This chocolate pudding combines semi-sweet and unsweetened chocolate together with cocoa powder to create a rich and delicious dessert with complex flavors that is sure to become your new favorite.
I am a sucker for chocolate pudding and I tried just about every recipe my eyes landed on, from simple to quite complicated. What I learned is that great chocolate pudding is about great chocolate. A combination of chocolates, like milk and dark chocolate, is even better as it brings more balance and flavor complexity.
This recipe combines two types of chocolate, semi-sweet and dark, and cocoa powder on top to achieve superb complexity of flavor. It also uses eggs which result in the custard-like texture that many of us love. The addition of dark rum is a nice touch that gives the pudding even more flavor. It's a fantastic recipe that won't disappoint.
Preparation of this chocolate pudding is very similar to other pudding recipes with the exception of an extra step to prepare a custard. I know some people get a little nervous when making custard but this step is actually quite easy. All you have to do is heat up some milk and mix it with the egg mixture following the steps below. There is no need to worry about the custard curdling as the temperature won't be high enough. Using a thermometer will help with this step.
Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 1/2 oz semisweet chocolate 62% cacao content or less; about 130 g
- 1 oz unsweetened chocolate about 30 g
- 3 cups whole milk about 720 ml
- 1 cup white sugar about 200 g
- 1/4 cup Dutch-processes cocoa powder about 20 g
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream about 60 ml
- 1 Tbsp dark rum
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Chocolate curls for garnish optional
- Whipped cream for garnish optional
Instructions
- Set up a water bath by placing a heat proof bowl inside a medium sauce pan filled with water. Heat the water until starts to simmer and remove from heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the two chocolates and let melt, stirring often, until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and set aside.
- In a medium size bowl, heat the milk and 1/3 cup of the sugar over medium heat until it starts steaming. The temperature at this point will be about 140F - 150F. Remove from the heat.
- Whisk the remaining 2/3 cup sugar with the cocoa, cornstarch, and the salt in a heat proof medium bowl. Add the eggs, the yolk and the cream and keep whisking until all ingredients are well combined.
- Slowly add half of the heated milk to the egg mixture while constantly whisking. Then, slowly pour the egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk while constantly whisking. Bring the mixture to a full boil over a medium heat, whisking often and making sure you reach into the corners of the saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 30 seconds.
- Remove the pan from the heat and strain the pudding into a medium size bowl. Add the melted chocolate, rum and vanilla and whisk until they are well combined.
- Spoon the hot pudding into six jars or bowls. Cover each with a piece of plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly on the surface of the pudding. Pierce the wrap a few times with the tip of a small sharp knife. If you like a skin on top of the pudding, do not cover the jars with a plastic wrap.
- Let the pudding cool down at room temperature until it's tepid, about 1 hour. Transfer to the fridge and let chill for at least two hours. The pudding can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Before serving, remove the plastic wrap, top with chocolate curls or shavings and whipped cream.
Joanne says
I made this pudding last night and placed it in the fridge overnight however, it hasn't set. I followed the recipe to a tee. Any advice or thoughts? I haven't rated the recipe as it could very well have been something I did wrongly. Thanks from Australia!
Victor @ Taste of Artisan says
Oh, I am sorry to hear that, Joanne. This is not my recipe, it's an adaptation from Chelsea Market Cookbook, but it's has always worked for me. It's hard for me to say what went wrong as I don't have specific details. When something like that happens to me though, it's usually my mistake somewhere or the ingredients aren't good. I once tried to make Tiramisu cake and the store-bought mascarpone cheese was much more hydrated than usual and was too runny to use. I had to strain it for a few hours. You could try reducing the amount of milk/cream but I can't tell you anys specifics as I am flying blind here. Good luck!
Monique says
The best Chocolate pudding, period!
Tonya says
I've made this recipe so many times. Our family loves it. I don't have rum but substituted with brandy and the outcome is delicious. It's hard to find organic unsweetened chocolate so I use 85% organic dark chocolate bars. I also sometimes just use 3 cups of half & half, it's so dreamy. I love the mixture of chocolates and will throw in mint bars or salted carmel bars, whatever bas I have on hand. Oh my! I put ramekins on a baking sheet and let cool to room temperature before I put in fridge and just wrap the whole top of the baking sheet. Makes it easier.
victor says
Thanks for the feedback, Tonya, and for the tips. I am sure they will be very helpful to others. Frankly, I never thought of changing this recipe but I like your ideas, especially the mint and salted caramel bars. Sounds delish I am excited to try them out.
Nancy says
Wow! This recipe is looking delicious! Thanks for this post!
DeniseinVA says
Looks deliciously decadent, a perfect description. I can’t wait to try this one 🙂
victor says
Oh, it's a must try, Denise. If you like chocolate like I do you will love this chocolate pudding. Whoever created this recipe knows what a good pudding is.
Anna says
I had my own recipe of banana bread, but this one is better! In our house this dessert is gone in 15 minutes))) My family is crazy about it. It's very-very tasty!