There’s something timeless about pudding. It’s the ultimate comfort food, hugging your taste buds with every bite. Whether you’re looking to impress at a dinner party or simply treating yourself to a bit of indulgence, pudding can never go wrong. Let’s go on a swoon-worthy journey through some of the beloved pudding desserts.
1. Rice Pudding: The Creamy Nostalgia in a Bowl
This classic dessert is like a snuggly blanket for your taste buds, just like a Chocolate Mousse.
Ingredients:
- 150 gm Arborio rice (or any short-grain rice)
- 1 lt whole milk
- 100 gm sugar
- 1 vanilla pod (or 5 ml vanilla extract)
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 50 gm butter
- A pinch of salt
- A sprinkling of ground nutmeg (for that final fancy flourish)
Procedure:
- In a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed pot, bring the milk to a simmer, and not boil. Toss in the vanilla pod (split and scraped) and the cinnamon stick. Let it steep for a few minutes to infuse the milk with those warm, cozy flavors.
- Stir in the Arborio rice and a pinch of salt. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer, stirring every few minutes, and cook for about 30–40 minutes. You want the rice to be tender, but still holding its shape like it’s got somewhere to be. Remember not to stir the rice too hard, so as to turn it into mush.
- Stir in the sugar and butter. Continue cooking until the rice is soft, and the mixture is thick and creamy. .
- Remove from heat and discard the vanilla pod and cinnamon stick. Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with ground nutmeg, and serve warm or cold.
2. Sticky Toffee Pudding: The Gooey British Sweetheart
It’s like cutting into a warm, soft Chocolate Sponge Cake, with an added gooey, flowy caramel sauce to enhance the happiness.
Ingredients for the Pudding:
- 175 gm pitted dates
- 300 ml boiling water
- 5 gm baking soda
- 100 gm butter
- 150 gm dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 200 gm all-purpose flour
- 5 gm baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- 5 ml vanilla extract
Ingredients for Toffee Sauce:
- 200 gm dark brown sugar
- 200 ml heavy cream
- 100 gm butter
- 5 ml vanilla extract
Procedure:
- In a bowl, pour the boiling water over the pitted dates and add the baking soda. Let the dates sit and soften for about 10 minutes, then mash them with a fork to create a paste. It does not necessarily have to be completely smooth. A chunk or two is acceptable.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the date mixture and vanilla extract.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and gently fold into the wet mixture. Don’t over-mix! Think gentle, like folding a soft blanket, not like you’re trying to defeat the batter.
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake at 180°C for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
- While the pudding bakes, whip up the toffee sauce. In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream, and butter. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth and rich, stirring frequently. Add vanilla at the end.
- Once the pudding is done, poke a few holes on top and pour half of the warm toffee sauce over it. Let it soak in like it’s on a caramel vacation. Serve hot with the remaining sauce on the side; or all over, if you’re feeling generous!
3. Chocolate Pudding: The Silky Sweet Escape
There’s no way we could talk about pudding desserts without giving a nod to chocolate pudding. You can always garnish some Chocolate Covered Strawberries or berries to make it fancy.
Ingredients:
- 500 ml whole milk
- 100 gm sugar
- 30 gm cocoa powder
- 35 gm cornstarch
- 100 gm Cadbury Bournville dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 5 ml vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Whipped cream or chocolate shavings
Procedure:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually add in the milk while whisking, so you don’t end up with lumpy chocolate milk.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. This will take about 5-7 minutes. Keep whisking like your life depends on it.
- Once the pudding has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the chopped dark chocolate and vanilla extract. Stir until the chocolate has melted into the pudding, making it rich and smooth.
- Pour the pudding into serving bowls. You can serve it warm if you’re impatient or pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours to let it set. Top with whipped cream or chocolate shavings because more chocolate is always the answer.