Thursday, December 1, 2011

Easy Chocolate Pudding

If you like chocolate pudding, you can whip up a delicious batch within a few minutes. All you need are a little cornstarch, sugar, a little milk or milk substitute, and of course some cocoa; you don't have to settle for packaged mixes with a long list of ingredients that one cannot even pronounce.

Although it is not instant, this pudding is very quick and easy to make - just like our favorite Vanilla Pudding - something everyone can enjoy without a lot of work or guilt. So, it is guilt-free, gluten-free, and can be vegan too.

This is a great project for children too; they can do all the measuring and initial stirring. But once things get heated up, the adults need to take over for safe handling of very hot stuff. The pudding offers another bonus - a fantastic opportunity for practicing delayed gratification as the children have to wait patiently for the pudding to cool before enjoying the fruits of their labors :D.

I prefer making the pudding in the microwave as it is a very quick and painless process besides being a snap to clean up unless of course everything boils over :D - so do keep a close watch. I use a 1 quart Pyrex glass bowl or another microwave-safe bowl and whisk the pudding vigorously after every minute or so.

If you like a thicker pudding, you can increase the cornstarch by 1/2 Tablespoon; too much of it will make it too thick. If you like to cut down on the sugar, you can start with 2 Tablespoons of it and then add stevia extract to taste.

4 Servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
2 Tbsp Cornstarch
2 Cups Milk, any type
1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla

Method:

* Preparation of Chocolate Pudding is quite similar to Vanilla Pudding.

* Combine sugar, cocoa and cornstarch in a microwaveable bowl.

* Add the milk and whisk vigorously until well mixed.

* Cook on high (full) power at first for two minutes; whisk well with a wire whisk.

* Cook again for 1 minute on full power. Whisk again.

* Continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes more at 60 percent power - stirring every 30 seconds to a minute - until the custard comes to a boil and thickens. Cooking at lower power ensures that the custard does not boil over.

* Remove and whisk well; stir in the vanilla and whisk again.

* Cool slightly and serve warm or chill until cold.

* Serve with orange segments or sliced bananas for a special treat and whipped cream or topping - Yum! Enjoy!!

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