chips.

This old-fashioned chocolate pudding is so good that I could eat it instead of ice cream. Seriously, it’s rich and chocolaty and just yummy! You have to give it a try!

Ingredients in Homemade Chocolate Pudding from Scratch

• Sugar. We need a little bit of sweetness here. It’s a dessert after all!
• Flour. OR Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. This is to thicken your pudding. Some recipes use cornstarch but I prefer flour.
• Milk. I use whole milk in this recipe. You could use cream for the ultimate richness. Use coconut cream for a dairy-free pudding.
• Chocolate chips. You can use more or less depending on the richness you want to achieve. I use milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips the most often. You could experiment with different kinds too! I don’t recommend bittersweet chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Vanilla Extract. This gives it just a little extra flavor. I use Homemade Vanilla Extract.
• Salt. Optional: only a pinch of salt would be needed to up the flavor. It can be left out.

Step By Step Instructions for Making Chocolate Pudding

In a saucepan, before you turn on the stove, whisk together the sugar, milk, and flour.

Heat over medium heat until the mixture boils, stirring constantly. Continue to boil and stir until the mixture starts to thicken.

Remove your saucepan from heat and add the chocolate chips and the vanilla. Stir until the texture is smooth and creamy. You can add in more or less chocolate chips depending on how strong you want the chocolate flavor to be.

Serve warm or place it in a bowl and refrigerate and chill for at least an hour and serve cool.

Tip: For a real treat, top this with some fresh whipped cream!

Thanks for sharing this recipe. It was super easy to make and the family loved it.

Jeana, Little House Living reader

Need to print this to add to your Recipe Binder? Get the Homemade Pudding recipe below:

Storing Leftover Homemade Pudding

You can store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or cover your bowl with plastic wrap. Pudding does not freeze well.

Make Your Own Pudding Cups

I know, I know, I said to forget the plastic pudding cups, and I still want you to forget those, but there is something convenient about them. You can easily make your own with this homemade pudding recipe so that you can still have your favorite snack in a grab-and-go container.

To make them at home, simply scoop your pudding into a small jelly jar and store it in the fridge. Make some with this Homemade Vanilla Pudding Recipe, or alternate the two to make layered pudding cups!

Tip: More ideas on How to Save On The Cost of Convenience.

These are perfect for individual snacks or desserts, adding into lunchboxes, and as portion control so you don’t eat it all at once. 🙂

More Old Fashioned Desserts

• Homemade Banana Pudding Recipe
• Old Fashioned Bread Pudding Recipe
• Recipe for Banana Cream Pie
• Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie
• Simple & Healthy Snack Ideas For Under $1

Find even more Recipes From Scratch on Little House Living.

Have you ever made pudding from scratch?

This Homemade Chocolate Pudding Recipe was originally published on Little House Living in April 2011. It has been updated as of November 2023.