Vanilla Pudding Recipes for National Vanilla Pudding Day - May 22

Vanilla lovers unite! National Vanilla Pudding Day happens in May, and Vanilla is our celebration.

There is so much you can do with vanilla, and the opportunities to create things with vanilla pudding are endless. Here you will find two full recipes for outstanding vanilla pudding, one creamy and fragrant with vanilla, and the other a low-fat version for people watching their calories, and links to other recipes with varying ingredients. Here you can find a recipe or link to just about any kind of vanilla pudding you are craving.

You can also learn a little about vanilla and take some quizzes to see how much you know.

Light, creamy, and very vanilla

Why is this vanilla pudding recipe the best? Because it is light, creamy, and very vanilla. It is not as easy as a box pudding mix. But seriously - it isn't that hard! Use this recipe and you will be avoiding artificial flavors, coloring, and other additives that you really don't want or need.

This recipe makes 4 smaller (1/2+ cup) bowls, or two giant bowls (1 and 1/4+ cups)

Making the vanilla pudding takes about 15-20 minutes, and then it will take a little longer if you let it cool. Of course, you might want to just slurp it up in one long gulp, but be careful not to burn yourself!

The step that is shown in the photo is adding some of the boiling hot pudding to the egg and sugar mixture before returning it to the pan. You will find that step in the recipe below.

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First put these ingredients in a pan and mix carefully while the milk is still cold. Mix until you cannot see any cornstarch.

2 and 2/3 cups milk

2 tablespoons of sugar Note: you will be adding more sugar later. If you prefer a VERY sweet pudding, add up to 1/2 cup of sugar in total..

3 Tablespoons cornstarch (add a total of 4 Tablespoons more if you like very thick pudding)

pinch of salt

1/2 vanilla bean slit in half with the seeds scraped out

Note: if you don't have a vanilla bean, you can add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract at the end instead

Turn on the stove and don't stop stirring until the pudding has boiled and thickened (or else you will get a blobby mess).

Remove the hot pudding from the stove. Let it cool a bit while you beat the egg with the sugar until it is light colored and fluffy.,

1 egg

2 Tablespoons sugar

Stirring constantly, add some of the pudding to the egg mixture and then pour everything back into the pan. You do this so the egg doesn't get cooked when it hits the hot pudding in the pan. Continue heating at as low a temperature as possible for about 3-4 minutes, then take off the stove.

Stir in:

2 Tablespoons butter

Add the 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract now if you didn't have a vanilla bean. The reason why you wait is that the extract will change its flavor if you put it directly into boiling liquid. To preserve the fragrance of the vanilla, let the pudding cool a bit.

If you prefer low calorie fat free vanilla pudding, see the recipe below.

Plain and Simple

This recipe's best point is that it is low calorie and relatively plain. People with allergies to eggs will appreciate that! And the relative lack of milk fat is a boost. If plain is your favorite, this is the one!

Add to a saucepan. Stir until all the cornstarch and sugar are mixed in, and then turn on the heat.

2 and 1/2 cups skim milk

4 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar I find that 1/4 cup is enough.

Stir constantly until the pudding has thickened.

Once thick, you can take it off the stove and add in:

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

a pinch of nutmeg

Serves 4, and takes 15-20 minutes to make.

I can remember as a child watching a friend's mother carefully take the skin off a pan of vanilla pudding and throwing it out. I was shocked. It was my favorite thing at the time. So how about you? Would you keep the skin and delight in eating it? Or would you just put that plastic like skin in the trash?

Check out these other sites online

If you would like to make your own vanilla extract to give to friends, you can go to this link. Make your own vanilla extract project It is a wonderful project to do with children.

If you like a more custard like pudding made with more eggs, you can try this vanilla pudding recipe with an accompanying video.

I love the pictures and the writing on Smitten Kitchen. She has such a way with words. You can find her Smittenkitchen's Vanilla bean pudding recipe here.

Do you like Vanilla Italian Pastry Cream? It is good because it has 4 egg yolks in it! Here is a recipe for that luscious treat at pickycook.com.