You'll never buy boxed pudding again | Homemade vanilla pudding from scratch

The secret to the creamiest homemade vanilla pudding is that it's surprisingly simple and once you make it from scratch, you'll never want the boxed version again. Today I'm sharing my family's favorite homemade vanilla pudding recipe that's silky smooth, rich, and made with simple pantry ingredients. This recipe is perfect on its own, layered into banana pudding, topped with fresh berries, or enjoyed warm straight from the pot (which is exactly how we usually eat it around here!). I also included easy directions below for turning this same recipe into homemade chocolate pudding or fresh lemon pudding! If you enjoyed this recipe, don't forget to subscribe because we're sharing comforting Southern recipes, slow cooker meals, homemade desserts, and simple family cooking from our little kitchen. Subscribe for more homemade recipes! #HomemadePudding #VanillaPudding #SouthernCooking #EasyDessert #FromScratch #ComfortFood #HomemadeDesserts #BananaPudding #CookingFromScratch #LilyLouTay Homemade Vanilla Pudding Ingredients • 2 cups whole milk • ½ cup heavy cream • ½ cup granulated sugar • ¼ cup cornstarch • ¼ teaspoon salt • 4 egg yolks • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Instructions 1. In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. 2. Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream until smooth. 3. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture begins to thicken. 4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks. 5. Slowly whisk about ½ cup of the hot pudding into the egg yolks to temper them. 6. Pour the tempered eggs back into the saucepan while whisking continuously. 7. Continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes until thick and silky. 8. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. 9. Serve warm or chill with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. For the Lemon Pudding • Reduce vanilla to 1 teaspoon • Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest Stir the lemon juice and zest in after removing the pudding from the heat, along with the butter. Homemade Chocolate Pudding • Add ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder with the sugar and cornstarch. • Increase sugar to ⅔ cup. • Add 4 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate after removing from the heat. • Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.