Hey, I don’t know about you, but for me, summer is sure a busy time and anything that I can make ahead and have on hand is a real life saver at times. Chocolate pudding is one of my all time favorite desserts – not to mention a scrumptious midnight snack! Here is an awesome recipe for a make ahead instant chocolate pudding mix that you simply have to add milk and vanilla to, mix up with a beater or whisk and chill for 30 minutes. It’s so simple and easy to make, you can do it right before you start dinner and by the time you’re finished eating, your dessert is ready.
Here is the recipe:
- 2 cups cane sugar
- 2 cups clear jel (look for this in the canning section)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add the ingredients to a half gallon canning jar or similar container with a lid.
Once all the ingredients are in the jar, seal the jar with the lid and shake until they are well mixed. Allow the jar to sit – unopened – for approximately 5 minutes so the contents settle.
Remove the lid and add 2 cups pure cocoa powder (look for some that says 100% cocoa on the ingredient list) to the jar. Replace the lid and shake again. Continue shaking until all the contents are mixed and are the same color. Allow the jar to sit unopened again for 5 minutes so the contents settle and you don’t end up with a puff of dust in your face and on the counter.
At this point, the mix is done. Label it with the name and the date. You can store it in a cool, dark, dry place for up to a year or make some pudding right away and then store the excess.
Here is how you make the pudding.
Combine 2 cups cold milk (the colder, the better), 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon cinnamon extract) and 3/4 cup of the mix. Whisk the mixture until the pudding begins to thicken. You can use a blender to do this task if you prefer. Once it is soft set (thick like pudding), place a piece of Saran wrap on top of the pudding and put it in the refrigerator. For best result, allow the pudding to chill for 30 minutes before eating.