My Anytime Puddings Part 1: A Piece of Cake #54
My Anytime Puddings Part 1: A Piece of Cake #54
Grab a spoon, you're getting four pudding recipes in two days.
We’ve all been there (or at least, I know I have): You made some last-minute plans for people to come over for dinner. Everything’s going great, you’re about to sit down to eat, and you remember, “I forgot dessert. And I’ve got nothing in the house.” Not so fast, me!
Pudding is the answer. Actually, pudding is the answer to so many things, including, but not limited to Seasonal Affective Disorder. But in all seriousness, pudding is the perfect on-the-fly dessert. And before the pudding-skeptics tune out, let me tell you: I wrote this for you in mind. I’m here to prove that you’re wrong. You seem sweet, but you’re wrong. I’ll be sending out four of my go-to, all-occasion pudding recipes: two today and two tomorrow. Four little sweet treats to stow away for your next panicked dessert need (or relaxed tv time).
The best thing about these recipes is that most of the ingredients are probably in your pantry or fridge. And the second-best thing about these recipes is that if you don’t have the ingredients, a quick trip to the corner store can remedy that. Simplicity is not limited to the components: the preparation is easy too. Pudding comes together in less than 10 minutes and it can be made ahead and chilled, or served warm. It is also equally at home as the finish to a beautiful Sunday dinner as it is the perfect elevation to a Wednesday night takeout dinner.
The versatility of custard—because that's all that pudding is, really—is a thing of beauty. Today I’m focusing on pudding as a standalone dessert, but you can use these recipes as components in so many other desserts. Pile pudding into a pie crust and top it with whipped cream, and you made a pie. Or up the ante of your favorite layer cake with a decadent custard filling. I’ve beaten pudding into buttercreams, which really brings out the best in both of them. And let’s not forget trifle, one of the best simple desserts for all seasons.
Let’s start our pudding journey with my favorite Salty Chocolate Pudding. It’s got both cocoa and chocolate and plenty of salt. Next, my Vanilla Vanilla Pudding, because vanilla’s so nice, I included it twice. Like I said, you can use these puddings in a number of applications, but I think my favorite is still “served warm with just a dollop of whipped cream.”
